The Costly New Partner Visa Fee: Your 2026 Survival Guide

On 1 July 2026, Australia’s partner visa application fee jumped from $9,365 to $11,710. That’s a $2,345 hit. In percentage terms, it’s about 25% in a single step — roughly eight times the usual annual CPI rise. So every couple planning to apply now faces a new number. Here’s the partner visa fee increase in full: what triggered it, and what to do next.

1. What the partner visa fee increase means in numbers

Here’s the headline change. On 1 July 2026, the primary applicant charge jumped from $9,365 to $11,710. So any application lodged from that date pays the higher amount.

The full partner visa fee increase comparison

*Confirm exact PMV and reduced-fee figures against the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator — these reflect the 25% baseline increase pattern applied across the partner visa family.

Additional applicant charges also rose

Every extra person on a partner visa application carries its own charge. These rose in line with the primary rate. Historically, the extra fee for an additional adult sat near $4,685, with children charged separately. As a result, a family of four now pays far more than it would have just days ago.

2. Why the partner visa fee increase happened

Visa Application Charges (VACs) are set by the Department of Home Affairs. Traditionally, they rise each 1 July in line with inflation — usually 2 to 5%. This year, however, the rise is different.

A 25% increase, not a 3% adjustment

Instead of the usual few percent, the government applied a 25% rise across most visa categories. For a partner visa applicant, that means $2,345 more. By contrast, a normal CPI adjustment would have added only about $200–400.

Government rationale for the partner visa fee increase

The Department frames the increase as revenue-related. However, the migration industry has widely criticised its size. Absolute Immigration Group CEO Jamie Lingham described the hikes as “significant fee-hikes deliberately targeted at non-voting individuals for the purpose of revenue raising”.

Whether that framing lands or not, the practical impact is clear. Applying for an Australian partner visa now costs almost $12,000 upfront. Yet processing times haven’t improved, and there’s still no guarantee of the outcome.

3. When the partner visa fee increase takes effect

The trigger for the new fee is your lodgement date. That’s the moment the Department validly receives your application.

The midnight cutoff

The Department updated its pricing tables at 12:27 AM AEST on 1 July 2026. Anyone who validly submitted through ImmiAccount before that moment paid the old $9,365 fee. Everyone after paid $11,710.

Preparation date doesn’t matter

Even if you prepared months ago, only the lodgement moment counts. So couples who spent weeks getting ready, then lodged on 1 July or later, now pay the new fee. As a result, timing matters more than ever.

The rush before the deadline

The days before 1 July saw a surge of last-minute applications. Some couples saved thousands by lodging early and adding evidence later. However, that strategy carries real risks — see Section 6.

Need urgent advice on the new fees? Message Sam at Millennium Migration on WhatsApp →

4. Related fee increases you should know about

The partner visa fee increase wasn’t isolated. Several related fees on the partner visa pathway also rose on 1 July 2026.

Bridging Visa B (BVB) — 203% increase

The BVB lets 820 applicants travel overseas while their application is pending. It jumped from $190 to $575. So for anyone who needs to travel — for a family emergency, a wedding, or business — each trip now costs three times as much.

Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) fees

• Migration review applications: $3,580 → $3,727
• Protection visa review applications: $2,203 → $2,293

So couples appealing a refusal at the ART now pay $3,727 for the review. That sits on top of the $11,710 already spent.

Federal Circuit Court fees

• Full application fee: $4,015 → $4,180
• Reduced application fee (where approved): $2,005 → $2,090

These fees apply to judicial review. That’s the step after the ART, if the Tribunal also refuses your case. See our hidden costs guide for the full financial picture.

What didn’t change

• Third-party costs — medical examinations (Bupa), police checks, translations — remain provider-set and not directly affected
• Migration agent fees (vary by provider)
• Citizenship by conferral was not part of the 1 July VAC increase — confirm the current fee before applying

5. What the partner visa fee increase means for existing applicants

Did you lodge before 1 July 2026? Then you paid the old fee. That’s locked in — no top-up is required.

What the partner visa fee increase still adds going forward

• Bridging Visa B applications — if you need to travel overseas while waiting for your 820 decision, each BVB now costs $575 instead of $190
• Adding a new applicant later — if you have a child or adopt during processing and want to add them, the additional applicant fee is now at the new rate
• ART review — if your application is refused and you need to appeal, the review fee is now $3,727
• Federal Circuit Court — if judicial review is needed, the higher court fees apply

Withdrawing and re-lodging is now much more expensive

Sometimes an applicant finds a fatal issue after lodging — a serious character concern, the wrong subclass, or a missing eligibility requirement. Withdrawing and re-lodging used to cost $9,365. Now it costs $11,710. So the maths around withdrawal has shifted sharply.

So if you’re weighing a withdrawal, speak to Millennium Migration first. A case review may show the concern can be fixed within your existing application.

6. What the partner visa fee increase means for prospective applicants

Haven’t lodged yet? Then the new fee is your reality. However, several strategic points shape how you approach lodgement now.

Budget for the full cost, not just the base fee

The $11,710 primary applicant fee is only the starting number. Total cost typically includes:

• Primary applicant: $11,710
• Additional adult applicant: approximately $5,855 each
• Child under 18: approximately $2,930 each
• Medical examination: $300–500 per person
• Police clearances: $50–200 per country
• NAATI document translation: $50–200 per document
• Biometrics (if required): $200
• Migration agent fees (if using one): varies
• Credit card surcharge on VAC payment: 1% (about $117 on the base fee alone)

Decision-ready lodgement matters more than ever

The higher fee makes refusal a bigger loss. A refused application now wastes $11,710 in non-refundable fees, plus months of your time. So preparing well at first lodgement matters more than ever.

Read our decision-ready partner visa guide for the framework to minimise refusal risk.

Why the partner visa fee increase makes expert help pay off

Some applicants consider self-lodging to save on agent fees. However, with the base cost up 25%, professional preparation now carries more value. Consider the downside: a refusal costs $11,710, plus another $3,727 if you appeal to the ART. Against that, engaging Millennium Migration to prepare a decision-ready application looks like cheap insurance.

7. Strategy: planning around the partner visa fee increase

Beyond simply paying more, the partner visa fee increase carries several strategic implications.

For couples in different stages

Not yet together long enough to lodge: The old fee is gone. So focus on building the four-pillar evidence base, and lodge when you’re genuinely ready — not rushed.

Ready to lodge but haven’t yet: The window to pay the old fee has closed. Now the priority is minimising refusal risk. Every dollar you spend on quality preparation protects the $11,710 you’ll pay to lodge.

Already lodged before 1 July 2026: Your timing worked out. So focus on responding to any Section 56 requests promptly, avoiding unnecessary BVB applications, and staying decision-ready.

For PMV pathway applicants

The PMV-to-820 discount still applies. Do you hold a Subclass 300 PMV and plan to marry your Australian partner? Then your later 820 application still attracts the reduced fee — around $1,950 after the adjustment. So the PMV pathway stays structurally cheaper than a fresh 820.

For sponsors approaching the 5-year mark

Are you within the 5-year sponsorship limit, with a previous partner visa lodged before 1 July 2021? Then you may soon be eligible to sponsor again. Given the new fee, get the timing exactly right. See our 5-year rule guide for the correct calculation.

For refused applicants considering ART

Was your partner visa refused? Then ART review remains the main appeal route. The ART fee rose to $3,727. Even so, that’s far cheaper than a fresh $11,710 application. So the maths now favours appealing over re-lodging more than ever.

Frequently asked questions

Cost, refunds and payment

Is the partner visa fee increase permanent?

Yes. Visa Application Charges don’t reduce — they only rise. So the $11,710 fee is the new floor for future indexation. The next annual adjustment on 1 July 2027 will start from this higher base.

Can I get a refund if my partner visa is refused?

No. Visa Application Charges are non-refundable, whatever the outcome. So a refused application means the $11,710 is lost. That’s why preparation is critical — professional help from Millennium Migration significantly reduces refusal risk.

Can I pay the partner visa fee in instalments?

No. You must pay the full Visa Application Charge at lodgement. However, migration agent fees can often be staged. Millennium Migration offers instalment fee structures for partner visa preparation.

How does the credit card surcharge work?

A 1% credit card surcharge applies when you pay the VAC by card. So on the new $11,710 base fee, that’s an extra $117.10. Paying by BPAY avoids the surcharge, but you’ll need an Australian bank account.

PMV, subclasses and scope

Does the partner visa fee increase apply to Subclass 300 (PMV)?

Yes. The PMV Subclass 300 sits in the same fee bracket as 820/309 and has risen proportionally. Verify the exact PMV figure via the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging.

What if I hold a PMV and am about to apply for the 820?

The reduced fee pathway for PMV holders moving to the 820 still applies. That reduced fee has risen from $1,560 to roughly $1,950 — far lower than the $11,710 charged to first-time 820 applicants.

Are onshore and offshore partner visa fees the same?

Yes. Both onshore (820/801) and offshore (309/100) partner visas share the same base fee of $11,710. Location doesn’t affect the primary applicant charge.

If you’ve lodged, been refused, or are appealing

If I lodged before 1 July 2026, do I need to pay any top-up?

No. The fee is triggered at lodgement, not decision. So applications lodged before 1 July 2026 are locked in at $9,365. However, any later application — like a BVB — is charged at the new rates.

Will the partner visa fee increase reduce processing times?

No. Nothing suggests the higher fee will speed up processing. The Department’s published times remain roughly 14–16 months at the 50th percentile for temporary partner visas, stretching to 24–26 months at the 90th percentile.

If I’m refused after the partner visa fee increase, does ART cost more too?

Yes. The ART fee for migration reviews rose from $3,580 to $3,727 on 1 July 2026. So the total cost of appealing a refused partner visa now runs to $11,710 (original) + $3,727 (ART), plus any Federal Circuit Court fees if judicial review is needed.

This article provides general information only and is current as of 1 July 2026. Visa Application Charges change without notice — verify current pricing at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging. For case-specific advice, take our quiz or contact Sam at Millennium Migration directly.