2024 Migration Amendment: Changes to Visa Application Charges Explained

Introduction to the New Regulations

On July 1, 2024, new regulations came into effect under the Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2024. These changes impact various visa application charges (VACs) and are part of an annual update to align with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and specific budget decisions.

The primary goal of these amendments is to adjust the VACs in line with the forecasted CPI, rounded to the nearest $5. For the 2024-25 period, the CPI has been set at 2.75%, which means all affected VACs from the previous year will increase by this percentage.

Specific Increases for Student Visas

A significant change is the increase in VACs for student visas, which includes the Student (Subclass 500) visa and the Student Guardian (Subclass 590) visa. Instead of the standard indexation, these visas see a one-off percentage increase to better reflect the benefits that student visa holders receive, such as access to Australia’s education system and limited work rights.

New Charges for Student Visas

Primary Applicant: The base application charge for the first installment is now $1,600.
Additional Applicants (18 and older): The charge is increased to $1,190.
Additional Applicants (under 18): The charge is now $390.

Exemptions from Indexation

Certain visas have not been indexed as part of the July 1, 2024 increases:

Pacific Engagement (Subclass 192) Visa: This visa was introduced in March 2024, and applications can be submitted from August 2024.
Secondary Applicants for the Temporary Work (International Relations) (Subclass 403) Visa in the PALM Stream: Changes were also made in March 2024 to allow secondary applicants under this category.

How Indexation Works

Indexed VACs are calculated by applying the CPI percentage to a baseline amount and rounding the result to the nearest $5. Importantly, the new regulations ensure that no VAC exceeds the charge limits set by the VAC Act.

Conclusion

The 2024 Migration Amendment Regulations bring notable changes to visa application charges, particularly for student visas, reflecting Australia’s commitment to providing value through its education and labour market opportunities. While most VACs are adjusted annually based on the CPI, specific categories like student visas have seen more significant one-off increases to better match the benefits offered to visa holders.

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Amitava Deb

Amitava is a gold medallist from India’s premier technical institute, IIT Kharagpur.
He has worked with some of the world’s top companies such as Sony Australia Pty. Ltd., Siemens AG Germany, Clarity International Ltd., Reliance Communications and Optus Sydney.
Amitava is a Chartered Professional Engineer accredited by Engineers Australia. He is a full member of this esteemed association.
He is a member of the Australian Computer Society, Tele Management Forum and Worldwide Institute of Software Architects.
Amitava is a well-recognised name in the ICT Professional Community in Australia.