From 1 September 2013, there will be a 15 % rise in all visa application charges, except for certain Student visas and Tourist visas.

The following table lists the current and new visa application charge (VAC) for a selection of visa subclasses.

Visa Name		Current VAC	New VAC
Subclass 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa	Primary Applicant	$145	$165
	Secondary Applicant Over 18	$75	$85
	Secondary Applicant Under 18	$35	$40
Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) visa	Primary Applicant	$900	$1 035
	Secondary Applicant Over 18	$900	$1 035
	Secondary Applicant Under 18	$225	$260
Subclass 401 Temporary Work (Long Stay Activity) visa	Primary Applicant	$315	$360
	Secondary Applicant Over 18	$315	$360
	Secondary Applicant Under 18	$80	$90
Subclass 402 Temporary Work (Training & Research) visa	Primary Applicant	$315	$360
	Secondary Applicant Over 18	$315	$360
	Secondary Applicant Under 18	$80	$90
Subclass 188 – Business Skills – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) visa	Primary Applicant	$4 065	$4 675
	Secondary Applicant Over 18	$2 035	$2 340
	Secondary Applicant Under 18	$1 015	$1 170
Subclass 888 – Business Skills – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) visa	Primary Applicant	$1 960	$2 255
	Secondary Applicant Over 18	$980	$1 130
	Secondary Applicant Under 18	$490	$565
Subclass 186 –  Employer Nomination (Permanent) visa	Primary Applicant	$3 060	$3 520
	Secondary Applicant over 18	$1 530	$1 760
	Secondary Applicant under 18	$765	$880
Subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa	Primary Applicant	$3 060	$3 520
	Secondary Applicant over 18	$1 530	$1 760
	Secondary Applicant under 18	$765	$880
Subclass 189 – Skilled & Independent Visa Subclass 190 – Skilled & Nominated Visa	Primary Applicant	$3 060	$3 520
	Secondary Applicant Over 18	$1 530	$1 760
	Secondary Applicant Under 18	$765	$880

English Language Requirement
From 1 August 2013, some of the retrospective aspects of the legislation introduced on 1 July 2013 has been removed. It means that applicants who lodged a Subclass 457 visa application prior to 1 July 2013 and who were exempt from the English language requirement at that time on the basis of their nominated occupation will continue to be exempt at the time of decision.

The English language requirement for the Subclass 457 applications will continue to be a time of decision requirement.

Mandatory Skills Assessments
Effective from 1 July, all applicants nominated in the occupations of Program and Project Administrator or Specialist Manager nec are required to undertake formal skills assessment.

Cap on Nominations
Employers are now required to state and justify the number of nominations they wish to apply for the duration of the sponsorship.

Mandatory electronic lodgement
All subclass 457 sponsorship, nomination and visa applications must be lodged using the online facility. Sponsorship, nomination and visa applications associated with overseas business sponsors will now be processed in Australia.

Employment conditions
If 457 primary visa holders cease to work for their sponsor, they are now given 90 days instead of 28 days to:

• find another employer to sponsor them
• apply for a different visa
• make arrangements to leave Australia.

Labour Market Testing
The requirement for employers to undertake labour market testing to look for local candidates first is expected to come into effect later in the year before November.