The Government will increase the Visa Application Charges (VACs) for a number of visa categories from 1 July 2015. The proposed increases will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 July 2015. There will be:
- A 2.3 per cent increase to certain visas within General Skilled Migration, Skilled Graduate, Subclass 457 Temporary Work (Skilled), Visitor and Student visa streams.
- A 5 per cent increase to certain visas within the Temporary Short Term Business, Entertainment, Working Holiday, Resident Return Visas, Retirement and Contributory Parent streams.
- A 10 per cent increase to certain visas within the Other Family (Remaining Relative, Carer and Aged Dependent Relative) visas, and (non-contributory) Parent visa streams.
- A 50 per cent increase to the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) stream in the permanent migration skill stream category.
- An alignment of VAC prices where a differential currently exists for lodging an onshore and offshore application for specific visa subclasses.
- No changes to Electronic Travel Authorities (ETA), eVisitor and Refugee and Humanitarian visas.