The Department of Home Affairs has increased application fees for the Temporary Graduate visa, Subclass 485, effective Sunday 1 March 2026. The change took effect without prior notice to registered migration agents, immigration lawyers, or the wider public.

No advance alert appeared through departmental updates or industry channels. Applicants and advisers across the migration sector were caught off guard.

Any Subclass 485 application lodged on or after 1 March 2026 is now subject to the new fee structure. This applies regardless of when documents were prepared or when eligibility was met.

New Subclass 485 Visa Application Charges

The updated fees vary depending on the stream and whether the applicant holds a passport from an eligible country.

1. Post Higher Education Work stream

First Subclass 485 visa, no prior PHE visa held

Applicants with an eligible passport:
Primary applicant: AUD 2,300
Additional applicant 18 or over: AUD 1,150
Additional applicant under 18: AUD 580

Applicants without an eligible passport:
Primary applicant: AUD 4,600
Additional applicant 18 or over: AUD 2,300
Additional applicant under 18: AUD 1,160

2. Post Higher Education Work Regional Extension

For applicants who already held a PHE visa

Applicants with an eligible passport:
Primary applicant: AUD 905
Additional applicant 18 or over: AUD 455
Additional applicant under 18: AUD 230

Applicants without an eligible passport:
Primary applicant: AUD 1,810
Additional applicant 18 or over: AUD 910
Additional applicant under 18: AUD 460

3. Vocational Education and Training stream

This includes all VET stream applicants and other Subclass 485 applicants not covered above.

Primary applicant: AUD 4,600
Additional applicant 18 or over: AUD 2,300
Additional applicant under 18: AUD 1,160

Eligible Passport Countries

The lower fee tier applies to passport holders from the following countries:

Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

Applicants from all other countries fall into the higher fee tier.

What This Means for Applicants

Anyone who has not yet lodged their Subclass 485 application must pay the new charges. The timing of qualification, course completion, or document preparation does not affect the applicable fee.

The sudden increase adds significant cost for many graduates, particularly those applying under the VET stream or without an eligible passport. For some families, the difference amounts to several thousand dollars.

Applicants planning to lodge soon should review their total visa costs and confirm available funds before submission. Professional advice may help clarify eligibility, correct stream selection, and overall strategy under the updated structure.

Further updates may follow if the Department releases additional guidance.