The visa application charge (VAC) is the fee payable to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) when applying for an Australian visa. The VAC is not a single flat fee — it is structured in two instalments, and the total amount varies by visa subclass, the applicant's age, and how the application is lodged. For current fee amounts, use the DHA Visa Pricing Estimator — this page explains the structure.

The VAC is separate from any fees charged by migration agents or lawyers for assistance with an application. The VAC is payable directly to DHA and is not a measure of the chance of approval.

• Migration (Visa Application) Charge Act 1997 — the legislative basis for charging VACs
• Migration Regulations 1994 — Schedule 1 — the visa application charges for each visa subclass
• DHA: Explanation of visa application charges — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/vac-explanation
• DHA: Current visa pricing — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/current-visa-pricing
• DHA: Visa Pricing Estimator — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa-pricing-estimator

Two-instalment structure

Every Australian visa application has a VAC that is divided into two instalments. Either instalment may be nil (zero) depending on the visa subclass and the applicant's circumstances.

• First instalment: Payable at the time the visa application is lodged. It must be paid before the application will be accepted for processing. The first instalment includes the base application charge (BAC) — the core fee for the assessment of the application — plus any applicable add-ons such as the non-internet application charge.
• Second instalment: Payable before the visa is granted, if it is applicable. DHA will notify the applicant when the second instalment is due. The second instalment is not payable if the application is refused or withdrawn before the second instalment has been paid.

Base application charge (BAC)

The base application charge is the primary component of the first instalment. Every visa application has a BAC, though for some visa subclasses and some dependent applicants (such as dependent children below a certain age) the BAC may be nil. The BAC is set out in Schedule 1 of the Migration Regulations 1994 for each visa subclass.

Non-internet application charge

If an applicant lodges a visa application on paper rather than online through ImmiAccount, a non-internet application charge is added to the first instalment. This surcharge reflects the additional administrative cost of processing a paper application. Where possible, lodging online avoids this additional charge.

Second instalment — when it applies

Not all visa subclasses have a second instalment. Where a second instalment applies, it is typically associated with the health and character assessment stage. For some visas — particularly onshore partner visas (subclass 820/801) — the second instalment is payable after the applicant has been notified that the health and character requirements have been assessed and the application is near grant. The second instalment is not payable if the application is refused before it falls due: if DHA refuses an application before requesting the second instalment, only the first instalment is charged.

Credit card and PayPal surcharge

A surcharge may apply when paying the VAC by credit card or by PayPal. The surcharge is a percentage of the payment amount and is disclosed at the time of payment. To avoid the surcharge, applicants may use other payment methods where available (such as BPAY or bank transfer for paper applications).

Subsequent Temporary Application Charge

A Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (STAC) applies in some circumstances where an applicant who already holds or previously held a temporary visa in a particular category applies again in the same category. The STAC is an additional component of the first instalment. It is designed to discourage repeated lodgement without genuine intention to depart — for example, where a person repeatedly lodges bridging applications. The STAC rules are set out in Schedule 1 of the Migration Regulations 1994.

Finding current fee amounts

VAC amounts are set by regulation and are updated periodically. For the current fee applicable to a specific visa subclass and applicant type, use the Visa Pricing Estimator on the DHA website. The full schedule of current VACs is also published at the current visa pricing page.

Refunds

The first instalment is generally not refunded if an application is refused — the charge reflects the cost of assessing the application regardless of outcome. Refunds of the first instalment may be available in limited circumstances (such as where DHA decides not to process the application, or in specific situations set out in the regulations). The second instalment is not charged if the application is refused before it is due, so there is generally nothing to refund at that stage. For specific refund rules, refer to the DHA refunds page.

Always verify the current VAC using the Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging an application — fees are updated regularly and using incorrect fee information may result in the application not being accepted. The VAC amounts listed in Schedule 1 of the Migration Regulations 1994 are the authoritative source; the pricing pages on the DHA website reflect those amounts.

Where an applicant includes secondary applicants (members of the family unit) in a visa application, a separate VAC is payable for each secondary applicant. The fee for dependent children is typically lower than for adults, and in some visa subclasses children under a specified age pay no VAC or a nil BAC. The Visa Pricing Estimator accounts for these variations.