485 visa application fees doubled – March 2026 update

Key data on 485 visa application fees from March 2026

Who is affected by the 485 visa fee increase?

The source confirms that from 1 March 2026, the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) has increased for new applications only. Any 485 visa application lodged before this date is not impacted by the higher cost.

Most new 485 applicants now face a 100% increase in VAC, meaning the fee has doubled compared to the previous amount. This applies broadly across the main graduate pathways, including the Graduate Temporary 485 visa, the Post Study Work stream, and the Graduate Work stream.

Which Pacific passport holders are exempt from the higher fees?

Not every Temporary Graduate applicant is hit by the higher VAC. The source outlines a specific exemption for primary Subclass 485 applicants who hold a valid passport from certain Pacific countries. These applicants keep paying the previous (lower) VAC, even after 1 March 2026.

• 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 these 13 Pacific countries continue to access the earlier lower VAC schedule. The exemption is explicitly described as applying to primary applicants with eligible passports; the source does not separately detail any exemption for secondary applicants.

New 485 visa application fees by category

The source splits the new Temporary Graduate visa charges into four categories, based on whether the application is a subsequent 485 and whether the applicant holds an eligible Pacific passport. Each category has separate VAC figures for primary applicants and secondary applicants over and under 18.

Here is the breakdown exactly as provided, including the previous amounts where the fee has doubled:

Analysis: what the March 2026 485 fee changes mean

The application fee for most Subclass 485 applicants has doubled (100% increase).

For migration agents, visa applicants, and education providers, this single sentence from the source captures the headline shift. Most 485 applicants now face double the VAC, with the largest figure being $4,600 for primary applicants in the “all other 485” non-eligible passport category.

Agents managing graduate cohorts may now find that VAC outlays form a much larger part of a client’s budget planning. Our analysis of anzsco.ai data suggests that even a single dependent over 18 can now add $2,300 in VAC for many non-eligible passport holders. Lowest since September 2025.

Education providers tracking post-study outcomes may wish to consider how a doubled VAC could affect the attractiveness of Australian study pathways for some markets, especially where students typically apply with family members. For Pacific students with eligible passports, the unchanged fees create a distinct cost differential compared with other international cohorts.

For those comparing pathways, the source briefly points towards related visa options such as Student visa (Subclass 500), skilled visas after 485, and employer sponsored visas. While no extra numbers are given, this hint suggests that total cost-of-pathway calculations may now matter even more. Who wants surprises at the VAC stage?

Next steps for agents, graduates and providers after the 485 fee rise

Different readers will react differently to a doubled VAC, yet the underlying data points are the same. One long paragraph can’t solve everything, but it can map out how this change might flow through case strategy, student advice, and financial planning across the Temporary Graduate visa lifecycle.

1. 01Check whether the applicant holds a passport from one of the 13 listed Pacific countries, as this directly determines whether the higher or lower VAC applies.
2. 02Confirm whether the case is a subsequent 485 visa or falls into the all other 485 applicants category, because each has its own fee schedule.
3. 03Map out VAC for each family member separately (primary, additional 18+, additional under 18), using the exact figures from the four categories.
4. 04Align timing: verify the lodgement date against 1 March 2026, since only applications lodged on or after this date face the doubled fees.
5. 05Cross-check 485 plans with potential follow-on options such as skilled visas or employer sponsored visas, using anzsco.ai visa search and the points calculator where relevant.

The source article also links to general Immigration News Australia and Upcoming immigration changes 2026, but does not add extra 485-specific data beyond what is summarised here. Any future adjustments would need to be checked directly against updated government or professional publications.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute migration advice. Always consult a Registered Migration Agent (still widely known as a MARA agent) for advice specific to your circumstances.

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