Summary
AUD 3,727
New migration review fee from 1 July 2026
50%
Possible fee reduction for financial hardship
AUD 2,293
New protection review fee from 1 July 2026
ART migration review fees from 1 July 2026
What are the new ART migration review fees?
From 1 July 2026, the ART increases most application fees, with the reviewable migration decision fee moving from AUD 3,580 to AUD 3,727. For many visa refusal applicants, this is the key number because it directly affects review costs for decisions that can go to the Tribunal.
| Fee type | Before 1 July 2026 | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviewable migration decision | AUD 3,580 | AUD 3,727 |
| Protection decision review | AUD 2,203 | AUD 2,293 |
| Standard application fee | AUD 1,148 | AUD 1,195 |
| Guidance and Appeals Panel review | AUD 1,148 | AUD 1,195 |
| Concessional circumstances fee | AUD 100 | AUD 100 |
Who is affected by the ART fee increase?
A visa refusal can disrupt study plans, work rights, family plans, employer sponsorship, partner migration, visitor travel or long-term permanent residency planning. When the ART migration review fee rises, the financial pressure sits on top of already stressful timelines and evidence requirements.
Why the ART fee payment date now matters
The ART has stated that the new fees apply to any application fee paid on or after 1 July 2026, even if the review application was lodged before that date. So the payment date, not only the lodgement date, can decide whether the old or new amount applies.
| Situation | Fee impact |
|---|---|
| Application lodged and fee paid before 1 July 2026 | Current fee may apply |
| Application lodged before 1 July but fee paid on or after 1 July 2026 | New fee may apply |
| Application lodged and paid on or after 1 July 2026 | New fee applies |
| Applicant waits until the last day without preparing payment | Risk of paying higher fee or missing deadline |
Payment timing risk
For visa refusal applicants, this makes early action important. A person waiting until close to the review deadline to understand the fee, documents or payment requirements may face higher costs or even lose the right to review.
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Strict ART review deadlines and loss of rights
The fee increase is serious, but the review deadline is even more critical. A person who misses the ART time limit may lose the chance to have their migration decision reviewed at all. Lowest since September 2025.
| Deadline issue | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Decision letter date | Usually the starting point for checking review rights and deadline |
| Reviewable decision | Not every decision may have the same review option |
| Time limit | Must be checked from the refusal or cancellation letter |
| No extension power | The ART cannot extend the time limit |
| Late action | May result in losing review rights |
The ART states that time limits for applying for a review are very strict, and the Tribunal has no power to extend the time limit to apply.
The safest document for understanding ART review rights and deadlines is the Department of Home Affairs refusal or cancellation letter.
Applicants may wish to treat general online information as background only. For the actual deadline, the Home Affairs decision letter explains whether review rights exist and when the time limit applies, which can differ between detention and non-detention cases.
Financial hardship and concessional ART migration review fees
The higher fee does not automatically mean every person pays AUD 3,727 in full. A 50% reduction may be granted for reviewable migration decisions on financial hardship grounds, which can be vital for applicants under cost pressure.
| Fee reduction area | What applicants should understand |
|---|---|
| Financial hardship | A 50% reduction may be available for migration reviews |
| Not automatic | Applicant must request and support the claim |
| Evidence needed | Financial circumstances may need to be shown |
| Timing matters | Fee and reduction request should be handled before the deadline |
| Concessional fee | The fee in concessional circumstances remains AUD 100 |
Planning for hardship claims
Protection visa review fees work differently
Protection decision reviews follow a distinct fee structure. From 1 July 2026, the fee for review of a reviewable protection decision increases from AUD 2,203 to AUD 2,293, but in general this amount is payable only if the application is not successful.
| Protection review fee | Before 1 July 2026 | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviewable protection decision | AUD 2,203 | AUD 2,293 |
Protection matters can be complex and may affect an applicant’s safety, family and future in Australia. For that reason, the update stresses that protection visa applicants still need to read the decision letter carefully and understand the review deadline, process and fee rules that apply to their specific case.
Student visa refusal ART reviews: written evidence now central
Student visa refusal applicants face a second layer of change. ART processes for many student visa refusals now allow the Tribunal to decide the matter without an oral hearing, which makes written material very important. No second chance in the room.
| Student visa refusal review area | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Written submissions | May become the main way to explain the case |
| Refusal reasons | Must be answered clearly |
| Supporting documents | Should directly address the concerns |
| Timeline | Strict deadline still applies |
| Fee increase | Adds extra cost pressure from 1 July 2026 |
Risk of weak student visa responses
Our analysis of ImmiIQ data suggests student visa applicants and education providers may wish to pay closer attention to refusal reasons and targeted evidence, because the combination of strict deadlines, higher fees and paper-based decision-making raises the stakes for the first written submission.
Partner, employer, nomination and visitor refusals
The ART fee increase can also affect a wide range of other migration review matters, depending on review rights. This includes partner visa refusals, visitor visa refusals, temporary work visa refusals, employer nomination issues and sponsor approval decisions that are reviewable by the Tribunal.
- Partner visa applicants facing a refusal or cancellation decision
- Employers dealing with nomination or sponsor approval issues
- Temporary work and visitor visa holders with review rights at the ART
- Families whose long-term residency planning relies on a successful review
Group has assisted more than 200,000 applicants with Australian migration matters, and this fee increase acts as a reminder that review work may benefit from being handled quickly, carefully and with the right evidence from the beginning. Who wants to pay more for a weaker case?
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Check RequirementsNext steps for agents, applicants and providers
For migration agents, visa applicants and education providers, the 1 July 2026 ART fee changes reshape how refusal cases are costed and timed. Long sentences about complex planning are less useful than a simple, practical checklist of what may need attention now that fees are higher and deadlines remain strict.
- 01Check the Department of Home Affairs refusal or cancellation letter for review rights and exact ART deadline.
- 02Confirm whether the case involves a migration review, protection review, or other ART fee type from the new table.
- 03Plan the payment date as well as lodgement date, because fees paid on or after 1 July 2026 may attract the higher amount.
- 04Assess whether a financial hardship reduction or concessional fee could apply and what evidence is available.
- 05For student visa refusals, prepare targeted written submissions and documents that directly address the refusal reasons.
Using ImmiIQ with ART review planning
Agents and applicants may wish to align ART review decisions with longer-term plans such as state nomination or future skilled pathways, especially where a refusal affects options for ANZSCO-linked skilled visas. The fee increase makes every review application a more deliberate financial and strategic choice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Topics
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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