Imagine budgeting for your visa, saving up the money, and then waking up one morning to find the price has doubled overnight.
That’s exactly what happened to thousands of international graduates in Australia on 1 March 2026. No real warning. No time to prepare. Just a new fee schedule that hit twice as hard.
The 485 Visa Fee Just Went From $2,300 to $4,600
The Department of Home Affairs doubled the base application charge for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), effective 1 March 2026.
Officials introduced the increase via the Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2026. It impacts every new application lodged on or after that date. If you plan to apply soon, you face these updated costs right away.
Here’s a quick look at what changed:
| Applicant Type | Old Fee | New Fee |
| Primary applicant | $2,300 | $4,600 |
| Secondary applicant (18+) | $1,150 | $2,300 |
| Secondary applicant (under 18) | $580 | $1,160 |
| Regional stream (second PHE) | Lower rate | $1,810 |
***Second Post-Higher Education Work stream (PHE) for primary applicants in regional areas.
These fees cover the base application charge only. You might pay extra for health checks, police clearances, or other requirements. Check the official Home Affairs website for your full costs and eligibility.
It Came Without Notice
This wasn’t a fee increase that was flagged months in advance with a phase-in period. It was announced just days before it took effect, leaving graduates in a genuinely difficult spot.
For someone who graduated in December 2025 and was waiting for their student visa to expire around mid-March 2026, the timing was particularly rough. These students had been promised access to the 485 when they first started studying in Australia, sometimes three or four years earlier.
Many had already set aside money based on the old $2,300 figure. Suddenly needing $4,600 or more if bringing a partner is not a small adjustment.
Why Did the Government Do This?
Home Affairs says the 100 per cent increase is about “restoring integrity” to the post-study work route.
The view from government is that the 485 has become something of a default option for graduates without a clear long-term migration plan. The higher fee is meant to filter for genuine applicants.
Revenue from the increase will go toward funding the new Genuine Student (GS) assessment process, an expanded compliance division, and real-time data-matching with the Australian Taxation Office.
This change also came alongside a February 2026 ban on “visa-hopping” between certain temporary subclasses. The migration landscape is tightening across the board, not just in one place.
What This Actually Means for Graduates
If You Already Lodged Before 1 March 2026
You are not affected. Applications submitted before the effective date keep the old fee, with no top-up required.
If You Are Still Planning to Apply
You are now looking at a minimum of $4,600 just for yourself, before any dependent charges. Budget for this now, not later. And factor in the Genuine Student requirements, which are also more rigorous than before.
If You Were Waiting to See What Happens
This is the outcome of waiting. The fee has moved, and it has moved significantly. Every week you delay on your migration journey is a week where something can change, and as this situation shows, changes do not always come with a heads-up.
The Bigger Lesson Here
Our advice on this matter is always straightforward. Do things on time. Don’t sit on tasks when you already know what needs to be done.
Migration is not a process that rewards waiting. Visa requirements change. Fees change. Policies shift. What is available to you today might cost double tomorrow, or might not be available at all.
The 485 fee increase is a clear, real-world example of what happens when timing slips in a migration journey. It is not about blame; it is about understanding that in this system, acting early protects you.
