Good news for those who are preparing to apply Visa Australia: from October 1, 2026, card payment surcharge for Visa Application Charge (VAC) will be officially eliminated. According to information shared by the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) based on confirmation from the Department of Home Affairs, this change applies to Visa Application Charges paid by card.
This means that applicants can save some costs incurred when paying Visa fees.
No longer has a surcharge of about 1.4% when paying Visa fees with card
Previously, when paying Visa Application Charge through the ImmiAccount system, applicants may have to pay an additional card payment surcharge, usually at about 1.4% for some card payment methods. From October 1, 2026, this surcharge will be eliminated for VAC payments by card according to information announced by MIA.
What does this mean for Visa applicants?
From October 1, 2026:
- There is no longer a card payment surcharge for the applicable Visa Application Charge.
- The savings come from eliminating surcharges, not reducing Visa fees.
- The Visa Application Charge (VAC) level of each Visa type does not change solely because of this policy.
- Applicants still need to pay the required Visa fee in full at the time of application.
Example: Australian Student Visa applicants can save about $30 AUD
With a Student Visa (subclass 500) application paid by card, previously a surcharge of about 1.4% could create an additional cost. For example, if the Visa Application Charge is about $2,000 AUD, a 1.4% surcharge is equivalent approximately: $2,000 × 1.4% = $28 AUD. Thus, applicants can save nearly $30 AUD if this surcharge no longer applies from October 1, 2026.
Note: The above figure is only an illustrative example based on a surcharge level of about 1.4%. The actual money depends on the VAC level and payment method at the time of transaction.
This is not a reduction of Australian Visa fees
A very important point that applicants need to distinguish: Remove card payment surcharge ≠ reduce Visa Application Charge.
The new policy only concerns surcharges arising due to card payment methods. The official Visa fees for each Visa type still apply according to regulations of the Department of Home Affairs. For example, if a Visa has a VAC of $2,000 AUD, removing the surcharge does not mean the new VAC will drop below $2,000 AUD. The applicant must still pay the VAC rate specified at the time of application.
What should people who are preparing Australian Visa applications note?
If you are preparing to apply for Australian Visa in the near future, this change may help reduce some of the costs when making payments. Especially for applications with high Visa fees, eliminating the surcharge percentage can create more significant savings.
However, before paying, applicants should still check the final amount displayed on ImmiAccount, because Visa fees and payment regulations may be updated from time to time. This is a change to payment surcharges, not a Visa fee reduction policy.
Source: Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) / Department of Home Affairs.
