From today, 15 January 2026, most temporary visa holders who renew or extend a visa that confers work rights must pay a separate AUD $230 “work licence” fee at lodgement. The Department of Home Affairs says the charge funds compliance monitoring and aligns Australia with overseas user-pays models.
The fee applies to Working Holiday-Maker extensions, Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) renewals, Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visas, bridging visas with work permission and many student-visa extensions. Permanent-resident applicants, refugees and diplomats are exempt.
![New $230 “Work Licence” Fee Takes Effect for Visa Extensions]()
Migration agents warn that the additional cost will particularly hit seasonal workers, international graduates and families where each working adult must pay individually. Employers cannot lawfully absorb the charge, raising the risk that lower-paid migrants either forgo lawful work rights or exit the country earlier, compounding labour shortages in hospitality, agriculture and aged-care.
Global mobility programmes should budget for the fee in 2026 relocation cost estimates and remind assignees that unpaid work performed before the fee is settled could trigger visa cancellation. Home Affairs has flagged possible hardship waivers, but details remain scarce.
Industry groups are lobbying for rebates in designated critical-skills sectors, yet officials say the measure is part of a broader migration-integrity overhaul and is unlikely to be reversed.
The fee applies to Working Holiday-Maker extensions, Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) renewals, Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visas, bridging visas with work permission and many student-visa extensions. Permanent-resident applicants, refugees and diplomats are exempt.
Migration agents warn that the additional cost will particularly hit seasonal workers, international graduates and families where each working adult must pay individually. Employers cannot lawfully absorb the charge, raising the risk that lower-paid migrants either forgo lawful work rights or exit the country earlier, compounding labour shortages in hospitality, agriculture and aged-care.
Global mobility programmes should budget for the fee in 2026 relocation cost estimates and remind assignees that unpaid work performed before the fee is settled could trigger visa cancellation. Home Affairs has flagged possible hardship waivers, but details remain scarce.
Industry groups are lobbying for rebates in designated critical-skills sectors, yet officials say the measure is part of a broader migration-integrity overhaul and is unlikely to be reversed.
Source: Philhellene Australia
