From 15 January 2026, anyone extending or renewing an Australian temporary visa that confers work rights must pay a new AUD $230 “work licence” fee at lodgement. The charge applies to extensions of Working-Holiday Maker, Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482), Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) and student visas with work permission, as well as bridging visas that authorise employment. Permanent-resident, refugee and diplomatic visas are exempt. Home Affairs says the levy will fund an expanded workplace-compliance regime and bring Australia into line with user-pays models in Canada and the UK.
Migration agents warn the extra cost disproportionately affects seasonal workers, international graduates and low-wage employees—each working adult in a family must pay individually. Employers are prohibited from reimbursing applicants, potentially driving some migrants to work unlawfully or leave Australia early, exacerbating labour shortages in hospitality, agriculture and aged care.
![AUD $230 ‘Work Licence’ Fee Now Applies to Most Visa Extensions with Work Rights]()
Corporate mobility budgets for 2026 should be revised immediately. HR teams must account for the new charge in cost-projections, update internal relocation calculators and brief finance departments. Failure to pay the levy invalidates work rights; assignees who perform paid duties before payment risk visa cancellation and employer sanctions under the Employer Sanctions Framework.
Industry bodies including the National Farmers’ Federation have called for rebates or exemptions in critical-skills sectors, but officials indicate the measure is part of a broader migration-integrity overhaul and unlikely to be reversed.
Practical advice for mobility managers includes adding the work-licence fee to standard pre-lodgement checklists, confirming payment receipts before roster start dates and educating line managers about the consequences of non-compliance.
Migration agents warn the extra cost disproportionately affects seasonal workers, international graduates and low-wage employees—each working adult in a family must pay individually. Employers are prohibited from reimbursing applicants, potentially driving some migrants to work unlawfully or leave Australia early, exacerbating labour shortages in hospitality, agriculture and aged care.
Corporate mobility budgets for 2026 should be revised immediately. HR teams must account for the new charge in cost-projections, update internal relocation calculators and brief finance departments. Failure to pay the levy invalidates work rights; assignees who perform paid duties before payment risk visa cancellation and employer sanctions under the Employer Sanctions Framework.
Industry bodies including the National Farmers’ Federation have called for rebates or exemptions in critical-skills sectors, but officials indicate the measure is part of a broader migration-integrity overhaul and unlikely to be reversed.
Practical advice for mobility managers includes adding the work-licence fee to standard pre-lodgement checklists, confirming payment receipts before roster start dates and educating line managers about the consequences of non-compliance.
Source: VisaHQ
