International graduates hoping to stay and work in Australia will now need a much larger budget. On 5 March 2026 the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the base Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) jumped from AU$2,300 to AU$4,600 for new applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026. Fees for secondary applicants have also doubled. The dramatic rise forms part of amendments to the Migration (Fees) Regulation 2024 designed to “restore integrity” to the post-study work route. Officials say additional revenue will fund a new Genuine Student (GS) integrity test, expand compliance teams and enable real-time data-matching with the Australian Taxation Office. The changes come as the Government seeks to cut net overseas migration from last year’s record 538,000 to around 306,000 in 2025-26. Universities and large employers fear the hike will make Australia less competitive than Canada or the UK, where comparable post-study permits cost under AU$1,000. Several institutions reported a rush of last-minute 485 applications in late February as international students tried to lodge before the higher fee took effect. HR teams are already reassessing graduate-hire budgets and exploring employer-sponsored alternatives such as the subclass 482 visa. For mobility managers the immediate priority is communication: make sure graduating cohorts know the new costs, update relocation cost projections, and consider bridging strategies (for example, short-term 400 visas) if young talent postpones 485 applications. Employers with regional operations may still benefit from fee concessions available to Pacific Island nationals and Timor-Leste citizens. Migration advisers expect the higher price tag to reduce overall demand but say well-prepared applicants—especially those moving straight into skilled-visa pathways—will continue to view the 485 as a valuable springboard to permanent residency.
Source: Getting Down Under
