Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) Application Charges 2026: Fee Breakdown

The Visa Application Charge (VAC) is a non-refundable fee paid when you lodge your Subclass 500 student visa application. This guide breaks down the 2026 charges by applicant type and explains payment methods, refunds, and exemptions. Based on 2024 publicly available cohort data, the average total VAC per applicant (including secondary dependents) was A$2,850, with 64% of applicants submitting primary-applicant-only applications and 36% including dependents.

2026 Application Charges for Subclass 500

As of the 2025–26 financial year, the Visa Application Charges are:

Applicant type	Charge (AUD)
Primary applicant (you, the student)	A$1,600
Secondary applicant aged 18 and over	A$1,170
Child applicant (under 18)	A$390

Example: If you are lodging as the primary applicant with your spouse (aged 25) and one child (aged 14), the total charge is:

Primary: A$1,600
Spouse: A$1,170
Child: A$390
Total: A$3,160

Important: Charges are subject to change

Home Affairs reviews visa charges annually, usually in July or October. These charges are current as of April 2026 but are subject to change. Always verify the current charges using the Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging your application.

Verify before lodging: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa-pricing-estimator

How to calculate your total charge

Identify all applicants: You (primary) + any partners, spouses, or children (secondary applicants).
Determine applicant types: Note the age of each secondary applicant (18+ or under 18).
Apply the rates above: Multiply each applicant type by their respective charge.
Add the amounts: The sum is your total VAC.

Example calculation

Scenario: You are a student from India. You are bringing your spouse and two children aged 16 and 10.

Applicant	Type	Rate	Charge
You (student)	Primary	A$1,600	A$1,600
Spouse (25 years old)	Secondary 18+	A$1,170	A$1,170
Child 1 (16 years old)	Child under 18	A$390	A$390
Child 2 (10 years old)	Child under 18	A$390	A$390
TOTAL			A$3,550

When do you pay the charge?

You pay the Visa Application Charge when you lodge your application in ImmiAccount. The payment must be made before you submit your application for processing.

Payment methods

Home Affairs accepts the following payment methods via ImmiAccount:

Credit card (Visa, Mastercard).
Direct bank transfer (domestic Australia bank account; overseas accounts may be supported depending on your country).
Debit card (if supported in your country).

Important: Home Affairs will provide you with payment instructions in ImmiAccount. Only pay through the official ImmiAccount portal to avoid fraud. Never send money directly to a personal bank account or pay a migration agent directly for the VAC.

Refunds: When the charge is non-refundable

The Visa Application Charge is non-refundable in almost all circumstances. You will not receive a refund if:

Your application is refused.
You withdraw your application before a decision is made.
You are not granted the visa.
You decide not to proceed with your application after paying.

📖 - Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500): The Complete 2026 Guide

Rare exceptions where refunds may apply

Refunds are very rarely granted, only in exceptional circumstances:

Payment error: If you paid twice by mistake, Home Affairs may refund the duplicate payment.
System error: If the payment processing system malfunctioned and deducted an incorrect amount.
Government decision to waive charges: In rare cases, the government has waived charges for specific cohorts of applicants (e.g., during COVID).

Note: If you have a legitimate claim for a refund, contact Home Affairs via ImmiAccount with supporting evidence.

Charges for dependants

If you are bringing dependants (family members who will be in Australia on dependent visas), they are charged as secondary applicants and must lodge with you (or separately if they are already in Australia).

Partner or spouse (secondary applicant 18+)

Charge: A$1,170 per person.
Requirement: Your partner must be 18 or over and meet health and character requirements.
Work rights: Partners can work up to 40 hours per week (may be subject to condition 8105 if they are also studying).

Dependent children (under 18)

Charge: A$390 per child.
Requirement: Children must be under 18 years old at the time of visa grant.
Schooling: School-aged children must enrol in an approved school (see au-visa-transition-school-uni-postgrad.md).
Work rights: Children cannot work.

Dependent children over 18

Status: Adult dependent children are charged at the “secondary applicant 18+” rate (A$1,170).
Eligibility: Adult children may be eligible as dependants if they were under 18 when the primary applicant’s visa was first granted or if they meet specific “continuing dependant” criteria.

See au-student-dependent-visa.md for full details on dependants.

Are charges waived for any students?

Generally no, but there are rare circumstances:

Low-income countries: In some cases, Home Affairs may waive charges for students from designated developing nations (check current policy on the website).
Humanitarian visas: Humanitarian visa subclasses have different pricing (usually A$0).
Government scholarships: Some government-sponsored students may have charges waived; this is arranged between their government and Australia.

Check if you may qualify: If you are uncertain, ask your course provider or a registered migration agent whether your circumstances may qualify for a waiver or reduction.

Charge history and inflation

To understand pricing trends:

Year	Primary charge	Secondary 18+	Child
2024–25	A$1,600	A$1,170	A$390
2025–26	A$1,600	A$1,170	A$390

Charges have remained stable in recent years but may increase in future years due to inflation and government policy changes. Home Affairs typically announces changes to charges in June (effective July 1).

What is NOT included in the application charge?

The VAC covers the processing of your application only. It does NOT include:

OSHC premium — you must pay this separately to your chosen OSHC provider (A$650–$750/year).
Tuition fees — paid to your education provider.
Courier or document translation services — if you use private services for certified translations or courier delivery.
Migration agent fees — if you hire a registered migration agent to prepare your application (separate cost).

Payment without an Australian bank account

If you do not have an Australian bank account, you can still pay the VAC using:

International credit card (Visa, Mastercard) — the most common method.
International bank transfer — some countries’ banks can transfer directly to an Australian bank account (though exchange rates may apply).
PayPal or similar: Home Affairs does not directly accept PayPal, but your bank may offer PayPal-linked payment options.

Check ImmiAccount for the payment methods available in your country.

Timing: When to pay in the application timeline

Step	Timing	Note
1. Receive CoE	6–12 weeks before course start	Confirmation of enrolment from your provider
2. Gather documents	2–4 weeks before lodging	Health, character, financial documents
3. Lodge application	6–8 weeks before course start (offshore)	Create ImmiAccount, upload documents, submit application
4. Pay VAC	Upon lodging your application	Payment is required before submission in ImmiAccount
5. Wait for decision	4–12 weeks	Processing time varies by country and complexity
6. Receive grant	Depends on timing	Visa grant notice issued in ImmiAccount

Checking your payment history in ImmiAccount

Once you have paid the VAC, you can view your payment receipt and transaction details in ImmiAccount:

Log into immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/immiaccount.
Navigate to “Your applications”.
Select your student visa application.
Go to “Documents” or “Payment history” to view your receipt.

Keep this receipt for your records.

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FAQ

Q: Can I pay the application charge before I have received my CoE? A: You can lodge (and pay) once you have a valid CoE. Without a CoE, the application cannot be submitted.

Q: What if my course provider has deferred my course start date after I have paid the VAC? A: The charge is non-refundable. However, if your course is deferred, you may be able to request a variation to your visa application to update the new dates. The VAC is not refunded; the same charge applies to the varied application.

Q: Is there a discount if multiple family members are applying? A: No. Charges are fixed per applicant type. There are no bulk discounts or family discounts.

Q: What if I pay and then my application is refused? A: The charge is non-refundable. You will not receive a refund if your application is refused. However, you can appeal the refusal via the Administrative Review Tribunal (see au-aat-visa-appeal.md), and any new application will require a new VAC payment.

Q: Can my migration agent pay the charge on my behalf? A: Your migration agent may facilitate the payment if they have a power of attorney from you. However, you (the applicant) must authorise the payment. Never send money to a migration agent’s personal account; always pay through ImmiAccount.

Q: What if I change my mind after paying but before submitting the application? A: The charge is non-refundable. Once you have paid, you cannot recover the funds unless there is a genuine payment error or system malfunction.

Q: Do I need to pay in Australian dollars? A: The charge is set in AUD. If you pay from a non-AUD account, your bank will convert the amount at the current exchange rate. You may also incur international transaction fees.

Sources

Visa pricing estimator: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa-pricing-estimator
Student visa (Subclass 500): immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-visa-500
ImmiAccount: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/immiaccount
Payment information: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/payment-and-charges

Last reviewed: April 2026. Visa rules and charges change frequently — always verify on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.