Family visas are a category of visas that allow eligible family members of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to reunite with their loved ones in Australia. These visas are designed to promote family unity and allow close relatives to live, work, and study in Australia. The Australian government offers several types of family visas to cater to different family relationships and circumstances and some of which can lead to permanent residency.
Visa application costs are an important factor to consider when planning to apply for an Australian family visa. The cost of the visa can vary depending on the specific subclass and the circumstances of the applicant. To ensure you’re well prepared and informed about your visa application, we recommend you enlist the assistance of one of an Australian Migration Lawyer to get you started.
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Book a Consultation
If you are interested in getting more information about a visa, get in touch with Australian Migration Lawyers for a consultation.
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Associated costs
Below is an overview of common Australian family visa subclasses and their associated costs. For more specific information around your circumstances, contact us at Australian Migration Lawyers.
A note about the Visa Application Fee: This is the cost you need to pay to the Australian Government when you submit your application.Visa application fees are generally non-refundable, even if your application is later refused.
Payment timelines with associated costs
Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, the Department of Home Affairs will have different requirements for payment regarding your visa applications. All payments for submissions listed below commence at the time of lodgement with no government fees to be paid prior to this. Understanding the payment expectations and requirements by the department is paramount in efficiently getting your visa application processed. It’s recommended that you speak to a migration lawyer to ensure you don’t miss a deadline.
A family visa can normally incur the following fees:
| Visa Type |
Main Applicant Cost (AUD) |
Additional Applicant Base Cost (AUD) |
Payment Timeline (AUD) |
| New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa (subclass 461) |
$1,330 |
- $675 for an applicant 18 years or older.
- $325 for an applicant under 18 years. |
The full fee is payable in a single instalment at the time of application |
| Child visa (subclass 101/802) |
$4,040 |
- $2,020 for an applicant 18 years or older.
- $1,015 for an applicant under 18 years. |
Paid in full |
| Adoption visa (subclass 102) |
$4,040 |
- $2,020 for an applicant 18 years or older.
- $1,015 for an applicant under 18 years. |
Paid in full |
| Carer visa (subclass 116/836) |
$4,785 |
- $1,365 for an applicant 18 years or older.
- $680 for an applicant under 18 years. |
#First Instalment:
- Payable at the time of application. The base charge $2,720
- Additional charges $1,365 (18+) and $680 (under 18).
#Second instalment:
$2,065 per applicant before grant. May be waived for severe financial hardship.
|
| Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115) |
$8,665 |
- $3,300 for an applicant 18 years or older.
- $1,655 for an applicant under 18 years. |
#First Instalment:
- Payable at the time of application. The base charge is $6,600
- Additional charges $3,300 (18+) and $1,655 (under 18).
#Second instalment:
$2,065 per applicant payable before grant.
|
| Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclass 114/838) |
$8,665 |
- $3,300 for an applicant 18 years or older.
- $1,655 for an applicant under 18 years. |
#First Instalment:
- Payable at the time of application. Base charge $6,600
- Additional charges $3,300 (18+) and $1,655 (under 18).
#Second instalment:
$2,065 per applicant, payable before grant.
|
Any costs that may be incurred by the applicant prior to submissions may be related to service fees of migration agents or lawyers where clients are required to have their consultations and meetings paid prior to lodgement.
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Other visa application requirements
Medical Examination
Each person included in your application will need to undergo a medical examination. These costs can vary, and you'll pay this fee directly to the doctor conducting the examination.
Biometrics Collection
Visa applicants may be requested to provide biometrics including fingerprints and face structure (photos) during the application process. This fee is paid to the Australian Biometric Collection Centres or their overseas service providers.
Police Checks
Depending on where you've lived, you might need to pay for police checks. This fee is paid to the police authorities in the countries where you've lived for 12 months or more.
Document Translation
If your documents are not in English, they will need to be translated. The fee for this service varies, and you'll pay it directly to the person responsible for translating your documents.
These fees reflect the Department of Home Affairs indexation effective 1 July 2026. Fees are updated annually, so it's always a good idea to check the most current fees on the Australian Government's website or with an Australian Migration Lawyer to ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Contributory parent visa application
In some circumstances, people living in Australia as an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen may wish to have their parents living internationally to join them in Australia. These people may choose to sponsor one of their parents who would submit for a parent visa application under the Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 173/143) or the Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 884/864).
The significant difference of a Contributory Parent Visa and the Contributory Aged Parent Visa compared to other parent visa types is the cost. These particular parent visa applications are more expensive than the rest.
Both visa types are paid in two instalments. For the temporary Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173) and Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 884), the first instalment is $4,245 (173) or $6,300 (884) for the main applicant, with a second instalment of $29,130 per applicant payable before the permanent visa (subclass 143 or 864) is granted. For the permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) and Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) applied for directly, the first instalment is $4,040 (143) or $6,300 (864), with a substantially higher second instalment of $43,600 per applicant. Additional applicant charges also apply and vary by age and visa stream. Given the size of the second instalment in particular, it's worth discussing the full cost and payment timeline with a migration lawyer before committing to this pathway.
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