Business Phone
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal fee jumps from nearly $1,800 to $3,200
- Business Innovation and Investment (Significant Investor stream) program sees the highest hike
- Fee for Australian visas increases from 2 Aug.
A question arrise do the visa fee hike is nominal? Based on the current CPI, a statistical tool is that captures inflation. The Australian government increases visa fees every year, and hence it is always nominal. But the fee has been raised from $1,800 to $3,200. It appears that this was due to a rise in the rejection of visa applications. Not many people will now go to the tribunal.
“The CPI [Consumer Price Index] adjustment consistent with the 2020-21 Budget, VACs for most Business Innovation and Investment Program visas were also increased by 11.3 per cent on 2 AUG,” said by the spokesperson
“The Visa Application Charge (VAC) is a general taxation charge and is set by [the] government in line with policy objectives,” a spokesperson of the Department of Home Affairs added.
Latest data from the Department of Home Affairs shows that the Business Innovation and Investment (Significant Investor stream) visa has seen the highest fee increase.
This fee has jumped from $7,880 in 2020-21 to $8,925 in 2021-22, registering a hike of 13.2 per cent.
It comes close on the heels of a hike in the citizenship application fee from $285 to $590. The federal government has increased the fees for permanent and temporary resident visas from 2 Aug.
The Business Innovation and Investment program has seen the highest fee increase while partner visas have not become much costlier. However, migration agents are concerned about the steep hike in the fee for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which adjudicates visa-related matters.