The Australian Government publishes a free, official tool to estimate your visa fee before you apply. It is called the Visa Pricing Estimator and it sits directly on the Department of Home Affairs website. As of June 2026, it is the most accurate source for Australian visa application charges available to applicants.

This article explains how to use it, what each question in the tool means, and what to do with your result.

What Is the Visa Pricing Estimator?

The Visa Pricing Estimator is an online tool maintained by the Department of Home Affairs. Private websites publish fee tables, but those tables go out of date when the Department updates charges each year. The government tool is updated at the same time fees change. That makes it a more reliable starting point than any list on a private website.

Find it here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/visa-pricing-estimator

The tool is free. No account is required

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Step-by-Step: How to Use the Estimator

The tool works through a series of questions. Each answer affects the fee displayed. Work through them carefully.

Step 1: Select your visa subclass. Choose your visa type from the dropdown list. Each option shows the subclass number and name, for example "Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)" or "Partner visa (subclass 820)". If you are not sure which visa applies to your situation, speak with a Registered Migration Agent before using the tool. Selecting the wrong visa gives an inaccurate result.

Step 2: Select your stream (if applicable). Some visas have more than one stream. The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), which replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa, has three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Essential Skills. Each may carry a different application charge. Select the stream that matches your application.

Step 3: Enter your passport country. Your nationality affects the fee for certain visa types, including those covered by bilateral agreements between Australia and specific countries.

Step 4: Enter your intended lodgment date. This step matters more than most people realise. Visa application charges are indexed annually, with changes typically taking effect on 1 July each financial year. If you are planning to lodge before or after 1 July, enter the correct intended date. Entering the wrong financial year produces the wrong fee estimate.

Step 5: Confirm online or paper application. Most applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount. Some visa types attract a higher charge for paper applications. In most cases, online lodgment is the cheaper option.

Step 6: Confirm whether you will be in Australia when you lodge. For some visa types, the charge differs depending on whether the primary applicant is onshore or offshore at lodgment. Select the option that reflects your actual situation on your intended lodgment date.

Step 7: Answer the prior visa question. The estimator asks whether you or any secondary applicants hold a temporary visa that was granted while the person was in Australia, specifically visas listed in Table 2 on the DHA website. This affects whether a supplementary charge applies. If you are unsure whether this applies, check with a Registered Migration Agent before proceeding.

Step 8: Enter the number of secondary applicants. Add every person included in your application. Adults (18 and over) and dependent children (under 18) are entered separately. The total fee increases with each additional applicant included.

Step 9: Click "Get Estimate". The tool generates a fee estimate based on your inputs. This figure is the visa application charge only. It is not a complete breakdown of migration costs.

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What to Do With Your Estimate

Save or screenshot the result. Note the date you ran it. If your intended lodgment date is more than a few months away, run the estimator again closer to the time you plan to lodge, especially if your lodgment date crosses 1 July.

Your estimate is the government fee payable to the Department of Home Affairs at lodgment. It is the first number in a longer cost calculation.

What the Estimator Does Not Include

The visa application charge is one cost in the migration process. Several other costs apply to almost every application, and none of them appear in the estimator.

Skills assessment: Most skilled migration visas require an assessment by an Australian assessing authority. This confirms your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your nominated occupation. The fee is paid to the assessing authority, not the Department.

English language test: A valid test result is required for most visa types. Accepted tests include PTE Academic, IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL iBT, and LanguageCert Academic, which received approval for Australian visa applications in August 2025. Each test charges a registration fee separately. Multiple attempts add to the total.

Medical examination: Most applicants must complete a health check with a DHA-approved panel physician. The physician charges this fee. It does not form part of the visa application charge.

Police clearance certificates: You may need clearances from Australia and from other countries where you have lived for extended periods. Fees vary by country and issuing authority.

Document translation: Documents not in English require certified translation before submission. The Department does not accept machine translations.

Migration agent fees: A Registered Migration Agent's fee is charged separately and does not appear in the estimator. For a full breakdown of all costs, see our Australia visa fees complete guide at /australia-visa-fees-2026.

A Note on Second Instalment Fees

Some visa types collect the application charge in two parts. The partner visa is the most common example.

For the Australian partner visa (subclass 820/801 for onshore applicants; subclass 309/100 for offshore applicants), the first instalment is paid at lodgment. A second instalment becomes payable when the permanent stage of the application is assessed, often several years after the first payment. The Visa Pricing Estimator shows only the first instalment.

If you are applying for a partner visa, ask your Registered Migration Agent to explain both instalments before you lodge. For a dedicated cost breakdown, read our partner visa cost guide at /partner-visa-cost-australia-2026.

Why This Tool Is More Reliable Than a Published Fee Table

Fee tables on private websites are accurate on the day they are published. They go out of date on 1 July each year when the Department indexes visa charges. A table from July 2025 does not reflect the fees that apply from July 2026. The official Visa Pricing Estimator is updated by the Department when charges change. Using it removes the risk of planning your application around an outdated figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free visa fee calculator for Australia?

Yes. The Australian Government provides a free official tool called the Visa Pricing Estimator. It is maintained by the Department of Home Affairs and is available at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/visa-pricing-estimator. You do not need to create an account. The tool covers most visa types and calculates a fee based on your specific visa, passport country, lodgment date, and number of applicants.

Is the Visa Pricing Estimator accurate?

The Visa Pricing Estimator is the most accurate source available for Australian visa application charges. It is maintained by the Department of Home Affairs and updated when fees change. Fee tables on private websites go out of date on 1 July each year when the Department indexes charges. The official estimator reflects the current figures. It provides an estimate, not a guaranteed fee, but it is the best available starting point.

Does the estimator show the second instalment for partner visas?

No. The Visa Pricing Estimator shows the first instalment of the partner visa fee only. The second instalment becomes payable years later, when the Department assesses the permanent stage of your application. The second instalment is a separate figure that does not appear in the estimator. Ask your Registered Migration Agent about the second instalment amount before you lodge a partner visa application.

How often are Australian visa fees updated?

The Department of Home Affairs indexes visa application charges annually, with changes typically taking effect on 1 July each financial year. Some changes apply outside the annual cycle. For example, the 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee increased on 1 March 2026. Always use the official Visa Pricing Estimator rather than published fee tables, which may be out of date.

What does the Visa Pricing Estimator not include?

The estimator shows the government visa application charge only. It does not include skills assessment fees, English language test fees, medical examination fees, police clearance fees, document translation costs, or migration agent fees. For most skilled and family visa applications, these additional costs are significant. The total cost of a visa application is higher than the figure shown in the estimator.

Plan Your Full Visa Cost With Desire Migration

The estimator covers the government fee. The complete cost of your visa pathway, across skills assessment, English testing, medical, and professional guidance, requires a more detailed review.

Desire Migration is led by Manisha Bhutani, a Registered Migration Agent with 15 years of experience (MARN 2217756). She has supported over 11,698 clients through Australian visa applications across skilled, family, and employer-sponsored pathways.

We work from three Melbourne offices: CBD (1003/530 Little Collins St), Truganina, and St Albans. In-person and remote consultations are available.

Book a consultation at desiremigration.com.au.