WWICS Blog

New Australian Visa Fee System to be Effective from 2012 – Skilled Workers & Business Immigrants Apply Now!
Posted on:2 January' 12

Australian Immigration department will implement a new visa fee system starting in 2012 as announced by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen. For students aspiring to study in Australia, it is indeed good news since student visa fee will decrease by 5%. However, Skilled Workers visa and Business immigration visa fee will increase by 5% and 15%, respectively. Therefore, Skilled Workers and Business immigration aspirants must apply now to save on the increased cost.

The change in visa fees will be effective from 1 January 2012 so as to make sure that taxpayers are not subsidizing visa applications any longer since the existing fee structure does not cover the entire cost of processing the applications.

Bowen said, "These changes will bring Australia's visa application charge structures at par with other comparable countries. The taxpayers will no longer need to subsidize visa applicants."

In addition to this, a fee for dependents of visa applicants will also be introduced by the Australian government. As per the existing policy, applicants applying as student dependents do not have to pay any application fee.

Refugee and humanitarian visa applicants, Citizenship applicants, Postgraduate research students and Australian sponsoring businesses categories will remain unaffected by the fee change.

CMD of WWICS Group, Lt. Col. Sandhu (Retd.) said, "Australia is one of the most preferred destinations for professionals, students and businesspersons. Since visa fee change is set to increase for Skilled Workers & Professionals and Business immigration categories, all the aspirants must submit their applications at the earliest as time is a pressing concern."

He added that on the other hand, the students planning to study in Australia should rejoice in the wake of the proposed decrease of visa fees.