Graduates planning to stay and work in Australia were hit with a steep cost increase when the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) doubled on 1 March 2026. The change, detailed in government guidance and widely reported on 5–6 March, introduces a four-tier structure that differentiates between passport eligibility and whether the applicant is lodging a subsequent 485. For most new applicants without an “eligible passport,” the primary-applicant fee jumped from AUD 2,300 to AUD 4,600, while additional adult dependants now cost AUD 2,300 each. Subsequent 485 applicants from non-eligible countries also face a 100 % surcharge. By contrast, graduates from countries with reciprocal mobility arrangements—mainly Pacific Island nations—retain the old pricing.
![Temporary Graduate Visa Fee Doubles Under New Four-Tier Pricing Framework]()
For graduates and employers struggling to navigate these sudden shifts, VisaHQ’s online portal offers a concise breakdown of the new fee tiers and eligibility rules. Its Australia page (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) lets users run quick passport checks, generates tailored document checklists, and provides live support—services that can prevent costly missteps now that a single oversight might add thousands to an application.
The government says the extra revenue funds the 500 new processing officers and cloud-based workflow tools underpinning the broader visa-service overhaul, but university peak bodies warn that the spike could deter high-calibre students at the moment Australia is trying to rebuild international enrolments. Mobility advisers are already fielding calls from employers whose graduate talent pipelines rely on the 485 as a bridge to permanent residence. Practical implications are twofold. First, graduates whose student visas expire soon must budget thousands of extra dollars—with payment due in full at lodgement. Second, HR teams offering graduate programs need to revisit relocation allowances or salary-packaging policies so that offers remain competitive against Canada and the UK, where post-study work routes are cheaper. Agents recommend confirming passport-eligibility status early, as some dual-nationals can still access the lower tier. Meanwhile, applicants should expect closer scrutiny of financial-capacity evidence now that higher fees could tempt some to understate dependent numbers.
For graduates and employers struggling to navigate these sudden shifts, VisaHQ’s online portal offers a concise breakdown of the new fee tiers and eligibility rules. Its Australia page (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) lets users run quick passport checks, generates tailored document checklists, and provides live support—services that can prevent costly missteps now that a single oversight might add thousands to an application.
The government says the extra revenue funds the 500 new processing officers and cloud-based workflow tools underpinning the broader visa-service overhaul, but university peak bodies warn that the spike could deter high-calibre students at the moment Australia is trying to rebuild international enrolments. Mobility advisers are already fielding calls from employers whose graduate talent pipelines rely on the 485 as a bridge to permanent residence. Practical implications are twofold. First, graduates whose student visas expire soon must budget thousands of extra dollars—with payment due in full at lodgement. Second, HR teams offering graduate programs need to revisit relocation allowances or salary-packaging policies so that offers remain competitive against Canada and the UK, where post-study work routes are cheaper. Agents recommend confirming passport-eligibility status early, as some dual-nationals can still access the lower tier. Meanwhile, applicants should expect closer scrutiny of financial-capacity evidence now that higher fees could tempt some to understate dependent numbers.
