Australian Visa Application Fee increased on July 1

The Australian Department of Immigration has announced an increase in visa application fees  from 1 July 2009. The fees have increased by 20%. Here are details of some of the most common visa fee increases: •Tourist Visa Application Fees (for paper based applications only): AUD$105 •Business Short Stay Visa Application Fees: AUD$105 •Skilled Visa Application Fees: AUD$2,525 •Skilled Graduate Visa Application Fees: AUD$230 •Working Holiday Visa Application Fees: AUD$230 •Student Visa Application Fees: AUD$540 •Partner/Family Visa Application Fees (lodged outside Australia): AUD$1,705 •Most Provisional Business Visa Application Fees: AUD$3,360 •Residence (permanent) Business Visa Application Fees: AUD$1,410 It’s vital that all applicants understand exactly how much their application will cost, because  DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) have stated: “A visa application is not valid until the department receives the correct amount of the Visa application Charge (VAC). If the correct amount is not paid, it will result in your visa  application being delayed until the correct amount is received. Your visa application may be returned with a request that it be resent with the correct VAC amount.” Therefore, as applicants who do not pay the correct fee upon lodging their visa application stand the   risk of having their application be subject to delays, it is important that they are fully aware of  all  costs before a lodgment is made. Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship