The Department of Home Affairs publishes the official partner visa Australia charges on its website. This article is a plain relay of those figures, structured into a readable format for applicants who want to understand what they are paying before lodging.
This page does not provide legal or immigration advice. All figures below are sourced from publicly available Australian Government fee schedules. Always verify current amounts at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.
What Are the Current Partner Visa Australia Charges?
The government fee depends on which subclass you are applying for. Partner visas in Australia fall into two main pipelines:
- Onshore: Subclass 820 (temporary) leading to Subclass 801 (permanent)
- Offshore: Subclass 309 (temporary) leading to Subclass 100 (permanent)
The base application charge covers both stages within the same pipeline. You pay once at the temporary stage, and the permanent stage is included in that same payment.
Current Base Application Charges (2026)
| Visa Pathway | Subclass | Base Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Onshore temporary | 820 | AUD 9,095 |
| Onshore permanent (included) | 801 | — |
| Offshore temporary | 309 | AUD 9,095 |
| Offshore permanent (included) | 100 | — |
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Visa pricing. Published schedule effective 1 July 2025. Charges are reviewed annually on 1 July.
The total cost an applicant actually pays depends on additional charges that apply in specific circumstances, as detailed below.
Additional Applicant Charges
If your application includes secondary applicants (dependants aged 18 or over), an additional charge applies per person.
| Applicant Type | Additional Charge |
|---|---|
| Secondary applicant aged 18 or over | AUD 4,550 |
| Secondary applicant under 18 | AUD 2,275 |
A couple with no dependants pays only the base charge. A couple with one adult dependant included would pay AUD 9,095 + AUD 4,550 = AUD 13,645.
The Non-Refundable Structure
The partner visa Australia application charge is not refundable if:
- The application is refused by the Department
- The application is withdrawn after lodgement
- The applicant is found to be ineligible
The Department's own guidance states clearly that the application charge is payable at the time of lodgement and is non-refundable regardless of outcome. This applies whether the decision is made by a delegate or reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
This is a significant financial consideration. An application refused due to incomplete or poorly formatted supporting documentation cannot recover its AUD 9,095+ charge.
Biometric and Health Examination Costs
Partner visa applicants are typically required to complete a health examination and, depending on their country of citizenship, biometric collection. These are separate costs not included in the visa application charge.
| Requirement | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Health examination (per adult) | AUD 300 – AUD 500 |
| Chest X-ray (if required) | AUD 100 – AUD 250 |
| Biometric collection | Variable by location |
These are paid directly to Department-approved panel physicians and collection points. The VisaPrep platform does not facilitate health or biometric appointments.
Police Clearance and Document Costs
Most partner visa applications require police clearances from each country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more since the age of 16. Costs vary by issuing country.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) checks are available at afp.gov.au and currently cost AUD 42.00 for a standard national police check.
Translation costs for documents not in English are also borne by the applicant.
Annual Charge Increases
The Department of Home Affairs reviews visa application charges on 1 July each year. Charges typically increase in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Applications lodged before 1 July are charged at the rate applicable at lodgement, even if a decision is made after the new rates take effect.
For the most current figures, refer to the Department's visa pricing page directly.
Keeping Your Document Folders Organised Before Lodgement
Because government application charges are completely non-refundable, ensuring your document folders are structured correctly before lodgement is a practical clerical step.
The Department assesses applications against four official relationship categories:
- Financial aspects of the relationship
- Nature of the household
- Social aspects of the relationship
- Nature of the commitment
VisaPrep's free document structure checklist maps each of these categories and tracks which standard folder slots you have filled and which remain empty. It is a formatting and organisational utility — it does not assess the legal validity or sufficiency of your documents.
Administrative Disclaimer: VisaPrep is a clerical file organisation and formatting software utility. It does not provide immigration assistance, legal advice, or eligibility assessments under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). All information on this page is a passive relay of publicly available third-party data sourced from the Department of Home Affairs. Figures may change. Users are entirely responsible for verifying current charges and for the legal accuracy and sufficiency of their own applications.