Pollyana

As announced in this week's Federal Budget:

Migrants and visitors set to pay more for visas as federal government looks to recoup processing costs in budget

Visa application fees are set to increase by between 6 and 40 per cent above inflation from July 1.The rise in charges for visitors and migrants was revealed in last night's budget, with the federal government saying the extra $665 million raised over five years would go towards improving visa processing and "other government priorities".
The government has made reducing visa processing times a focus since winning last year's election.
The fees for visa subclasses including visitor, working holiday, work and holiday, training, temporary activity, and temporary work (short stay specialist) will all increase by 15 per cent.
Meanwhile, the cost to apply for business innovation and investment visas — for prospective business owners, investors and entrepreneurs — will increase by 40 per cent, from $9,195 to $12,873.

International students' working hours will be capped at an increased rate of 48 hours a fortnight, with exemptions

The government's budget set the total for the 2023-24 permanent migration program at 190,000 places, 5,000 fewer than 2022-23.

The majority of the other immigration-related measures had already been revealed through leaks and announcements over the past few weeks.

Those include:

• an increase in the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold from $53,900 to $70,000
• the return of a cap on the hours international students can work, but increased by eight hours to 48 hours per fortnight (the aged-care sector will be exempt from the cap until the end of 2023)
• an extra two years of post-study work rights for international higher education graduates
• a direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens
• a pathway for Temporary Skill Shortage visa holders to access permanent residency

Pollyana

Visa Application Charge for offshore partner visa applications, effective for applications lodged from 1 July 2023:

• A$8,850 for main applicant, plus (currently A$8,085)
• A$4,430 for a secondary applicant aged 18+ (currently A$4,045)
• A$2,215 for a secondary applicant aged under 18 (currently A$2,025)

Pollyana

Increases in the Visa Application Charges for parent applications, effective for applications lodged from 1 July 2023:

• Subclass 143 - A$4,765 for main applicant, plus A$1,605 for a secondary applicant aged 18+ (currently A$4,355 and A$1,465)
• Subclass 864 - A$4,765 for main applicant, plus A$2,380 for a secondary applicant aged 18+ (currently A$4,355 and A$2,175)
• Subclass 804 - A$4,990 for main applicant, plus A$2,495 for a secondary applicant aged 18+ (currently A$4,560 and A$2,280)
• Subclass 870 - A$1,145 for each applicant as a 1st Visa Application Charge (currently A$1,050), plus A$10,325 per applicant for a 5 year visa; A$4,590 for a for a 3 year visa (currently A$9,430 and A$4,190)

No changes have been announced yet to the 2nd VACs for permanent parent visa applications.