Vietnamese workers: how much could your Australian visa cost after 1 July 2026?

News · 2026-08-06 · 3 min read

Many Vietnamese workers dream of a skilled job in Australia. Before you go, it helps to know the cost of the visa. The Australian Government raised its visa application charges on 1 July 2026. This guide explains what changed, in simple words.

What changed on 1 July 2026?

The government charge went up for nearly every kind of visa. If you lodge your application on or after 1 July 2026, you pay the new amount. A visa application is "lodged" when you send it to the Australian Government.

If you will have an employer sponsor

A sponsor is an employer who supports your visa. These are the new government charges for the main sponsored visas:

Skills in Demand, Subclass 482: $4,015. It was $3,210 before.
Employer Nomination Scheme, Subclass 186: $6,140.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional, Subclass 494: $6,140.

Do you plan to bring your husband, wife or children? Each extra family member has their own government charge. It is added on top of these amounts.

If you apply on your own as a skilled worker

Skilled Independent, Subclass 189: $6,135.
Skilled Nominated, Subclass 190: $6,140.
Skilled Work Regional, Subclass 491: $6,140.

Study and partner visas

Some people start with study. The charge for a Student visa (Subclass 500) is $2,500. The Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) is $5,750. The Partner visa is $11,710, the biggest single charge of all.

A simple family example

Imagine a family of three: one worker, a spouse and a child. They apply for the Skilled Independent (189) visa. The government charges alone are $10,745. This is only the visa part. Other costs come on top.

Other costs to plan for

Please think about these early:

An English test, such as IELTS or PTE, if the visa or the employer asks for it.
A skills assessment. Vietnamese certificates and degrees are usually checked again in Australia.
Medical exams for each person.
A police clearance. For Vietnamese citizens this is usually the Judicial Record Certificate (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp).
Certified English translations of Vietnamese documents, where the visa rules ask for them.

Did you lodge before 1 July 2026?

Then you keep the old charge. This is true even if the visa is still being processed. The new amounts are only for applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026.

Are there still jobs?

Yes. Australia still needs skilled workers. Roles are open in carpentry, electrical work, mechanics, welding, chef work, butchery, HVAC, nursing, engineering and heavy vehicle mechanics. Thousands of employer-sponsored roles are still open to qualified overseas applicants, so sponsored jobs in Australia for Vietnamese workers are still worth looking for.

Stay safe with money

Please deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to "secure" a job or a visa. You can read the official list of visas on the Australian Home Affairs website.

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