As part of the 2015-16 Commonwealth Budget, the Government is introducing an increase, effective from 1 July 2015, to a number of Visa Application Charges (VACs).
The proposed adjustments to the VACs, which come into effect on 1 July 2015, include:
- A price increase in line with inflation (2.3 per cent) to specific visas within the Permanent Migration Skill Stream, Skilled Graduate, Temporary Long Stay Business (Subclass 457), Visitor and Student visa streams.
- A 5 per cent price increase to specific visas within the Temporary Resident Short Term Business and Entertainment visas, Working Holiday visas, Resident Return and Retirement Investor visas, and Contributory Parent visa streams.
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A 10 per cent price increase on specific visas within the Other Family (Remaining Relative, Carer and Aged Dependent Relative) visas, and (non-contributory) Parent visa streams where the underlying demand is not expected to be impacted by the price increase.
- A 50 per cent increase to the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) stream in the permanent migration skill stream category where the VAC is a very small component of the minimum $5 million of investments required under the visa regulation.
- An alignment of VAC prices where a differential currently exists for lodging an onshore and offshore application for specific visa subclasses.
Any questions?
Naturally if you have any questions or would like to discuss how these changes affect your business, you should contact us on (61 2) 9299 4900
