Australia and Japan Raise Visa Fees for Students, Migrants and Travellers

Australia has increased visa application fees across several categories, with new charges taking effect on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. 

The revised fees affect international students, graduates, skilled migrants and families, while Japan has also introduced higher visa charges from the same date.

Australia's Department of Home Affairs updated its visa fee schedule early on Wednesday, confirming increases ranging from 25% to 200% across a number of visa categories. 

The department said the fee payable is based on the date an application is received. It also noted that applicants may need to pay additional amounts if fees change before their application is processed.

The International Student visa has increased from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500. The latest rise comes after concerns from the education sector that Australia's student visa charges were already among the highest in the world, placing additional pressure on vocational and short-term education providers. For Kenyan students, the new application fee is equivalent to more than KSh 223,000.

The Temporary Graduate visa has also become more expensive, rising from AUD 4,600 to AUD 5,750. Graduates planning to remain in Australia after completing their studies will now pay an additional AUD 1,150 to apply.

Partner visa applicants will now pay AUD 11,710, up from AUD 9,365. The higher fee increases the upfront cost for couples and families seeking to live together in Australia while processing times remain unchanged.

The Australian government did not provide a detailed explanation for the increases, stating only that visa charges are reviewed from time to time. The revised fees represent one of the largest changes to Australia's visa pricing in recent years.

Japan has also introduced higher visa fees, marking the first increase in almost 50 years. The new charges took effect on 1 July 2026, with the cost of obtaining a visa for foreign nationals increasing five-fold.

Japanese authorities said the increase reflects higher administrative costs and changes in foreign exchange rates. The new fees apply to travellers from countries that are not exempt from Japan's visa requirements, including Kenya, where citizens must obtain a visa before travelling.