Three couples ask us the same question in the same week. How much will this cost? The government's answer is one figure, $11,710, but none of the three will pay exactly that. One is adding a child. One is engaged and starting with a Prospective Marriage visa. One will need to travel while the file is pending. Here are the three situations, and the items that sit outside the headline charge.
In short: the main applicant charge for a partner visa is $11,710 from 1 July 2026, paid once for both the temporary and permanent stages. Each adult added costs $5,860, each child $2,935, and a subclass 300 holder pays $1,955 for the 820 stage.
Three couples, three charges
Which couple are you?
Estimate the government charges
Enter the people in your application. The total is the government charge only, before the extras below.
One charge, two visas
The visa application charge is the largest single cost, and it is paid on lodgement day. The onshore pathway is two visas lodged as one application. The temporary subclass 820 comes first, then the permanent subclass 801. The 820 charge is nil, so the base charge sits on the 801. The second instalment payable before grant is also nil. Most couples therefore pay a single government charge, plus the extras.
The charge is set under the Migration Regulations and indexed each July. Only the current amount on lodgement day matters, so confirm it at the source before you pay. Concessions apply in limited circumstances, including a lower charge for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.
The engaged route
Couples who are not yet married, and not de facto for 12 months, often start with the subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa. It carries the full charge of $11,710. After the wedding, the onshore 820 application costs $1,955 rather than the full amount again. The fiancé pathway spreads the cost rather than doubling it, which is why we raise it early with engaged clients.
The contingencies most budgets miss
An onshore applicant on a Bridging visa A cannot leave and return. A Bridging visa B costs $575 and must be granted before departure. One charge covers the family unit in the application. Our note on bridging visas while your 820 waits sets out the timing.
The application charge is usually not refunded after a refusal. A review application to the Administrative Review Tribunal carries a fee of $3,727, with a reduced fee of $1,863.50 in limited circumstances. That is the real price of a thin file. Read our note on review after a refusal before you need it.
Health examinations at a panel clinic, priced by the clinic. An Australian Federal Police check, plus police clearances from every country where the applicant lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. Certified translations, certified copies, biometrics where they apply, and any professional fees. Individually small, together material. Applicants with long overseas histories pay more here, because each certificate carries its own fee.
Who pays, when one partner owns a company
Founders often ask whether the company can pay the charge. It can transfer the money, but the charge is a personal cost of the applicant. Paying it from the company creates a director loan or a benefit, and each has tax consequences. Ask your accountant before the payment leaves the business account.
There is a second reason to be careful. The payment trail becomes part of your financial evidence. A company payment that the accounts describe one way and the statements describe another is exactly the inconsistency an officer notices. Our commercial practice deals with the director loan account and the shareholder terms. The migration team keeps the visa file consistent with them.
Is the charge refunded if the visa is refused?
Usually not. In most cases, the Department does not refund the application charge after a decision. Limited refund situations exist, so check the current refund rules before you lodge. A refusal then adds the tribunal fee of $3,727 and a much longer wait. The cheapest partner visa is the one lodged complete the first time.
How we quote
Treat the base charge as the anchor figure and add each family member that applies. Then add a realistic buffer for the extras, because health, police and translation costs vary widely. The migration practice quotes a fixed professional fee once we have seen your circumstances. Government charges are listed separately, at the current rate, so you can see both layers. Contact us for a quote before you set the budget.
Figures verified against Home Affairs visa pricing as at 1 July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can my company pay the visa application charge?
The company can transfer the money, but the charge is a personal cost of the applicant. Paying it from the business creates a director loan or a benefit with tax consequences, so ask your accountant first and record it consistently.
What does an engaged couple pay across the 300 and the 820?
The subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa costs $11,710. After the wedding, the onshore 820 application costs $1,955 rather than the full charge again.
Does the $575 Bridging visa B charge cover the whole family?
One charge covers the family unit included in the application, although each member must meet the requirements individually. Only include relatives who genuinely need to travel.
What does it cost to challenge a refusal at the tribunal?
The Administrative Review Tribunal fee is $3,727, with a reduced fee of $1,863.50 in limited circumstances. The application charge itself is usually not refunded.
Do we pay anything more at the permanent 801 stage?
No. The single charge covers both stages, and the second instalment before grant is nil. You do provide fresh evidence when the permanent stage is assessed.
General information as at 2 September 2026. Not legal advice. Speak to the migration team about your own circumstances before you act.