How Much Does an Australian Partner Visa Cost in 2026?

As of 1 July 2026, the Australian partner visa costs $11,710 for the primary applicant. However, the total cost of applying is usually much higher once you include medical examinations, police checks, document translations and, if you choose to use one, migration agent or migration lawyer  fees. Most applicants should budget between $12,500 and $18,000, depending on their circumstances and whether professional support is involved - more if dependent children are included on the application.

In this guide, we'll break down every cost involved, explain what changed in July 2026, and help you estimate the total cost of your application.

Partner Visa Application Fee in 2026

The Department of Home Affairs charges one application fee that covers both stages of your partner visa - the temporary visa (subclass 820 or 309) and the permanent visa (subclass 801 or 100) - so you're not paying twice.

As of 1 July 2026, that base charge is $11,710 for the primary applicant. This applies whether you're applying onshore (820/801) or offshore (309/100) - the fee itself doesn't change based on where you lodge, only the visa subclass numbers and processing pathway do. See our full Partner Visa Guide if you're not yet sure which pathway applies to you.

Partner visa fee increase: what changed on 1 July 2026

Under the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations, the partner visa base charge rose from $9,365 to $11,710 - a 25% increase, and one of the larger jumps across the visa program this year.

The new fee only applies to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Applications lodged before that date are charged under the previous fee schedule, regardless of when the visa is ultimately decided. If you're still preparing your application, confirm which fee applies to your lodgement date before you pay.

Extra applicant fees: adding children

If you're including family members on the same application, each one adds to the total:

•  $5,860 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over

•  $2,935 for each additional applicant under 18

For example, applying with one dependent child aged 16 means $11,710 + $2,935 = $14,645 in government charges combined, before any of the costs below.

Partner visa cost by pathway: 820/801, 309/100 and 300 at a glance

Matilda works across all of the main partner visa pathways, and the government charge is broadly the same no matter which one applies to you. Here's how they compare - each subclass also has its own dedicated page with a full breakdown of eligibility, evidence and processing times: subclass 820, subclass 801, subclass 309, subclass 100 and subclass 300.

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*Correct as at 1 July 2026 - confirm current pricing on the Home Affairs fee schedule before publishing, as charges are reviewed periodically. 

A concession also applies across all three pathways: primary applicants who hold a valid passport from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu or Vanuatu pay from $9,600 rather than $11,710. It's applied automatically through ImmiAccount based on the passport used, but eligibility can depend on your specific visa stream and circumstances

- check the Home Affairs visa pricing estimator to confirm before you lodge.‍

**Subclass 300 doesn't lead directly to permanent residency, unlike the other pathways above - see below.

Once you're married and in Australia, you need to lodge a second, separate application for the onshore Partner visa (subclass 820/801). Prospective Marriage visa holders get a discounted rate for that second application — from $1,955, rather than the full $11,710 base charge again. All up, the subclass 300 pathway costs from $13,665 in government charges across both applications — more than applying directly via 820/801 or 309/100, but 300 exists for couples who aren't yet eligible for a direct partner visa (for example, if you're not yet married or haven't lived together long enough to qualify).

Curious how long each pathway actually takes? We've broken down current processing times for every partner visa subclass in our Partner Visa Processing Time guide.

What else does a partner visa cost, beyond the government fee?

The application charge is the biggest line item, but it's not the only one. Here's what else to budget for.

Health examinations (medicals)

Every applicant needs a health examination through a Home Affairs-approved panel doctor - in Australia, this is done through Bupa Medical Visa Services. Cost depends on which tests apply: a standard examination runs roughly $340–$390, with a chest X-ray (around $120–$150) and blood tests (around $90–$130) added if required. Partner visa applicants are on a path to permanent residency, so most end up needing a combination of tests - budget roughly $400–$700 per adult overall. Bupa's fee page has the current cost for each individual test.

Police certificates

You'll need a police clearance certificate from every country you've lived in for 12 months or more since turning 16. Cost varies a lot by country - an Australian federal police check is around $56, but certificates from overseas can range from free to a few hundred dollars, and some take weeks to arrive, so it pays to start early.

Document translation and certification

Any supporting document not in English - birth certificates, marriage certificates, financial records - needs a certified translation. Expect to pay roughly $30–$100 per page, depending on the language and translator.

Professional fees: migration agent or lawyer costs

This part is optional, but most applicants find the relationship evidence and paperwork genuinely difficult to get right alone, and a refused application costs far more in time, money and stress than getting it right the first time.

Matilda charges one flat, transparent professional fee of $4,500 for a partner visa application - agreed upfront, with no hidden costs added later. This includes:

• A free 20-minute consult to check your eligibility
• One-to-one advice from an experienced immigration lawyer
• Unlimited support for the life of your application
• A fixed fee with no hidden costs

No visa? No fee - we'll refund your Matilda fee if your visa application is unsuccessful. If you're not sure whether your relationship evidence stacks up, our free eligibility quiz is a good place to start.

What's the real total cost of an Australian partner visa?

Putting it all together, for the most common case - a single applicant with no dependent children:

• Government charge: $11,710 (add $2,935–$5,860 for each dependent child included on the application)
• Medicals: roughly $400–$700 for the applicant (plus the same again per child, if applicable)
• Police certificates: $100–$400+ for the applicant depending on country history, plus your sponsor's own AFP and any foreign checks (typically $56–$200)
• Translations: varies widely - budget a few hundred dollars if documents need translating
• Professional fees (optional): $4,500 with Matilda, or varies by provider

All up, most applicants with no dependent children land somewhere between $12,500 and $14,000 in fees and out-of-pocket costs before adding professional support, rising past $20,000 once dependent children are included, and to roughly $17,000–$18,000 if they engage a migration agent or lawyer. Costs rise further with each dependent child, more countries of residence, or more documents needing translation.

Example budgets: what different applicants spend

Government fee figures are one thing - what people actually search for is “how much money do I need to save.” Here's a realistic range for four common scenarios:

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These are indicative ranges based on the government charges above plus typical medical, police-check and translation costs for the applicant (and any children included). Add professional fees on top of any scenario if you engage support, and add a dependent-child charge to the “using an agent” row if children are also included - your actual total will depend on how many countries you've lived in and how many documents need translating.

How to budget for your partner visa without the guesswork

• Pay the government charge in one lump sum at the time of lodgement - it's not split into instalments. If the new partner visa fee is too expensive to pay in one go, Matilda has partnered with an Australian-based personal financing company - Fox Finance - who can help with a personal loan. (Future link to a personal finance page)
• Get police certificates moving early; overseas ones are the biggest source of delay and unexpected cost.
• Ask any migration agent or lawyer for a fixed, all-inclusive quote before you commit - not just the headline number.
• Build in a buffer for translation and courier costs if any of your documents are overseas.
• Remember the fee applies once per application, no matter how long processing takes - this isn't a subscription.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Australian partner visa cost in 2026?

As of 1 July 2026, the base government charge is $11,710 for the primary applicant, covering both the temporary and permanent stages. Including a dependent child adds $5,860 (18+) or $2,935 (under 18). With medicals, police checks and other costs, most applicants spend $12,500–$18,000 overall, more if dependent children are included, or a migration agent is engaged.

Why is the Australian partner visa so expensive?

For a few reasons: the fee is a single charge covering both the temporary and permanent stages, and it generally grants work rights and Medicare access almost immediately. The government describes visa charges as a cost-recovery measure reviewed annually, though migration-sector commentators have pushed back on that framing for the 2026 increases specifically, arguing a 25% jump in one step raises far more than the actual cost of processing applications. By international standards Australia's fee is on the expensive side - a comparable New Zealand partnership visa costs roughly NZ$5,360, less than half the Australian charge.

How much does a partner visa cost if I'm including my children?

Your Australian partner is your sponsor, not a co-applicant, so they don't add to the government charge. If you're including your own dependent children on the same application, each one aged 18 or over adds $5,860 and each child under 18 adds $2,935 - for example, applying with one child under 18 brings the total to $14,645.

Is it cheaper to apply for a 309 (offshore) partner visa than an 820 (onshore) one?

No - the government charge is the same for both pathways. The real difference is processing time and where you need to be while you wait, not cost.

Can I pay the partner visa fee in instalments?

No. The Department of Home Affairs requires the full application charge to be paid in one payment at lodgement - there's no government instalment plan. If the new partner visa fee is too expensive to pay in one go, Matilda has partnered with Australian-based personal financing company Fox Finance, who can help with a personal loan. 

Do I get a refund if my partner visa is refused?

The government application charge is generally non-refundable, even if your visa is refused or withdrawn - refunds are only available in narrow circumstances, such as duplicate payment or an administrative error. Professional fees work differently: Matilda's own policy refunds our fee (not the government charge) if your application is unsuccessful.

Is GST included in the partner visa fee?

There's no separate GST to add. Visa application charges are a government regulatory fee and fall outside the scope of GST under the tax rules that apply to Australian government charges.

Does the fee include the permanent visa?

Yes. The single application charge covers both stages - the temporary visa (820 or 309) and the permanent visa (801 or 100) - so there's no second government charge when your permanent visa is decided.

At Matilda Migration, we've helped hundreds of couples prepare partner visa applications. One of the most common surprises isn't the application itself - it's discovering the government fee is only one part of the overall cost. Planning ahead can help you avoid delays and unexpected expenses. 

Not sure which pathway applies to you, or whether your relationship evidence stacks up? Our free eligibility quiz takes a few minutes and gives you a clear next step - no cost, no obligation.