Credit Card Surcharge to Increase Visa Application Fees

Matt Paff Australian Visas
Credit Card Surcharge

Effective from 19 April 2014 the Department of Home Affairs has implemented a credit card surcharge for all visa application charges paid via credit card. The new charges will apply to all applications lodged online, and any paper-based applications paid for via credit card.

This fee will be taken at the time you lodge your application with the Department of Home Affairs and is on top of your visa application charges, the surcharges are:

  • Visa & MasterCard 1.08%
  • American Express and JCB 1.99%
  • Diners Club 2.91%

Don’t forget if you are paying with a non Australian credit card you may still incur a credit card surcharge, banking and currency conversion fees.

If you are in Australia you can pay via BPAY using your Australian telephone or internet banking service but BPAY can only be used when you are in Australia and lodging either a resident return visa or a student visa.

What visa does this impact?

This change impacts all visas using the online applications. Many applications can now be lodged online, for example:

  • Visitor Visas
  • 457 Visas
  • Employer Nomination Scheme Visas
  • General Skilled Migration Visas
  • Partner Visas
  • Resident Return Visas

It also affects any paper applications where the application fee is paid via credit card.

How much will this increase my application cost?

It depends on the type of visa you are applying for and the visa application charge. For an employer applying for an initial visa application for a primary 457 visa with a partner (outside Australia) the visa application charge is from $2,070. The surcharge will add approximately for the different payment types:

  • $22.36 – Visa or Mastercard using your credit card authority
  • $41.20 – Amercian Express credit card authority or Acacia invoicing you
  • $60.25 – Diners Club

For more information refer to the Department of Home Affairs.