Australian Visa Fees Just Went Up: What Changed for Filipinos on 1 July 2026

We flagged the annual fee re-index was coming in our before 1 July guide. It has now happened, and this year's rise is bigger than the usual CPI bump. Here are the confirmed numbers, and what actually matters for Filipino applicants.

Why this year's rise is bigger than usual

Visa fees are indexed every 1 July, but most years that means a small CPI-linked adjustment. This year the government pushed through a roughly 25% increase across most visa application charges - well above inflation - alongside a real jump in the salary floor employers must clear to sponsor someone. If you were budgeting off last year's numbers, add a real margin before you lodge.

TSMIT: the number that decides if a job offer even qualifies

TSMIT is not a fee - it's the minimum annual salary an Australian employer must offer to sponsor you on a Subclass 482, or to nominate you for a Subclass 186. From 1 July 2026 it sits at AUD 79,423 for applications lodged on or after that date.

This matters more than the fee increase for most applicants: a job offer that cleared the bar in June may now sit below it. If you're mid-negotiation with a sponsor, check the new figure before you sign anything, and see our guide on the 482 visa and the separate CSIT/SSIT thresholds that apply above TSMIT for specific occupations.

The bigger picture: the 2026-27 Migration Program

The fee rise landed alongside confirmation of the 2026-27 permanent Migration Program - 185,000 total places, with 132,240 (about 71%) in the Skilled stream. Three shifts stand out for Filipino applicants:

• Employer Sponsored places rose sharply, from 44,000 to 58,040 - the government is visibly leaning into the sponsored pathway, which lines up with the higher TSMIT acting as a quality filter.
• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) places rose from 16,900 to 21,090 - modestly better odds if you don't need a sponsor or state nomination.
• Subclass 491 (regional) places fell hard, from 33,000 to 14,110. If your strategy leaned on the regional pathway, it just got a lot more competitive - see our 189 vs 190 vs 491 comparison for how to re-weigh your options.

Separately, the government has signalled a planned overhaul of the SkillSelect points test, aimed at favouring younger applicants, higher qualifications and stronger English scores. Nothing has changed in the points formula yet - but it's worth watching if you're not planning to lodge for another year or two.

What does NOT apply to Filipinos

One widely reported change - the Working Holiday visa maximum age rising from 30 to 35 - only applies to passport holders from Cyprus, Finland, Germany and the Republic of Korea. The Philippines is not currently a Working Holiday Maker arrangement country, so this specific change opens no new pathway for Filipino applicants. Don't let the headline confuse your planning.

Smaller administrative changes worth knowing

ImmiAccount now caps how many times a visa application form can be re-imported: up to three attempts, after which the Department must manually reset the limit. If you're the type to start a form, back out, and start again "to be safe," stop - get your documents ready first, then complete it in one clean run.

How Visa Alliance Philippines can help

Fee and threshold changes hit hardest when you find out about them mid-application. Here's where we help:

• A free assessment against the current TSMIT and fee schedule, not last year's numbers.
• Sponsor-side guidance if your employer's offer is sitting close to the new salary floor.
• Strategy re-checks if your plan relied on the 491 regional pathway and needs a rethink.

Start with a free assessment - we'll tell you honestly what these changes mean for your specific application.