Let me save you the download. Form 990i is no longer published by the Department of Home Affairs as a current form. As at Monday 6 July 2026, it does not appear as a current document on the Department's form listing, and the old direct link returns no current file.
Form 990i, Charges, was the Department's printed schedule of visa application charges — the booklet you once consulted to price an application. That function now lives online, and it is updated far more often than any booklet ever was.
Where visa charges live now
The Department maintains three online sources, and between them they carry every current figure:
- Current visa pricing — the per-subclass visa application charges.
- Fees and charges for other services — citizenship, evidence, and administrative fees.
- The visa pricing estimator — a calculator that adds second instalments, additional applicant charges and surcharges to give a total for your specific circumstances.
I check the live pages before quoting any client a figure, and so should you. Charges are indexed and typically rise on 1 July each year. A number you saw last winter is very likely wrong today.
How visa application charges are set
A visa application charge (VAC) is not a fee the Department invents case by case. It is imposed under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 45A–45C, capped by the Migration (Visa Application) Charge Act 1997 (Cth), and the actual amounts are prescribed in the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth). They are indexed annually.
Most applications carry a first instalment, payable on lodgement. Some visas also carry a second instalment, payable later — for example, before a partner visa is granted where an assurance of support or English-language charge applies. There are separate additional applicant charges for family members included in the application, a higher charge for certain non-internet (paper) applications, and a surcharge for paying by credit or debit card.
Two points I make to every client. First, the charge is generally non-refundable even if the visa is refused — you are paying for the application to be decided, not for a grant. Second, paying the charge is what makes many applications valid; underpay, and you may not have made a valid application at all.
The key figures — verified from 1 July 2026
These are the charges I am asked about most often, all effective from 1 July 2026. Treat them as a guide and confirm the live figure for your exact subclass before you lodge — this is a summary, not the schedule.
- Partner visa — base application charge: $11,710 (main applicant, from 1 July 2026). This applies to the onshore subclass 820/801, the offshore subclass 309/100, and the Prospective Marriage subclass 300. Second instalments and additional applicant charges are on top.
- Administrative Review Tribunal — migration review: $3,727 (from 1 July 2026). A 50% reduction is available on hardship grounds, and a partial refund applies if the review succeeds.
- Administrative Review Tribunal — protection visa review: $2,293 (from 1 July 2026), generally payable only if the review is unsuccessful.
- Administrative Review Tribunal — General Division standard fee: $1,195 (from 1 July 2026), which is the fee for character reviews under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 501.
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia — migration filing fee: $4,180 (from 1 July 2026), reduced to $2,090 where a reduced fee is approved.
One related figure that is not a charge but is often confused with one: the health significant cost threshold is $86,000 (unchanged since 1 July 2024 and under review as at 2026). That is the cost ceiling used in the health requirement, not a fee you pay — but it belongs in any honest discussion of what a visa "costs".
Common mistakes and their consequences
Relying on an old figure. The most common and most expensive error. Charges move on 1 July; a quote from an old booklet or an old blog post can leave your application invalid for underpayment.
Forgetting the second instalment. Some visas — partner visas among them — carry a second instalment before grant. Budget for it from the start.
Overlooking additional applicant charges. Each family member included on the application adds a charge. A couple with two children is not paying the base figure alone.
Assuming a refusal means a refund. It does not. The charge buys a decision, not an outcome — which is exactly why getting the application right the first time matters, and why a preventable refusal and appeal is so costly.
How this fits your application
Charges sit underneath every application, but they are the last thing that should drive your strategy. The right question is not "what is the cheapest visa" but "which visa am I actually eligible for, lodged correctly, the first time". A Form 47SP partner application priced perfectly but lodged with an inconsistency in Form 80 still fails — and then you are paying tribunal fees on top.
If a lawyer acts for you, your Form 956 ensures the Department's fee requests and payment instructions come to us. And where a partner matter is concerned, the sponsor's Form 40SP and the applicant's Form 47SP must be priced and lodged together.
If you want a precise, current total for your specific circumstances before you spend a dollar, book a $97 10-minute chat with me and I will price it against the live schedule while you are on the call.
Frequently asked questions
Is Form 990i still used?
No. Form 990i, the Charges booklet, is no longer published as a current form. As at Monday 6 July 2026 it does not appear as a current document on the Department of Home Affairs form listing. Visa application charges are now published on the Department's online pricing pages.
How much is a partner visa from 1 July 2026?
The base application charge for the main applicant is $11,710 from 1 July 2026, for the onshore subclass 820/801, the offshore subclass 309/100 and the Prospective Marriage subclass 300. Second instalments and additional applicant charges apply on top — confirm your total on the Department's live pricing before lodging.
Are visa application charges refundable if my visa is refused?
Generally no. The visa application charge pays for your application to be decided, not for the visa to be granted. It is usually not refunded on refusal, which is why lodging correctly the first time matters.
How often do visa charges change?
They are indexed and typically increase on 1 July each year. Always confirm the current figure for your exact subclass on the Department's online pricing before you rely on any published number, including this page.
What are the Administrative Review Tribunal fees from 1 July 2026?
From 1 July 2026, the migration review fee is $3,727 (with a 50% hardship reduction and a partial refund if you succeed), the protection review fee is $2,293 (generally payable only if unsuccessful), and the General Division standard fee for section 501 character reviews is $1,195.
Not sure what your application will actually cost? I price matters against the live schedule, not last year's booklet, from eight locations nationwide. Book your $97 10-minute chat — or if you are ready to engage, start at myvisa.com.au/work.