ART review fees are increasing

The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) has announced that the fee for reviewing a migration decision will increase from AUD3,659 to AUD3,727 from 1 July 2026.

While nobody plans to end up at the ART, a review application can become necessary if a visa refusal occurs. Higher review fees mean higher costs when things do not go to plan.

Engineers Australia fees are increasing

Engineers Australia has confirmed a 3-4% increase in Migration Skills Assessment fees from 1 July.

Examples include:

• Standard CDR Assessment: AUD1,001 → AUD1,034

• CDR + Relevant Skilled Employment Assessment: AUD1,463 → AUD1,512.50

At this stage, other assessing authorities have not yet announced whether their fees will change in the new financial year.

Higher salary requirements for employer sponsored visas

From 1 July 2026, the Australian Government has increased the minimum salary thresholds for employer-sponsored skilled visas:

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): AUD76,515 → AUD79,499

• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): AUD141,210 → AUD146,717

These changes may affect applicants pursuing pathways such as Subclass 482, 186 and 494.

For some applicants, this increase may be more significant than a fee rise. If your salary package is currently close to the threshold, eligibility that exists today may become more difficult to achieve after 1 July.

Visa application charges are expected to increase

Visa application charges are typically indexed at the start of each financial year, with new fees taking effect from 1 July.

For couples and families, even a modest increase can translate into hundreds of Australia dollars in additional government fees.

But the biggest concern isn't the cost.

Every 1 July marks the beginning of a new migration program year.

That means:

Previous allocations no longer apply

State priorities can change

Invitation trends become harder to predict

New policy directions may not be immediately clear

For many applicants, July is often the beginning of a period of uncertainty where planning becomes much more difficult.

It's a bit like opening a mystery box. You know changes are coming, but nobody knows exactly what will be inside.

So why not take action now, while the current settings are still known?

Opportunities don't wait and annual fee increases certainly don't.

The earlier you prepare, the more time, money and uncertainty you can save.

Contact Skill Direct today for tailored migration advice and a strategy that puts you one step ahead before the new financial year begins