Australia Visa Costs for Indians Beyond the Fee: What to Budget

Charges and amounts below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full list of Australian visas open to Indians, see our Australia visa guide for Indian applicants.

What does the visa charge itself cost, and why is there no rupee price?

Home Affairs sets every visa application charge in Australian dollars. You pay online in ImmiAccount when you lodge, and the application is not processed until the fee is paid. The rupee amount you see on your card statement depends on your bank's conversion, which is why no official INR figure exists.

The first budgeting surprise for families is that Visitor visas are per person. Family members cannot be included in one application, so each parent and each child applies and pays AUD 250. Other visas let you add family members at separate rates:

These charges took effect on 1 July 2026. A Tourist stream visitor application lodged inside Australia costs AUD 630 rather than AUD 250, so apply from India where you can.

Which extra charges can Home Affairs ask for?

Home Affairs lists three "other possible costs" alongside the visitor and student charges: health checks, police certificates and biometrics. They are not automatic. The Department tells you if you need any of them, and the request letter explains where to go.

• Health checks: required only when requested, and Home Affairs' fee table gives no fixed amount for them.
• Police certificate: the visitor checklist says to provide one if asked, so budget for the issuing authority's fee only once a request arrives.
• Biometrics: the Department tells you if they are needed. VFS Global runs Australian Biometrics Collection Centres in listed countries, and India was not on that list as of March 2026. Student applicants who are asked must give biometrics within 14 days of the request.

Keep a margin in your budget for these. A request arriving after you lodge also adds time, which is one more reason not to buy fixed flights early.

Is health insurance a cost you can skip?

For visitors, insurance is not a visa requirement. Home Affairs says you are liable for all your healthcare costs while in Australia and strongly recommends adequate health insurance. In some circumstances the visa is granted with Condition 8501, which requires you to maintain adequate health insurance, so read the grant letter before deciding.

Students have no choice. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an approved Australian insurer must cover the whole stay from the day you arrive, and the application is refused if OSHC details are not given. Premiums are set by private insurers, and Home Affairs publishes no OSHC amount. Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants also need adequate health insurance.

What other costs belong in a realistic budget?

• Translations: every document not in English, such as a Hindi property paper, needs an English translation with the translator's details.
• Agent fees, if you use one: you nominate a registered migration agent on Form 956. Using an agent is optional.
• A security bond: in the Sponsored family stream, the sponsor may be asked to pay one. No amount is published, so it is decided case by case.
• Ballot registration: the MATES ballot and the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) ballot each charge AUD 25 to register. The Work and Holiday fee is not refunded if you are not selected; the visa itself then costs AUD 840.
• A second application: visitor visas cannot be extended. Staying longer means a new visa and a new charge.
• Employer-paid costs: for a subclass 482 visa, the employer separately pays a nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund levy.

Flights are a cost you can defer. A verifiable flight reservation shows your plans without committing money before the grant.

How much money must students show on top of the fees?

If the Document Checklist Tool asks for evidence of funds, the Student visa guide amounts are:

The alternative is to show a parent's or partner's personal annual income of at least AUD 87,856 in the 12 months before applying (AUD 102,500 if family members come), using official documents such as tax assessments. Bank statements or employer letters are not accepted for that route. Note that since 2 October 2026 most Student visa applicants can no longer include family members, and an AUD 700 subsequent temporary application charge may apply to applications lodged in Australia.

How do you avoid paying twice?

1. Pick the right stream before paying; charges are per application.
2. Lodge from outside Australia where the stream allows it.
3. Upload complete, translated, colour scans so the case officer has fewer reasons to come back to you.
4. For students, check the Document Checklist Tool, updated on 31 March and 30 September, just before applying.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages cost from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Do children pay the full Australian visitor visa fee?

Yes. Home Affairs says each person, including children, applies for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) separately and pays the AUD 250 charge. Family members cannot be added to one visitor application.

Is there a VFS service charge for Australian visas in India?

No VFS Global India page for Australia was found. Australian visitor visas are lodged online in ImmiAccount, and India was not on the Australian Biometrics Collection Centre list as of March 2026.

Who pays the employer costs for an Australian Skills in Demand visa?

The employer. Your sponsor separately pays the nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund levy, while you pay the AUD 4,015 visa applicant charge, plus charges for any family members.

Can I pay the Australian visa fee in rupees?

Home Affairs charges in AUD and publishes no INR amount. You pay online when lodging in ImmiAccount, and your card provider converts the amount to rupees.