We are often asked the question, how much for an Australian visa? This can be a difficult question to answer without first undertaking a full assessment of an applicant’s circumstances. In addition to the visa charges levied by the Australian Government, there are many other expenses that an applicant will have to pay to migrate to Australia. Partner visa migration to Australia is very expensive indeed. It is easy to determine the visa application charges payable to the Department of Home Affairs to make a valid visa application, but what about the many other associated costs in applying for an Australian visa. Depending upon an applicant’s circumstances these can amount to several hundred dollars on top of the already exorbitant visa fees.
Cost of applying for an Australian partner visa for Thai wife
Noi is a 36-year-old Thai female with a 12-year-old son from a previous marriage. She is in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen who also lives in Thailand. Noi recently applied for the offshore partner visa (subclass 309 & 100) as they are now wanting to move to Australia. Noi’s son is also included in her application as a secondary migrating applicant.
The current visa fee for Noi’s partner visa application was AUD$8955. This is comprised of the base application fee of AUD$7160 for Noi, and AUD$1795 for her son. Noi’s partner paid the visa application charge by credit card which added an extra $100 in credit card surcharges. If the visa application charge had been paid by BPay then the credit card surcharges would not be payable.
Noi has also applied for a visitor visa so that she and her son can visit Australia during the processing of her partner visa application which can be up to 20 months from date of application. This added an extra $240 is visa charges for both of their visitor visas.So far over AUD$9300 in visa fees have been paid for the partner visa and visitor visa application fees, but this is certainly not where the expenses end.
Other costs associated with applying for a partner visa for a Thai wife
In addition to the visa fees paid to the Department of Home Affairs, there are many other expenses associated with a partner visa application, for example from Noi’s application:
- Biometrics for partner visa application: THB850 x 2
- Biometrics for partner visa application: THB850 x 2
- Medical assessment for applicant and son THB5000
- Royal Thai Police clearance certificates THB300 indegenerique.com
- Australian Federal Police Checks AUD$42
- Document translations THB4000
- Estimated Additional Costs AUD$650
The total cost for Noi’s partner visa application, including the visitor visas for herself and her son is just under AUD$10,000. This does not include other associated costs such as passports and relocation expenses to Australia.
Partner visa migration to Australia is very expensive indeed.