Australia Increases Work Visa Fees as New Rules Take Effect: What Applicants Need to Know

• Australia has increased the minimum annual salary for some sponsored foreign workers to AUD $79,423 (approximately KSh 6.7 million), effective 1 July 2026
• Application fees for skilled work and permanent residency visas have increased, with the Bridging Visa B fee rising from AUD $190 (about KSh 16,000) to AUD $575 (about KSh 48,500)
• Australian authorities have launched a nationwide crackdown on fraudulent training visa arrangements, conducting more than 100 site visits in the first month

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Australia has introduced new immigration requirements that could affect Kenyans and other foreign workers planning to work in the country.

The changes, which took effect on 1 July 2026, cover salary thresholds, visa application fees, processing times and compliance checks.

Australia raises minimum salaries for skilled workers

Under the new requirements, employers sponsoring foreign workers through the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa's Core Skills stream or the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme must meet a minimum annual income threshold of AUD $79,423 (approximately KSh 6.7 million), up from AUD $76,515 (about KSh 6.5 million).

Applicants under the Specialist Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa face a higher threshold of AUD $146,576 (approximately KSh 12.4 million), compared with the previous AUD $141,210 (about KSh 12 million).

The Fair Work High Income Threshold, which is relevant to certain age exemptions under the Subclass 186 visa, has increased to AUD $190,100 (approximately KSh 16.1 million).

The revised salary thresholds apply to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. Existing visa holders and nominations submitted before that date are not affected by the changes.

For Kenyan professionals considering employment in Australia, the updated requirements make it important to check salary eligibility and employer sponsorship conditions before beginning an application.

Visa application fees increase

The cost of applying for several Australian work and permanent residency visas has also increased.

The main applicant fee for the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) rose from AUD $4,910 (approximately KSh 416,000) to AUD $6,140 (about KSh 520,000).

The Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) application fee increased from AUD $3,210 (approximately KSh 272,000) to AUD $4,015 (about KSh 340,000).

The Bridging Visa B (Subclass 020) recorded one of the largest increases, with its fee rising from AUD $190 (about KSh 16,000) to AUD $575 (approximately KSh 48,500) an increase of more than 200%.

Processing times also differ by visa category. Subclass 186 permanent residency applications may take up to 14 months, while applications under the Core Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa may take up to 10 months. Specialist Skills stream applications are reported to take up to 57 days.

Applicants should check the latest official processing estimates before making travel or employment plans, as individual cases may take longer or shorter as reported by Briefly News.

Australian authorities target fraudulent training visas

According to reports, the Australian Border Force launched a national compliance operation focused on the Training Visa (Subclass 407).

During the first month, officers reportedly conducted more than 100 site visits and identified fraudulent training plans and workplace duties that had not been approved. A further 200 visits in regional areas were scheduled as the operation continued.

The operation is intended to ensure that training visa arrangements comply with Australia's immigration requirements.

Immigration processing changes affect some applicants

Separately, Australia's Department of Home Affairs closed its immigration processing office in Seoul, South Korea, following earlier closures in Washington, DC, Dubai and Singapore.

Applications for the Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa from South Korea are being redirected to other international processing centres. The change could result in longer waiting times for some applicants.

Kenyans planning to work or settle in Australia should confirm the relevant visa category, salary requirements, application fees and processing arrangements before submitting an application.

Official information is available on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.

Source: TUKO.co.ke