If you are planning to apply for a visa in Australia, did you know that you may be liable for a subsequent temporary application charge? This is one component of the Visa Application Charge (VAC) which is payable at the time of lodgement of a visa application in certain cases.
In this article, we provide an overview of the subsequent temporary application charge, including the circumstances in which it applies and the amount of subsequent temporary application charge that is payable. We also provide an example to illustrate how the subsequent temporary application charge applies in practice.
We also explain what a subsequent entrant means, how it is different to the subsequent temporary application charge and illustrate with the example of a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa, including the subsequent entrant visa 485 fee.
But let us begin our discussion by explaining what exactly is the subsequent temporary application charge.
What Is The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge?
The subsequent temporary application charge is payable for certain temporary visa applications lodged in Australia. The subsequent temporary application charge is an additional fee payable at time of lodgement of the application and is based on the applicant’s visa history.
The subsequent temporary application charge is not payable for the lodgement of a bridging, criminal justice or enforcement visa. It also does not apply to permanent visas, or to temporary visas which lead to a permanent visa.
Where the subsequent temporary application charge applies, the applicant is liable to pay it irrespective of whether they had previously paid it in relation to another visa application.
Note also that there is no subsequent temporary application charge waiver. That is, if it applies in respect of a particular application, then it must be paid at time of lodgement.
Before we move on to discuss when the subsequent temporary application charge is payable, let us first distingush the subsequent temporary application charge from a ‘subsequent entrant’ fee, including the subsequent entrant visa 485 fee, to avoid any confusion due to the similarity of the terms used.
What Is A Subsequent Entrant Fee?
Family members of the primary visa applicant normally apply for a dependent visa at the same time by lodging a combined application. However some visas allow your eligible family members to apply to join you in Australia as subsequent entrants after you have been granted your visa.
That is, for certain visa subclasses, eligible family members can apply separately to join the primary visa holder on their visa after it has been granted. When this occurs, the family member must apply separately by submitting a visa application in their own right. This is called a subsequent entrant.
An example of a visa subclass that allows for a subsequent entrant to apply after the primary applicant has had the visa granted is the subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa. Eligible family members may be onshore or outside Australia at time of application for a subclass 485 visa as a subsequent entrant.
What Is The Subclass 485 Subsequent Entrant Visa Fee?
The subclass 485 subsequent entrant visa fee is currently set at $1,730 for onshore applications by subsequent entrants. The subsequent entrant visa 485 fee is the same for applicants outside Australia.
Note that the subsequent entrant visa 485 fee is higher than if the eligible family member applied as part of a combined application with the primary visa applicant. In this case, the ‘additional applicant charge’ for an applicant who is at least 18 years of age at time of lodgement is $865. The fee for a family member who is aged under 18 is $435 if lodging a combined application.
You will also note from the below discussion that the subsequent temporary application charge is not applicable where an applicant in Australia applies for a subclass 485 visa.
Get More Information About The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa
We have prepared a series of guides to assist you in understanding how the temporary graduate visa application works and the issues you need to be aware of when embarking on this type of application. We have provided the below links to these articles for your reference.
Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
Graduate Visa 485 Application Tips
Graduate Visa For International Students
Australian Study Requirement For Visas
Difference Between Post Study Work Stream vs Graduate Work Stream
Australian Skilled Occupations List
Comprehensive Guide to Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa
Most common refusal reasons for graduate visas
485 Visa Requirements And Qualification Criteria
Let us now discuss the steps to take in order to determine the circumstances when the subsequent temporary application charge is payable.
When Is The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge Payable?
To determine when the subsequent temporary application charge is payable, the following steps are applied:
Step 1
The applicant is in Australia and applying for one of the following visa applications:
- Subclass 500 Student visa (exceptions apply)
- Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa
- Subclass 407 Training visa
- Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa (exceptions apply)
- Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa
- Subclass 600 Visitor visa
- Subclass 676 Tourist visa
Step 2 (The Previous Visa)
The applicant holds, or last held, one of the following substantive visas that was applied for in Australia:
- Subclass 401 Temporary Work (Long Stay Activity)
- Subclass 402 Training and Research – Occupational Trainee or Research stream
- Subclass 407 Training visa
- Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa
- Subclass 417 Working Holiday visa
- Subclass 442 Occupational Trainee
- Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa
- Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa
- Subclass 500 Student visa (exceptions apply – see step 6 below)
- Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa (exceptions apply – see step 6 below)
- Subclass 600 Visitor visa – Tourist stream
- Subclass 602 Medical Treatment visa
- Subclass 676 Tourist visa
A substantive visa is any visa excluding a bridging, criminal justice or enforcement visa.
Step 3
The applicant was in Australia at the time of lodgement of the application for the previous visa (under step 2).
Step 4
The application for the previous visa (under step 2) was not made by a newborn child (born after the primary applicant applied for the visa).
Step 5
The previous visa (under step 2) was not granted:
- as the result of an application taken to have been made by operation of law;
- by the Minister exercising prescribed ministerial powers;
- without the applicant making an application.
Step 6
The previous visa (under step 2) was not a student visa which the applicant was required to apply for because an education provider defaulted and was no longer able to deliver a course (and a nil VAC was paid).
The previous visa (under step 2) was not a student guardian visa which the nominating applicant was required to apply for because an education provider defaulted and was no longer able to deliver a course (and a nil VAC was paid).
If the answer to each of the above steps 1 – 6 is ‘yes,’ then the subsequent temporary application charge is payable.
When Is The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge Not Payable?
The subsequent temporary application charge is not applicable if the answer is ‘no’ to the above steps.
Put another way, it is also not payable if the ‘base application charge,’ which is another component of the VAC, is $nil.
Additionally, as illustrated in the the steps above, the subsequent temporary application charge does not apply if the applicant:
- is outside Australia when making their substantive temporary visa application; or
- the applicant is making their first substantive temporary visa application in Australia.
When Does The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge Cease To Be Payable?
The subsequent temporary application charge is payable until the applicant:
- leaves Australia and applies for a visa outside Australia, which is granted or,
- applies for and is granted a visa in Australia that is not a previous visa (as specified in step 2 above).
What Is The Amount Payable For The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge?
The amount of the subsequent temporary application charge is $700.
How Is The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge Applied To Combined Applications?
The subsequent temporary application charge is required to be paid by all applicants who are liable, in accordance with the migration provisions (as noted above).
Where an applicant’s visa application is combined with other applicants (dependent family members of the primary visa applicant), the subsequent temporary application charge is applied irrespective of whether any other applicant in the combined application is liable to pay it.
The liability to pay the subsequent temporary application charge will depend on each applicant’s individual circumstances and whether they meet the criteria for this liability. This means that in a combined application, all, some or none of the applicants may be liable to pay the subsequent temporary application charge.
Example Of Subsequent Temporary Application Charge Being Applied
To demonstrate how the subsequent temporary application charge is applied, we provide the following example.
Peter is currently in Australia as the holder of a second year subclass 417 Working Holiday visa (which he applied for onshore). He is now seeking to apply for a subclass 500 Student visa from onshore.
To determine whether Peter is liable to pay the subsequent temporary application charge when lodging the subclass 500 student visa application, let us go through steps 1-6.
Step 1
Peter is in Australia and is applying for a subclass 500 student visa, which is listed at step 1 above in this article.
Step 2
Peter holds a subclass 417 working holiday visa, which is a substantive visa, and which he applied for onshore. The subclass 417 visa is listed at step 2 above.
Step 3
Peter was in Australia at the time of lodgement of the application for the previous visa (i.e. the subclass 417 visa).
Steps 4 – 6
These do not apply to Peter’s situation.
Result
As Peter answered ‘yes’ to the above, he is liable to pay the subsequent temporary application charge at time of lodgement of the subclass 500 student visa.
To conclude our example, at time of lodgement of his Student Visa application, Peter will be liable to pay the following visa application lodgement fees:
| Visa Application Charge component | Amount payable
|
| Base Application Charge (first instalment) | $650
|
| Subsequent Temporary Application Charge | $700
|
| Total amount payable at time of lodgement | $1,350
|
Note payment surcharges may apply to the above (this will depend on the method of payment). If you pay for your visa application charges by credit card or PayPal, a surcharge applies. The surcharge also applies to Debit Visa cards and Debit Mastercards when making payments.
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Contact us to book a no-obligation consultation to find out more about the subsequent temporary application charge as well as the subclass 485 subsequent entrant visa fee.
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Australia’s migration laws are complex, and each case is different. There are also several terms which are defined in the migration provisions (and whose meanings may differ from their ordinary usage). We recommend that you seek professional advice if you are seeking to apply for any visa, including if you are in Australia, to determine whether the subsequent temporary application charge is payable when you apply for a visa onshore, or if you are seeking to apply as a subsequent entrant including informaton on the subsequent entrant visa 485 fee, as being fully informed will give you the best chance of achieving a successful resolution to your case. A migration professional can help you to do this.
For up to date advice on the visa application process and eligibility requirements, including the subsequent temporary application charge and how it applies to your personal situation, as well as advice on applying as a subsequent entrant and further information on the subclass 485 subsequent entrant visa fee, book your confidential consultation with a migration agent in Adelaide. PAX Migration Australia is a leading immigration advice service based in Adelaide. Contact us for a no obligation discussion on how we may be able to assist you to achieve your migration goals in Australia.
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