Migration News

Increases to Fees and Charges for 1 July 2009

Fees and charges are reviewed on 1 July each year.

A number of Visa Application Charges (VACs) and other fees will increase on 1 July 2009 in accordance with recent decisions made by the Australian Government. A number of other VAC and fees will increase in accordance with changes in the Consumer Price Index, or in the case of the second instalment of the visa application charge for the Contributory Parent visa category, by the Contributory Parent Visa Composite Index.

The Government will provide $0.1 million in 2009-10 to extend the Retirement Visa (Subclass 410) validity period from four to 10 years, and to remove the current statutory limit on work rights for holders. Currently, Retirement Visas (Subclass 410) are valid for four years and do not allow holders to work for more than 20 hours per week.

The measure will provide applicants with more certainty regarding their length of stay in Australia, and allow paid and volunteer work to be undertaken. Around 8,700 visa holders will be affected by these changes. The Retirement Visa (Subclass 410) closed to new primary applicants from July 2005.

The Australian Government has further cut the permanent skilled migrant intake to 108 100 places for the 2009-10 Migration Program, in response to the continued economic slowdown, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said today.

From 14 April 2009 the English language requirement for Subclass 457 - Business (Long Stay) visa applicants increased from an IELTS score of 4.5 to 5. This is an average band score.