Industry groups slam Australia visa price hikes

A number of groups in Australia have voiced their displeasure at the forthcoming 15 per cent price increases to most visa application fees.

Australian Working Holiday Visa
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has labelled the price hikes, which come into effect on the 1st September, as “extraordinarily bad”, stating that employers in need of temporary overseas workers will struggle to hire the required employees as overseas nationals will be put off applying.

From September an individual applying for a temporary 457 visa will have to fork out AUS$1,035, compared to just AUS$455 in June.

“It is reasonable to charge fees, but the increases that the government has put on a range of visa categories in the last couple of years has been very disappointing and we have been very concerned about the impact that will have on access to skilled migration,” said Jenny Lambert, The Director of Employment, Education and Training at the ACCI.

Elsewhere, the Master Builders Association said it was “alarmed” by the visa application fee increases and urged the government to reverse the decision, while the Migration Council of Australia’s chief executive Carla Wilshire said the fee increases were “disappointing”.

Feel free to let us know what you make of the visa application price increases. Will they put you off applying to emigrate to Australia or do you still deem the extra money worthwhile to secure a dream life for yourself and your family in Oz?