Card payment surcharges removed from October 2026

The Department of Home Affairs has removed surcharges that were previously applied when paying visa fees with credit cards, PayPal or UnionPay. This change took effect from 1 October 2026. The decision follows a Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging conducted by the Reserve Bank of Australia. This means visa applicants will no longer pay extra fees when using these payment methods. If you're planning to pay a visa application fee, you can now use card payments without incurring additional surcharges. For the most current information on visa fees and payment options, check the Department of Home Affairs website.