Introduction

From 1 July 2025, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs (‘DHA’) implemented its annual update to visa application charges, affecting a wide range of visa subclasses, including the subclass (‘sc’) 482 Skills in Demand (‘SID’) visa.

These changes are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that visa fees remain aligned with inflation and the costs of administering the migration program. Understanding which government fees have changed — and which have not — is important for both employers and skilled migrants planning to use the sc 482 SID visa pathway.

Why it Matters

For some businesses/employers and skilled workers, budgeting for migration costs is an important part of workforce planning. The sc 482 SID visa is a popular route for addressing skill shortages in Australia.

With annual indexation and other migration policy adjustments, it can be challenging to keep up with the current government fee structures and avoid unexpected costs. This year’s changes impact only the base visa application charges as it relates to employers.

Fees That Have Changed 

The following table summarises the key fee changes for the sc 482 SID visa effective from 1 July 2025:

Fee Type	Previous Fee (pre 1 July 2025)	Current Fee (post 1 July 2025)
Main Visa Applicant	$3,115	$3210
Secondary visa Applicant (Over 18)	$3,115	$3210
Secondary visa Applicant (Under 18)	$780	$805

This represents approximately 3% increase in fees, which is inline with Australia’s rate of inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index).

Fees That Have Not Changed

Some government fees associated with the sc 482 SID visa have not changed as of 1 July 2025 are:

• Nomination fee: Remains at $330; and
• Skilling Australians Fund (‘SAF’) Levy: Remains at $1,800 per year of employment for businesses with turnover above $10 million, or $1,200 per year of employment for businesses with turnover of less than $10 million.

While visa application charges have increased, charges relating to businesses/employers, being Nomination and SAF Levy fees have remained the same for the time being.

Related Changes

In addition to visa application charges, the income thresholds for the sc 482 SID visas have also increased, being:

• Core Skills Income Threshold (‘CSIT’): Increased from $73,150 to $76,515; and
• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (‘SSIT’): Increased from $135,000 to $141,210.

These income threshold changes impact employee nomination eligibility though do not directly impact government fees payable by the nominator.

Key Takeaways

• Visa application charges for the sc 482 SID visa increased by approximately 3% from 1 July 2025;
• Nomination and the SAF Levy fees remain unchanged;
• Income thresholds for sponsorship have increased, impacting eligibility of applicants but not direct application costs to employers; and
• Government fees are determined by the date the application is lodged; applications lodged before 1 July 2025 are not subject to new fees.

Conclusion

The 2025 government fee changes for the sc 482 SID visa reflect the Australian government’s commitment to index expenses and maintain the integrity of the skilled migration program. While the main application charges have increased modestly, associated nomination and SAF levy fees remain unchanged.

Employers and skilled migrants should ensure they are aware of these updates when planning applications, as well as the new income thresholds that may affect eligibility.

Seeking timely legal advice helps avoid unexpected costs and ensure a smooth visa application process.