2026-05-21 · Diana Chu

Australia Student Guardian Visa (590) Application Fee: 2026 Costs, Waivers, and Refund Policy

Complete guide to the Australia 590 visa application fee in 2026: current costs, payment methods, waiver eligibility, refund rules, and step-by-step lodgement p

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Australia Student Guardian Visa (590) Application Fee: 2026 Update

The Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa application fee in Australia is AUD 710 as of 1 July 2025, with no change confirmed for the 2026 financial year as of this publication’s research date (March 2026). This fee applies to all primary applicants, including those applying for a second subsequent guardian visa. The Department of Home Affairs processed 3,842 Subclass 590 visa applications in the 2024–25 program year, with an approval rate of 87.3%, according to the Department’s Migration Program Report (2025). This guide provides a definitive, data-backed breakdown of the 590 visa fee structure, payment procedures, waiver conditions, and refund policy. It is intended for prospective guardians—usually a parent, legal custodian, or relative aged over 21—who must accompany a minor international student (under 18) studying in Australia. The fee is non-refundable in most circumstances, but specific exceptions exist. This publication draws exclusively on Australian Government sources: the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Education, TEQSA, and CRICOS. No third-party agency recommendations are included.

Current Fee Structure and Payment Methods

The Subclass 590 visa base application charge is AUD 710 for the primary applicant. This fee is set by the Migration (Visa Application) Charge Act and is indexed annually on 1 July. For the 2025–26 financial year, the charge remains unchanged from the 2024–25 rate. No additional applicant charges apply for the 590 visa, as it is a single-person visa for the guardian only. The student visa (Subclass 500) is a separate application with its own fee of AUD 1,600 (as of 2025). Payment must be made in Australian dollars at the time of lodgement via the ImmiAccount online portal. Accepted methods include credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), debit card, BPAY, and PayPal. Credit card payments incur a surcharge of 1.08% for Visa and Mastercard, and 1.40% for American Express. BPAY incurs no surcharge but requires a valid Australian bank account. The Department does not accept cash, cheque, or money order for online applications. Paper applications, though discouraged, can be lodged at an Australian embassy or consulate outside Australia, with payment in local currency equivalent to AUD 710, subject to exchange rate fluctuations. The Department’s Visa Pricing Table (2025) confirms these figures. This publication recommends using BPAY to avoid surcharges, provided the applicant holds an Australian bank account.

Fee Waiver and Exemption Conditions

Fee waivers for the Subclass 590 visa are rare and strictly limited to specific circumstances. The Department of Home Affairs may waive the application charge for applicants who are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens applying for a guardian visa for a student who is also an Australian permanent resident or citizen. However, this scenario is uncommon, as the 590 visa is primarily designed for foreign nationals. A second waiver category applies to applicants who hold a valid Subclass 500 visa and are applying for a subsequent 590 visa due to a change in guardianship arrangements, but only if the original visa was granted without a fee (e.g., under a ministerial intervention). No waiver exists for financial hardship, medical grounds, or compassionate circumstances. The Department’s Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, Item 1229, specifies that the fee is non-waivable for most applicants. This publication advises all applicants to budget for the full AUD 710 fee. Any claim of a fee waiver by third-party agents should be verified directly via the Department’s Fee and Payment page or by calling the Home Affairs Global Service Centre on 131 881 (within Australia). No legislative changes to waiver provisions are expected in the 2026–27 budget.

Refund Policy: When You Get Your Money Back

Refunds of the 590 visa application fee are governed by the Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Application Charge Refund Policy (2025). A refund is only issued if the application is invalid (e.g., incomplete or incorrectly lodged) and the Department rejects it before any processing begins. In such cases, the full AUD 710 is refunded. If the application is withdrawn before a decision is made, no refund is provided. If the visa is granted, the fee is non-refundable, even if the guardian never travels to Australia or the student’s enrolment changes. A partial refund of AUD 70 (the base charge minus the non-refundable component) may be available if the application is withdrawn within 28 days of lodgement, but only if no processing has commenced. Processing is deemed to have started when the Department allocates a case officer, which typically occurs within 7–14 days of lodgement. In practice, refunds are rare. Data from the Department’s Annual Report (2024–25) shows that fewer than 0.5% of visa application charges were refunded across all visa classes. This publication recommends that applicants do not rely on refunds as a contingency. The refund policy is identical for both paper and online applications.

Additional Costs: Health Insurance, Biometrics, and Health Examinations

Beyond the AUD 710 application fee, guardians must budget for mandatory ancillary costs. Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is a legal requirement for Subclass 590 visa holders. Premiums for a single adult range from AUD 200 to AUD 600 per year, depending on the insurer and coverage level (e.g., hospital only vs. comprehensive). The Department of Home Affairs requires evidence of OVHC at the time of application. Biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) cost AUD 85 per person at an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre. Health examinations (chest X-ray and medical check) cost approximately AUD 300 to AUD 500, depending on the panel physician’s location. These costs are not included in the visa application fee and must be paid separately to the service providers. The Department’s Health Requirements for Visa Applicants (2025) specifies that all 590 visa applicants must undergo a medical examination if they intend to stay in Australia for more than 6 months. This publication estimates the total upfront cost for a 590 visa application at AUD 1,100 to AUD 1,300, including the application fee, OVHC for one year, biometrics, and health checks. The student visa application (Subclass 500) incurs separate costs: AUD 1,600 fee, plus OVHC for the student (AUD 500–1,200 per year), and health examinations.

Lodgement Process and Fee Payment Timeline

The 590 visa application must be lodged online via ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs’ digital portal. The fee is paid at the point of lodgement. The process is as follows: (1) Create an ImmiAccount, (2) Select the Subclass 590 visa, (3) Complete the application form (including details of the student’s enrolment via a Confirmation of Enrolment, or CoE), (4) Upload supporting documents (e.g., proof of relationship, OVHC policy, financial capacity, police clearance), (5) Pay the AUD 710 fee via the chosen method, (6) Submit. The Department issues an immediate receipt with a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). Processing times for the 590 visa are 50% of applications processed within 4 months and 90% within 8 months, as per the Department’s Global Processing Times (updated March 2026). These times are measured from the date of lodgement to the date of decision. The fee is non-refundable if the application is refused, unless the refusal is due to a departmental error (e.g., incorrect fee calculation). This publication advises applicants to ensure all documents are complete before lodgement to minimise processing delays. The Department’s Document Checklist for Student Guardian Visas (2025) is available on the Home Affairs website.

Historical Fee Comparison and Future Projections

Historically, the Subclass 590 visa application fee has increased in line with annual indexation. From 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, the fee was AUD 710. Prior to that, the fee was AUD 690 from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, and AUD 670 from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. The Department of Home Affairs applies a Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment each financial year, typically ranging from 2% to 4%. For the 2026–27 financial year, assuming an inflation rate of 3%, the fee could rise to approximately AUD 731. However, no official announcement has been made as of March 2026. The Australian Government’s Budget Papers (2025–26) do not propose any changes to the 590 visa fee structure. This publication notes that the fee remains one of the lowest among Australian visa subclasses, compared to the Student visa (Subclass 500) at AUD 1,600 and the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) at AUD 1,945. The Department’s Migration Program Planning Levels (2025–26) allocate 3,000 to 4,000 places for Student Guardian visas, consistent with previous years. No significant fee increase is anticipated in the near term, but applicants should monitor the Department’s website for updates each July.

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FAQ

What is the current application fee for the Australia 590 visa in 2026?

The current application fee for the Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa is AUD 710 as of 1 July 2025, and this rate remains in effect for the 2025–26 financial year. The fee is set by the Migration (Visa Application) Charge Act and is indexed annually. No change has been announced for 2026–27 as of March 2026. This fee covers the primary applicant only; no additional charges apply for dependents.

Can I get a refund if my 590 visa application is refused?

No refund is provided if the visa application is refused, unless the refusal is due to a departmental error (e.g., incorrect fee calculation or system error). The Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Application Charge Refund Policy (2025) states that the fee is non-refundable after processing has commenced. If the application is withdrawn before processing begins (within 28 days of lodgement), a partial refund of AUD 70 may be available, but this is rare. In practice, fewer than 0.5% of all visa application charges are refunded annually.

Are there any fee waivers available for the 590 visa?

Fee waivers are available only for applicants who are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens applying for a guardian visa for a student who is also an Australian permanent resident or citizen. No waiver exists for financial hardship, medical reasons, or compassionate circumstances. The Department of Home Affairs’ Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, Item 1229, specifies that the fee is non-waivable for most applicants. This publication advises all applicants to budget for the full AUD 710 fee.

References

  • Department of Home Affairs (2025). Visa Pricing Table for the 2025–26 Financial Year. Australian Government.
  • Department of Home Affairs (2025). Visa Application Charge Refund Policy. Australian Government.
  • Department of Home Affairs (2025). Migration Program Report for the 2024–25 Program Year. Australian Government.
  • Department of Home Affairs (2026). Global Processing Times for Subclass 590 Visa. Australian Government.
  • Australian Government (2025). Budget Papers 2025–26: Migration Program Planning Levels. Commonwealth of Australia.