If you’re planning a trip to Australia, one of the first things you need to sort out is how much it’s going to cost you. Visitor visa charges Australia applicants face in 2026 have gone up again, and the total expense goes beyond just the base application fee. Between the visa application charge (VAC), biometrics, medical examinations, and other requirements, the real cost can catch you off guard if you haven’t done your homework.
At Simon Mander Consulting, we’ve spent over 22 years helping people navigate the Australian visa system, and we’ve seen firsthand how unexpected fees create stress and delays. Whether you’re applying from the Philippines or anywhere else, knowing exactly what you’ll pay upfront makes the entire process smoother. That’s why we put this guide together: a clear breakdown of every cost tied to the Subclass 600 visitor visa in 2026.
Below, you’ll find the current base application fees for both onshore and offshore applications, recent fee increases worth noting, and the secondary costs that most applicants forget to budget for. By the end, you’ll have a realistic picture of your total out-of-pocket spend before you submit a single form.
What you pay for an Australian visitor visa
When you apply for an Australian visitor visa, you’re not writing one check and calling it done. The total cost combines a government-set visa application charge (VAC) plus a set of supporting expenses that shift depending on your circumstances, where you apply from, and which visa subclass fits your situation. Understanding how these layers stack up is the first step toward avoiding a budget shortfall when you’re ready to submit.
The visa application charge explained
The VAC is the official fee charged by the Australian Department of Home Affairs for processing your application. It’s non-refundable once lodged, even if your visa is refused, so getting your application right the first time is essential. The fee differs by visa subclass, the stream you apply under (tourist, business, or family-sponsored), and whether you’re applying onshore inside Australia or offshore from your home country.
The VAC is set in Australian dollars (AUD), which means your actual cost in Philippine pesos moves with the exchange rate on the day you pay, adding a layer of uncertainty to your budget.
For most people applying from the Philippines, you’ll lodge offshore, which is the standard path for first-time applicants. Onshore applications are only available if you’re already lawfully in Australia when you lodge, and they carry a different fee structure that we cover in the next section.
Other payments that stack on top
Beyond the VAC, several additional costs attach themselves to your application. Health insurance, police clearances, and document translation fees all come out of your own pocket and are not bundled into the government fee. If the Department of Home Affairs requests a medical examination, you’ll pay a separate health assessment fee directly to an approved panel physician.
Biometric collection is another charge that some applicants face. Not every nationality requires biometrics for an Australian visitor visa, but if you do, you pay that fee at a visa application center rather than through the Department’s online portal. Passport photos, notarization of documents, and courier fees are small individually but add up fast.
Knowing the full scope of visitor visa charges Australia applicants encounter means looking at the whole picture: the base VAC, potential biometric fees, medical costs, and document preparation expenses. Mapping out every line item before you apply gives you a realistic total and removes the risk of being caught short at the worst possible moment.
2026 official fees for Visitor visa subclass 600
The Subclass 600 visa is the primary pathway for people visiting Australia for tourism, business, or family reasons. Its fees split into offshore and onshore categories, and visitor visa charges Australia applicants face under this subclass vary depending on the stream you apply under and where you sit when you lodge. Knowing the exact figures ahead of time keeps your budget accurate from day one.
Offshore application fees
Applying from the Philippines places you firmly in the offshore category, which is the standard path for first-time applicants. The base VAC for the Subclass 600 Tourist stream offshore in 2026 is AUD 190 for the primary applicant, with each additional person you include in the same application costing AUD 95.
Always verify the current rate on the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing page before you lodge, since the Australian Government adjusts these figures annually.
| Stream | Primary applicant (AUD) | Additional applicant (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist (offshore) | 190 | 95 |
| Business visitor | 190 | 95 |
| Sponsored family | 190 | 95 |
Onshore application fees
If you’re already inside Australia on a valid visa, you can lodge an onshore application instead. The onshore Tourist stream fee for Subclass 600 in 2026 sits at AUD 405 for the primary applicant, which is more than double the offshore rate.
Timing your application strategically matters here, because lodging onshore when you don’t need to means paying a significantly higher government charge for no practical benefit. Confirm your specific stream’s onshore rate directly on the Department of Home Affairs website before you submit payment.
ETA 601 and eVisitor 651 fees and who can use them
Not everyone applying to visit Australia uses the Subclass 600 visa. Two cheaper alternatives exist for passport holders from eligible countries: the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) subclass 601 and the eVisitor subclass 651. Understanding which visa type applies to your passport is critical, because the fee difference between these options and the standard Subclass 600 is substantial.
ETA subclass 601
The ETA is available to passport holders from a specific list of countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. It permits multiple entries to Australia for stays of up to three months at a time, valid for 12 months. The government does not charge a VAC for the ETA itself, but you pay an AUD 20 service charge when you apply through the official ETA app or an authorized agent.
Philippine passport holders are not eligible for the ETA, so if you’re applying from the Philippines, the Subclass 600 remains your correct pathway.
eVisitor subclass 651
The eVisitor targets European Union and select European passport holders, including those from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. It carries no application fee at all, making it the lowest-cost option for eligible nationals. Like the ETA, it allows multiple entries for up to three months per visit over a 12-month period.
Comparing visitor visa charges Australia applicants face across these three options makes the cost gap clear. Philippine passport holders will always fall under the Subclass 600 category, where the offshore fee of AUD 190 applies. Checking your passport’s eligibility before you lodge saves you from paying the wrong fee or applying through the wrong channel entirely.
Extra costs to budget for beyond the visa fee
The government’s VAC is only part of what you’ll spend to get your Australian visitor visa approved. Several supporting costs sit outside that fee, and failing to account for them upfront can leave your application stalled while you scramble for additional funds.
Medical examination fees
If the Department of Home Affairs requests a health assessment, you’ll pay that fee directly to an approved panel physician. The cost of a standard medical examination for a visitor visa sits around AUD 300 to AUD 400, though the exact amount varies by clinic and whether a chest X-ray is included. Not every applicant receives a medical request, but older applicants or those intending a longer stay are more likely to be asked.
Budget for a medical even if you think it’s unlikely, so you’re not caught off guard if the Department issues that request after you’ve already lodged.
Documents, biometrics, and insurance
Document preparation costs add up faster than most applicants expect. Police clearance certificates, notarized translations of civil documents, and certified copies all carry their own fees. In the Philippines, a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance involves both a processing fee and a potential apostille charge if the Department requests authentication.
Biometric collection applies to select applicants and is paid at a visa application center, separate from the online VAC payment. Travel health insurance is not a mandatory requirement for an Australian visitor visa, but it is strongly recommended, and a decent policy for a four-week trip can run PHP 3,000 to PHP 8,000 depending on the provider. Adding all these lines together is the only way to get a true picture of the full visitor visa charges Australia applicants actually pay.
How to estimate your total cost from the Philippines
Putting together a realistic budget before you apply saves you from scrambling at the last minute. The full cost of an Australian visitor visa from the Philippines combines the base VAC, document preparation, and potential medical fees, all converted from Australian dollars into Philippine pesos at whatever rate applies on the day you pay.
Building your cost estimate line by line
Start by listing every known expense before you touch the Department’s online portal. The offshore Subclass 600 VAC sits at AUD 190 for your primary application, and you should add your NBI clearance fee, any notarization or translation charges, and health insurance on top of that. If a medical examination gets requested, budget an additional AUD 300 to AUD 400 for that item alone.
The table below gives you a working baseline to build from:
| Cost item | Estimated amount |
|---|---|
| Subclass 600 VAC (offshore) | AUD 190 |
| Medical examination (if requested) | AUD 300-400 |
| NBI clearance + apostille | PHP 1,000-2,000 |
| Document notarization | PHP 500-1,500 |
| Travel health insurance | PHP 3,000-8,000 |
Converting AUD to Philippine pesos
The AUD to PHP exchange rate shifts daily, which means the peso equivalent of your visa fee changes between the day you plan your budget and the day you actually pay. Check the current rate through your bank before you finalize your total, since the difference between a favorable and unfavorable rate can move your budget by hundreds of pesos.
Factor in your bank’s foreign currency conversion charge, which can add 1-3% on top of the mid-market rate.
All visitor visa charges Australia applicants pay to the Department are billed in Australian dollars, so locking in a rough conversion figure early gives you a financial buffer rather than a last-minute surprise.
Quick wrap-up and next steps
Visitor visa charges Australia applicants face in 2026 go well beyond the base AUD 190 offshore fee. The Subclass 600 remains the correct pathway for Philippine passport holders, while ETA and eVisitor options cover different nationalities at lower or zero cost. Your total spend combines the VAC, document preparation costs, potential medical fees, and currency conversion on the day you pay, so building a full line-item budget before you lodge is the smartest move you can make.
Getting the numbers right matters, but so does getting your application right the first time. A refused visa means losing your non-refundable VAC with nothing to show for it. If your situation involves any complexity, such as previous refusals, health conditions, or a lengthy intended stay, working with an experienced registered migration agent removes the guesswork entirely. Reach out to the team at Simon Mander Consulting to get clear, personalized advice before you submit.