Australian Visa Application Charges are typically paid by card through ImmiAccount and currently attract a surcharge. The Reserve Bank of Australia previously confirmed that surcharging on debit, prepaid and credit card payments across the eftpos, Mastercard and Visa networks will be banned in Australia from 1 October 2026, following its Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging.
Following concern that the Department of Home Affairs would increase Visa Application Charges (VACs) accordingly, the Department has now confirmed that it will cease charging the card payment surcharge from 1 October 2026 and that there will be no related change to VACs.
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