Annual Adjustment of Fees and Charges

Commencement: 1 July 2010

Client summary

From 1 July 2010, the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations) are amended to effect the annual adjustment of most fees and visa application charges (VACs). 

Certain fees and charges under the Migration Regulations are increased by 1.8 percent, in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).  The second installments of the VACs for Contributory Parent and Contributory Aged parent visas increase in accordance with the Contributory Parent Visa Composite Index (CPVCI), calculated by the Australian Government Actuary, which is 10.6 percent for the 2010-11 financial year.

All increases are rounded to a multiple of $5.00 according to the following methodology:

• if the amount of the charge calculated under this formula is not a multiple of $5.00, and if the amount exceeds the nearest lower multiple of $5.00 by $2.50 or more, the amount is rounded up to the nearest $5.00;
• in any other case, where the charge calculated under the formula is not a multiple of $5.00, the amount is rounded down to the nearest lower multiple of $5.00.

The amount of the increase to these fees and charges does not exceed the applicable charge limits set out in the Migration (Visa Application) Charge Act 1997 and the Immigration (Education) Charge Act 1992 and the process is completed in accordance with government policy.

The Immigration (Education) Regulations 1992 (the Immigration Education Regulations) are also amended from 1 July 2010 to effect the annual adjustment of fees for prescribed English courses for migrants and other persons prescribed in section 4 of the Immigration (Education) Act 1971 (the Immigration Education Act).  The prescribed fee for an English course provided in accordance with section 4 of the Immigration Education Act is increased from $400 to $410.  This fee is increased in accordance with subsections 4A(3A) and (3B) of the Immigration Education Act.

Affected legislation

The following provisions of the regulations are amended:

• Parts 2A and 5 of and Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, are amended

A full list of the amendments is available on Commonwealth Law.
See: www.comlaw.gov.au

• Paragraph 4(1)(a) to the Immigration Education Regulations, is amended

Adjustments to these fees and charges occur each year, effective 1 July.  The last fee and visa application charge adjustment took effect from 1 July 2009.

Additional information

Nil.

Transitional provisions

The amendments apply to an obligation to pay a fee or charge on or after 1 July 2010.

Forms

The July 2010 version of the Charges Form 990i reflect the changes in fees and visa application charges which result from the annual adjustment process.

Instructions

PAM3 will be amended to reflect these changes by 1 July 2010.