How to pay your Australian visa fee from the Philippines

Current Australian visa fees

Fees vary by subclass. Common examples: Visitor visa (subclass 600) approximately AUD 250 for an offshore tourist application, Student visa (subclass 500) approximately AUD 2,500, and Employer-Sponsored visa (subclass 482) AUD 4,015, which is now one charge covering every stream. These amounts took effect on 1 July 2026 — check the Home Affairs website for current fees (Home Affairs).

Accepted payment methods

ImmiAccount accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, PayPal, UnionPay and BPAY. Diners Club is not accepted. Philippine-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards are the most commonly used by Filipino applicants.

The surcharge is 1.40% on Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB — the same rate applies to debit and credit — 1.90% on UnionPay, and 1.01% on PayPal (Home Affairs). Your card issuer converts PHP to AUD at their own rate, which includes a markup above mid-market that varies by card and issuer.

Common card-decline reasons

International transactions disabled. Many Philippine bank cards have international online payments disabled by default. Check your bank's mobile app or internet banking for an option to enable international or overseas transactions before you pay.

Daily international limit too low. Philippine banks set separate limits for domestic and international card transactions. The default international limit may be lower than the visa fee. Increase it before attempting payment.

Fraud detection. An unfamiliar AUD charge triggers bank fraud alerts. Pre-notify your bank or temporarily increase your transaction limit through the app.

Insufficient credit limit. Higher-value visas (Partner, Employer-Sponsored) can exceed the credit limit on some Philippine cards.

Payment alternatives

VAC payment. Applications lodged through VFS Global's Visa Application Centre in Manila may accept alternative payment methods at the centre.

Third-party payment. A contact in Australia or another country can pay on your ImmiAccount using their card.

Prepaid forex cards. Some Philippine banks offer Visa/Mastercard prepaid cards that can be loaded with USD. These are designed for international payments and are less likely to be declined.

Payment-failure recovery

Check your bank statement if payment fails. How long a failed online payment takes to reverse depends on your bank, not on Home Affairs. Do not retry until you confirm whether the first attempt was charged. Contact the Home Affairs Global Service Centre if the charge does not reverse.

Receipt and refund

Successful payment shows as a TRN in ImmiAccount. Download the receipt. Refunds are limited — fees are generally not refunded for refused applications. To request one, complete Form 1424 and send it to the office processing your application. Home Affairs states there is no standard time frame for processing a refund request.

Why is my Philippine card being declined?

Most commonly: international payments not enabled, daily international limit too low, or bank fraud block. Enable international payments and increase limits first.

Can I pay at the VFS centre in Manila?

Payment options at VFS centres vary. Contact VFS Global Philippines for current accepted methods.

What exchange rate will I pay?

Your card issuer converts PHP to AUD at their own rate, which includes a markup above mid-market that varies by card and issuer.

Can someone in Australia pay for me?

Yes. They can use their card on your ImmiAccount login.

What if I was charged but the payment failed?

How long the charge takes to reverse depends on your bank, not on Home Affairs. Check your bank statement, and contact Home Affairs if it doesn't reverse.