How to pay your Australian visa fee from the UK

Current Australian visa fees

Fees vary by visa subclass. Common examples: Visitor visa (subclass 600) approximately AUD 250 for an offshore tourist application, Student visa (subclass 500) approximately AUD 2,500, Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) AUD 840 for a first visa, and Partner visa (subclass 820/801) approximately AUD 11,710. Home Affairs charges were last updated on 1 July 2026 — check the 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. UK-issued cards are rarely declined — the GBP-to-AUD payment path is well-established and does not face the international transaction restrictions common in Asian corridors.

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).

Reducing the conversion cost

The largest cost beyond the visa fee itself is the exchange rate your card issuer uses for the GBP-to-AUD conversion. Standard UK bank credit and debit cards add a markup above mid-market that varies by card and issuer.

Cards with no foreign transaction fee can offer savings: Starling Bank debit card, Monzo debit card, and Revolut card are marketed as converting at or near mid-market rates within their fee-free allowances. Check your own card's current terms before relying on this, since fee-free allowances and rates change.

Common card-decline reasons from the UK

Card declines from the UK are uncommon but can occur due to: fraud detection triggers on unfamiliar AUD merchants (pre-notify your bank for large payments), insufficient credit limit or funds, expired card details, or 3D Secure verification failure (ensure your bank's app is updated for Strong Customer Authentication).

Payment-failure recovery

If payment fails, check your bank statement. How long a failed online payment takes to reverse depends on your bank, not on Home Affairs. Contact the Home Affairs Global Service Centre if the charge does not reverse.

Receipt and refund

Successful payment generates a TRN in ImmiAccount. Download the receipt. Refunds are limited — fees are generally not refunded for refused visas. 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.

Can I use a UK debit card to pay the Australian visa fee?

Yes. UK Visa and Mastercard debit cards are accepted at ImmiAccount, with the same 1.40% surcharge as credit cards.

What exchange rate will I get?

Your card issuer converts GBP to AUD at their own rate, which includes a markup above mid-market that varies by card and issuer. Cards marketed as fee-free for foreign transactions (Starling, Monzo, Revolut) can offer a rate closer to mid-market.

Is there a way to avoid the ImmiAccount surcharge?

No. The surcharge applies to all card payments: 1.40% on Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB (the same rate for debit and credit), 1.90% on UnionPay, and 1.01% on PayPal.

Can someone in Australia pay my visa fee?

Yes. They can pay using their card on your ImmiAccount login.

What if my card is declined?

UK card declines are rare. Check that international payments are enabled, your limit is sufficient, and 3D Secure is working. Contact your bank if the issue persists.