The cost of bringing a spouse or prospective partner to Australia is set to increase dramatically, as the Abbott government looks to the price of visas to help the cash-strapped Australian economy.
As part of its emergency repair job on the budget deficit, the government has announced it will increase visa application charges for partner visas by 50 per cent.
The price rise will come into effect from January 1 and was announced in the mid-year budget review on Monday. The price hike is expected to raise $373.6 million in revenue over four years.
Provisional and prospective marriage visas, currently costing $3085 will increase to $4627, with temporary and permanent partner visas – currently priced at $4575 increasing to $6865.
Registered migration agent Penny Dimopoulos told Neos Kosmos that the increase was likely to have a significant impact on the Greek Australian community.
“In terms of applicants from Greece who are returning to Australia with their partners and children, the increase in costs may be difficult to bear, particularly if applicants have been unemployed due to the crisis,” she said.
“People who are suffering from economic hardship may need to delay or reconsider applying for a partner visa.”
Ms Dimopoulos said that the Immigration Department has confirmed some secondary applicant charges would also be increasing by 50 per cent.
“This means that if a primary applicant and a secondary applicant aged over 18 (for example a uni student child) are included in an onshore partner visa application after January 1, the fee is likely to be in excess of $10,000.”