ART application fee explained
The Administrative Review Tribunal charges A$3,727 to review most migration decisions, with different rules for protection and character reviews. The amounts, when they are paid and where the figures come from are set out below.
For most migration decisions made under Part 5 of the Migration Act 1958, the ART application fee is A$3,727. The ART's fees page says the amount applies to any application fee paid on or after 1 July 2026, even if the application was lodged earlier. The fee is a different amount for protection visa reviews and for character-related reviews, and a few reviews have no fee.
Fees are indexed each 1 July, so the figures below carry a checked date. If you are reading this in a later year, go to the ART fees page for the current amount.
The fee amounts
| Type of review | Fee | When it is paid | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most migration decisions under Part 5 (for example many refusals and cancellations) | A$3,727 | Before the deadline for applying for review | ART, Fees page, checked 16 October 2026 |
| Protection visa refusal or cancellation | A$2,293, only if the review is not successful | Not at lodgement; within 7 days after an invoice from the ART | ART, Fees page and Immigration and citizenship page, checked 16 October 2026 |
| Character-related refusals or cancellations | A$1,195 (the standard fee) | When you lodge; the ART will not start the review until it is paid | ART, Fees page and Immigration and citizenship page, checked 16 October 2026 |
Amounts as shown by the ART on 16 October 2026. The Migration Regulations 1994 still print a base amount of A$3,496 for the migration fee; the current figure is higher because of annual indexation.
Hardship option
For the A$3,727 migration fee, the ART can reduce the fee by 50% where paying the full amount would cause or has caused financial hardship. There is a process and a timing rule, covered in ART fee reduction for financial hardship. The fees page lists no hardship reduction for protection reviews.
When the migration fee has to be paid
The ART says that for Part 5 migration reviews you must pay the fee before your deadline for applying. The Act says the application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee, and the ART's practice direction says it cannot review an application that is not properly made, including in relation to fees.
That ties the fee to the time limit. The limit itself is explained in the 28-day deadline, and the ART cannot extend it for these reviews. Your decision letter states your own time limit.
The ART accepts Mastercard or Visa online or by phone, and EFTPOS, cheque or money order at a registry.
Cases with no fee at lodgement or no fee at all
The Regulations also list a no-fee case for some family violence situations where a secondary applicant was refused after the primary applicant's refusal. Whether that fits anyone is a question for the decision letter and an adviser.
- Protection reviews: no fee at lodgement. The A$2,293 is payable if the ART affirms the decision (including confirming a dismissal) or sets it aside and substitutes a new decision. It is not payable if the decision is set aside and sent back to the Department, or if the Department itself referred the decision.
- A review of a bridging visa decision that resulted in a person being placed in immigration detention has no fee.
- A review of a refusal to grant a subclass 070 (Bridging (Removal Pending)) visa without one or more prescribed conditions has no fee.
Refunds
The ART says it will refund 50% of the fee paid if the decision is set aside or varied, or the application is remitted to the Department. If it decides the application is invalid, it refunds the review fee. If it affirms the decision, its decisions factsheet says the application fee cannot be refunded. Refunds after withdrawal are limited to very narrow circumstances. For what each outcome means, see ART decision outcomes explained.
Who to ask about your own fee
Which fee applies depends on the type of decision. The ART's fees page points people to the fees section for their case type, or to contact the ART, if they are unsure. A registered migration agent, an Australian lawyer or a free service can confirm it for your facts. See free and low-cost help after a visa refusal. For the wider picture of costs, there is a separate piece on visa refusal appeal cost.
Fee amounts here are general information taken from the ART's published pages, not advice about what you will pay.
Where this came from
- ART, Fees (checked 16 October 2026).
- ART, Upcoming application fee increase, 22 June 2026 (checked 16 October 2026).
- ART, Immigration and citizenship (checked 16 October 2026).
- Migration Act 1958, section 347 (checked 16 October 2026).
- ART, Migration, Protection and Character Practice Direction (checked 16 October 2026).
- ART, Information about decisions, factsheet MR 25 (checked 16 October 2026).