More than 32,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the Albanese Government to reverse its decision to more than triple the cost of the Resident Return Visa, as criticism continues to grow over one of the largest increases in Australia’s latest overhaul of migration fees.
The campaign comes after the application fee for the Resident Return Visa (RRV) rose from $490 to $1,475 on 1 July, a 201 per cent increase that took effect just one day after the regulations were registered. Permanent residents, migration agents and community advocates say the changes were introduced with virtually no warning, leaving many with no opportunity to lodge applications under the previous fee schedule.
Unlike most visas, the Resident Return Visa is not used to obtain permanent residency. Instead, it renews the travel facility attached to an existing permanent visa after the original five-year travel entitlement expires. Permanent residents whose travel rights have lapsed must obtain an RRV before travelling or while overseas if they wish to return to Australia as permanent residents.
For Australia’s Indian community, where many permanent residents regularly travel to visit ageing parents, attend family events or respond to emergencies, the increase represents a substantial new cost attached to maintaining family connections across two countries.
The Resident Return Visa was not the only category to attract a steep increase. The application fee for the Bridging Visa B rose from $190 to $575, an increase of more than 200 per cent. The visa allows people with pending onshore applications to travel overseas temporarily without jeopardising their immigration status.
Most other visa application charges increased by around 25 per cent from 1 July. Student visa fees rose from $2,000 to $2,500, partner visas increased from $9,365 to $11,710, while skilled migration visas also attracted higher charges. The Temporary Graduate Visa, used by many international students after completing their studies, has climbed from $2,300 at the beginning of the year to $5,750 following successive increases in March and July.
Student visa fees rose from $2,000 to $2,500, partner visas increased from $9,365 to $11,710, while skilled migration visas also attracted higher charges. The Temporary Graduate Visa, used by many international students after completing their studies, has climbed from $2,300 at the beginning of the year to $5,750 following successive increases in March and July
The online petition argues that the Resident Return Visa increase is “excessive, disproportionate and unfair” and questions why one of the migration system’s most routine applications attracted a 201 per cent increase when most other visa categories rose by around 25 per cent.
The campaign also calls on the government to publish the evidence used to determine the new fee, including processing costs, financial modelling and expected revenue, undertake public consultation before introducing major fee increases, and consider transitional arrangements for people whose travel plans were already in place before the changes took effect.
One of the central criticisms is not simply the size of the increase but the absence of advance notice. The regulations were registered on 30 June and commenced on 1 July, giving affected permanent residents little practical opportunity to prepare or apply under the previous pricing.
The explanatory statement accompanying the regulations refers broadly to administrative costs, demand patterns and policy objectives. However, it does not publish Resident Return Visa-specific costing explaining why this visa category required an increase of more than 200 per cent while most others were subject to a standard uplift.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned higher visa costs send a poor signal to prospective workers, while Universities Australia says successive policy changes are making the country less competitive internationally
Migration agents say the Resident Return Visa is generally a straightforward application for people who continue to meet the residency requirements, making the scale of the increase difficult for many applicants to understand.
The fee changes have also drawn criticism from education and business groups, who argue Australia risks becoming a less attractive destination for skilled migrants and international students. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned higher visa costs send a poor signal to prospective workers, while Universities Australia says successive policy changes are making the country less competitive internationally.
The federal government has defended higher visa charges as part of its broader approach to managing migration and maintaining the integrity of the visa system. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has argued that the cost of a visa remains only a small fraction of what migrants and international students typically spend to live, work or study in Australia.
The debate, however, extends beyond the amount charged.
The Resident Return Visa increase does not change who is eligible to migrate to Australia. Those paying the higher fee are already permanent residents, living, working and paying taxes in Australia. For many, particularly those with close family overseas, the visa is simply the mechanism that allows them to leave the country temporarily and return home.
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