ART Protection Visa Review Fee 2026: New Upfront Payment Requirement

As per ART Protection visa review fee 2026 changes the eligible applicants must now pay the prescribed fee when applying to the Administrative Review Tribunal for review of a reviewable protection decision.

Previously, the fee was generally payable only by an unsuccessful applicant after the ART made its decision. The new upfront payment requirement commenced on 1 November 2026.

What Has Changed?

The ART review application must now be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

An applicant who does not pay the fee and does not qualify for an exemption will not be able to access merits review.

The change applies to ART review applications relating to reviewable protection decisions made on or after 1 November 2026.

The previous fee arrangements continue to apply where the reviewable protection decision was made before that date.

How Much Is the ART Protection Visa Review Fee 2026?

The fee is set at 50% of the prescribed fee for ART review of a reviewable migration decision.

At commencement, the upfront fee is:

$1,863.50

The amount is subject to annual indexation and may increase over time.

Applicants should confirm the current fee before lodging an ART review application.

When Is the Fee Not Payable?

The fee is not payable if:

• the applicant is in immigration detention when making the review application; or
• the application is combined with another application under regulation 4.31A and the prescribed fee has been paid for the other application.

Outside these circumstances, the fee must accompany the ART review application.

When Will the Full Fee Be Refunded?

The full fee must be refunded if:

• the applicant was not entitled to apply for review by the ART;
• the decision was not reviewable by the ART;
• the ART varies the decision;
• the ART sets aside the decision and substitutes a new decision;
• the ART remits the matter for reconsideration;
• the Minister issues a conclusive certificate;
• the Minister substitutes a decision that is more favourable to the applicant; or
• the review application is withdrawn because of the applicant’s death.

This means a successful applicant will generally receive a full refund of the upfront protection review fee.