The second VAC instalment: the bill nobody budgets for

Some Australian visas have a second Visa Application Charge, often called a second VAC, that is only requested later in the process. It is separate from the first application charge paid at lodgement, and it can be one of the biggest costs in the whole application. Because it arrives close to decision time, it often catches people after they have already spent money on the first VAC, health exams, police checks and professional fees.

What a second VAC is#

A second VAC is an extra government charge attached to some visa applications. It is not paid when the application is lodged. Instead, the Department asks for it later, usually before the visa can be granted.

This matters because the application can move through most of the process without that payment being due. A person may assume the main government fee was dealt with at lodgement, then receive a request much later for a further amount that must be paid within a set timeframe.

The second VAC is part of the legal charge for that visa application. It is not a professional fee charged by a migration agent or lawyer, and it is not a payment collected by VisaBid. It is also different from costs like biometrics, translations or medical checks.

Why some visas have it#

The second VAC exists because some visa subclasses include an additional charge linked to a particular criterion in the Regulations. A common example is the charge connected to English language requirements for certain adult applicants in some family visas.

In those cases, the Department does not usually ask for the payment at the start. The file is assessed first, and the second VAC is only raised if it becomes relevant to grant. That is why people often call it the bill nobody budgets for.

It is important to understand the sequence. A visa can be validly lodged and processed without the second VAC being paid upfront. The liability usually appears later, after the Department has considered the application and is moving toward a decision.

When it comes up in the process#

The second VAC usually appears near the end of processing, not at the beginning. The Department may send a request letter or other notice explaining who the charge applies to, the amount due under the current schedule and the deadline for payment.

That timing can create practical pressure. By then, some applicants have already waited many months or longer, arranged documents, updated police checks or gone through health assessments. A short payment deadline late in the process can become a serious problem if funds are not available.

The key point is that the second VAC is not an optional extra. If it is lawfully requested for that application and is not paid by the required time, the visa cannot usually be granted. The request should therefore be treated as a formal part of the visa process, not an informal reminder.

Which kinds of costs people confuse it with#

A lot of people confuse the second VAC with other migration costs. Keeping the categories separate helps when comparing quotes and building a budget.

The first category is the government charge paid at lodgement. That is the initial VAC that makes the application valid if all other legal requirements are met. The second VAC is a later government charge, separate from that first payment.

The second category is professional fees. Registered migration agents and Australian legal practitioners may charge for their work preparing and managing an application. Those fees vary by matter and scope, and are usually set out in a written agreement. Under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2021, a registered migration agent must give the consumer guide first, s38, enter a written agreement, s42, explain the fee structure, s46, and provide invoices and receipts, s49.

The third category is third-party expenses. These may include health examinations, police certificates, translations, skills assessments, courier fees or document certifications. Those costs are not the second VAC either.

When comparing providers, it helps to check whether a quote clearly separates government charges, professional fees and third-party costs. If a provider is a registered migration agent, the operator’s MARN can be checked at our operator checker. If there is no MARN and the person is not an Australian legal practitioner, giving immigration assistance in Australia may breach s280 of the Migration Act 1958, and charging for it may breach s281.

Why budgeting for it is difficult#

The hardest part of the second VAC is not only the size, it is the timing. A person can plan for the costs they see at the start, then miss the cost that appears later because it is not yet payable and may not be discussed clearly.

Another problem is that the amount is not fixed forever. Department charges are indexed and can change, commonly from 1 July. That means a person budgeting early in a long application may not be looking at the amount that applies by the time the second VAC is actually requested. For current figures, the safest place is the Department page for the relevant visa subclass, not an old forum post or social media comment.

Professional quotes can also add confusion if they are not itemised. A straightforward family visa matter might attract professional fees ranging from a few thousand dollars to substantially more, depending on complexity, urgency and the amount of evidence work involved. But those professional fees are separate from any government second VAC.

A clear written quote should say what is included and what is not. On VisaBid, the purpose of the marketplace is to let applicants describe their situation and receive itemised quotes from registered migration agents and Australian legal practitioners, so costs can be compared more easily. The cost estimator at the cost estimator can also help frame the different categories of expense.

What usually happens when the Department asks for payment#

When the Department requests the second VAC, the notice usually identifies the person or persons it applies to and gives a due date. The request may come through ImmiAccount, by email or by another formal channel used on the file.

At that stage, the practical job is to read the notice carefully and understand exactly what is being requested. The request may refer to a legal basis, identify which applicant is affected and explain how payment is to be made. Because this is a process step, not a general reminder, deadlines matter.

If a registered migration agent is acting, the communications process should already be documented. If an agent is appointed, Form 956 is the Department form commonly used for authorised recipients and migration assistance arrangements, see s312A of the Migration Act 1958. The Code also requires proper record-keeping and documentation, including invoices and receipts, s49, and retention of records for seven years, s56.

It is also wise to keep evidence of payment and the request notice together. If there is later a dispute about whether the amount was paid on time, having the Department request, transaction receipt and file notes in one place makes the timeline much easier to prove.

How to ask about it when getting quotes#

The second VAC is one of the best examples of why itemised quotes matter. A low professional fee can still leave a person exposed if the quote does not mention major government charges that may arise later.

When asking for quotes, useful process questions include whether the quote separates government charges from professional fees, whether likely third-party costs are listed, and whether any visa subclass in question can carry a second VAC. That is not asking for a guarantee or a prediction. It is asking for the cost structure to be explained clearly.

For registered migration agents, this kind of transparency is part of basic compliance. The Code requires a written agreement, s42, and a clear fee structure, s46. It also prohibits guarantees about outcomes, s26, so a proper quote should explain costs and scope without promising a grant.

If a quote is vague, it is reasonable to ask for a breakdown in writing before signing anything. VisaBid’s consumer guide explains what to look for in a professional service arrangement, and the guide library has related articles on costs, quotes and provider checks.

Mga karaniwang tanong#

Why is the second visa charge not paid at lodgement?#

For some visa subclasses, the law sets up the second VAC as a later payment that only becomes payable if certain criteria are relevant before grant. That is why the application can be lodged and processed without paying it upfront. The Department usually asks for it later by formal notice.

Can a visa be refused if the second VAC is not paid?#

If a second VAC is lawfully required for grant and it is not paid by the deadline, the visa cannot usually be granted. The exact effect depends on the legal requirements for that visa subclass and the notice issued by the Department. The payment request should be treated as a mandatory process step.

Does an agent’s quote normally include the second VAC?#

Not always. Some quotes list only professional fees, while others separate professional fees, government charges and third-party costs. Under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2021, the fee structure must be set out clearly in writing, s46, so it is worth checking whether the second VAC is listed as a separate government charge.

Where can I check if a migration agent is real before paying anything?#

A registered migration agent’s MARN can be checked using VisaBid’s operator check page at our operator checker. The Code also requires the consumer guide to be given first, s38, and a written agreement before money is taken for services, s42 and s51. If something feels wrong, keep the documents and receipts and use the complaints information at our complaints guide.

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About this guide. This is general information about how a process works in Australia. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Government charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, and check any agent on the OMARA register.