Having your visa application refused can feel devastating, especially if you’ve built a life, career or family connections in Australia. It’s stressful, confusing and can leave you wondering what comes next. But here’s the good news: a refusal doesn’t always mean the end of the road. In many cases, you still have options, including the right to ask the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) to review the decision. The ART was established in October 2024 and replaced the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). As part of this change, some fee structures and review pathways also shifted, which is important for anyone considering a review.

Naturally, one of the first questions people want answered is: “How much does it cost to appeal a visa refusal?” Right behind that comes “How to appeal a visa refusal in Australia?” and “How long does it take to appeal a visa refusal?”. These questions matter because understanding the financial side, the process and the waiting time can make everything feel a little more manageable.

This guide breaks down all three questions in a straightforward way, helping you understand the fees involved, the steps you need to follow and how long the appeal process usually takes. Let’s walk through it together.

What does it mean to appeal a visa refusal?

When the Department of Home Affairs refuses a visa, you may have the right to ask the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) to review the decision. This is not a new visa application. It is an independent merits review of whether the Department made the correct decision under Australian law.

• The ART can affirm (agree with) the refusal, set aside (overturn) the refusal, or remit (send) the matter back to the Department for reconsideration with directions or recommendations. In other words, the Tribunal looks at the facts and law afresh and decides whether the original decision should stand.
• Keep in mind that not every visa decision is reviewable. Many temporary visas like Visitor or Student visas and permanent visas like Partner or Skilled visas are usually eligible for review through the ART. But some types of refusals, including certain fast-tracked protection visa decisions, follow different review pathways.

How much does it cost to appeal a visa refusal?

These are the official fees set by the Administrative Review Tribunal. You will usually need to pay them when you apply for a review, although some applicants pay a reduced fee or no fee at all.

• Full application fee for most migration decisions (non-protection): The application fee for a review of most migration visa refusals or cancellations is $3,580.
• Reduced fee in financial hardship cases: If you meet the Tribunal’s financial hardship criteria, you may be granted a 50% fee reduction. This brings the fee down to $1,790.
• Protection visa decisions: There is no upfront fee when you apply to have a protection visa refusal or cancellation reviewed. However, if your review is not successful, the Tribunal will usually require you to pay a fee of $2,203 within a short timeframe after you receive an invoice.
• No fee for some bridging visa decisions: There is no fee if you apply for review of certain bridging visa decisions, including some decisions that place a person in immigration detention or some decisions about subclass 070 (Bridging (Removal Pending)) visas.
• Always check the most recent fee information on the Tribunal website or with an immigration professional, because fees can change and may depend on the type of decision that is being reviewed.

Example: If you ask the ART to review a Partner visa refusal in 2025, you will normally pay the full fee of $3,580 when you lodge your application. If you qualify for the 50% hardship reduction, the amount you have to pay is reduced to $1,790.

Legal representation costs

You can represent yourself in an ART appeal, but many people choose to get help from an immigration lawyer or registered migration agent, especially when the stakes are high. A professional can guide you through the paperwork, spot issues you might miss and build a stronger case overall. Their fees vary depending on how complicated your situation is and how much work your appeal requires. These professional fees are separate from the ART application fee, so you will usually need to budget for both the Tribunal fee and any legal or migration agent costs.

Straightforward cases: $3,000 – $5,000

This range usually applies when the refusal reasons are simple, the evidence is easy to gather and the overall case doesn’t require deep legal arguments or extensive submissions.

Complex matters: $6,000 – $12,000+

Cases involving serious concerns, such as health issues or character assessments, require more preparation and detailed legal work. This is why the overall cost increases. These costs cover:

• Reviewing refusal reasons: Your lawyer will go through the refusal letter in detail and identify exactly what needs to be addressed in the appeal. Gathering supporting evidence: This can include medical reports, statutory declarations, employer letters and financial or relationship documentation - whatever strengthens your case.
• Drafting submissions to the Tribunal: They prepare written arguments explaining why the refusal should be overturned, backed by law, evidence and policy.
• Representing you at the hearing: If a hearing is required, your lawyer attends with you, speaks on your behalf and guides you through the process.

Key point: Hiring a lawyer does cost more upfront, but having expert support can make a huge difference to your chances of success, especially if your case is anything other than straightforward.

How to appeal a visa refusal in Australia

If your visa has been refused, it can feel overwhelming. But the appeal process is more straightforward than most people expect. The key is understanding the steps, staying organised and making sure you respond directly to the reasons for refusal. Here’s a clear breakdown of what the process actually looks like.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Not every refusal can be appealed, so the first thing you should do is check your refusal letter. It will clearly state whether you have review rights and if the decision can be taken to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). If the letter confirms appeal rights, it will also list your deadline, which is extremely important.

Step 2: Lodge your application with the AAT

If you are eligible, you will need to lodge an application for review with the Administrative Review Tribunal. The easiest and safest way to apply is online.

• Strict time limits apply. The exact deadline depends on the type of visa decision and whether you are in immigration detention. Your decision letter from the Department of Home Affairs will tell you the last date you can apply.
• If you miss the deadline, even by one day, the Tribunal generally has no power to extend the time limit, which usually means you lose the right to have the decision reviewed.

Step 3: Pay the fee

• For most migration decisions, you will need to pay the ART application fee of $3,580 when you lodge your application.
• If you are experiencing financial hardship, you can ask for a 50% fee reduction. If the Tribunal grants this, the amount you have to pay is reduced to $1,790.
• For protection visa reviews, there is usually no fee payable at the time of application. Instead, if the review is not successful, you will generally receive an invoice for a fee of $2,203 which must be paid within a short period after the decision.
• Some types of decisions, such as certain bridging visa decisions, do not attract an application fee at all. Your decision letter and the Tribunal’s current fee information will explain which fee, if any, applies in your situation.

Step 4: Prepare your evidence

This is the most important part of the entire appeal. Your job is to directly respond to the specific reasons the Department gave for refusing your visa. For example:

• If your Partner visa was refused due to lack of evidence of a genuine relationship, you may need to provide updated joint financial statements, proof of shared living arrangements, social evidence and detailed statements from both partners.
• If your Student visa was refused because the Department wasn’t satisfied with your Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) explanation, you may need to submit detailed academic, employment and family ties documentation.

Step 5: Attend the hearing

Most applicants will have a hearing, either in person or by video.

• The hearing is your chance to explain your situation, clarify misunderstandings and present your evidence.
• It’s less formal than a court setting, but good preparation is essential, especially if your case involves tricky issues.
• You can attend alone or bring a migration agent or lawyer to represent you.

Step 6: Await the decision

After the hearing, the ART will review everything and make a decision.

• Some people receive an outcome on the spot (though this is rare).
• Most decisions take several weeks or even months, depending on the complexity of the case and the Tribunal’s workload.

How long does it take to appeal a visa refusal?

There is no single standard timeframe for an ART review. How long it takes will depend on factors like:

• the type of visa involved
• how complex your case is
• how many cases are already in the queue in that part of the Tribunal.

In practice, many migration and protection reviews take many months and sometimes several years to finalise. Industry experience suggests that it is common for reviews to take somewhere between 6 and 36 months, with some types of cases, such as student visas, currently facing significant backlogs.

Because timeframes can change over time and vary across visa categories, it is safer to plan for a lengthy process and to check the Tribunal’s current information or speak with an immigration professional about likely waiting times.

Key insight: The long timelines mean careful planning is essential. Immigration lawyers can help manage bridging visa conditions, work rights and travel restrictions while you wait.

What happens if your appeal is unsuccessful?

If the ART affirms the Department’s decision:

• In most cases, you’ll need to leave Australia once your bridging visa expires, unless you have another visa pathway you can apply for. It’s a difficult outcome, but it’s better to understand your next steps early so you can plan properly.
• In some cases, you might be able to take the matter further by appealing to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, but only on legal grounds (not on the merits of your case).

Why is appealing often worth it

Before you decide what to do next, it helps to know that an appeal isn’t just “trying again”. It’s a genuine opportunity to have your case looked at with fresh eyes. Many people feel more hopeful once they understand how the ART process works and what it can offer. The Administrative Review Tribunal now carries out the merits review role that the old Administrative Appeals Tribunal used to perform.

• Second chance: The ART is completely independent from the Department, which means they don’t just rubber-stamp the original refusal. If you can present strong evidence, the Tribunal can and often does overturn refusals.
• Fair process: An appeal gives you the opportunity to speak directly about your circumstances, not just rely on forms and documents. You can explain your intentions, background and supporting evidence in your own words, and the member reviewing your case will actually listen.
• Bridging visa protection: In most cases, you’re allowed to stay in Australia lawfully on a bridging visa while your appeal is being processed. This gives you breathing room to keep working, studying, or staying with family while everything is being sorted out.

Example: A couple whose Partner visa was refused for insufficient financial evidence may appeal with the support of an immigration lawyer. By gathering stronger documentation, they could get the refusal set aside successfully at the ART, avoiding separation.

Planning your appeal with expert help

For most migration reviews in 2025, the ART fee is $3,580, or $1,790 if you qualify for a hardship reduction. You’ll then need to factor in legal fees if you choose representation. If you meet financial hardship criteria, this may be reduced to $1,790. For protection visa matters, no fee is payable upfront, but a $2,203 fee may apply if the review is unsuccessful.

If you’re trying to figure out how to appeal a visa refusal in Australia or how long the whole process might take, remember: preparation, evidence and legal guidance make a massive difference. That’s why many people work with immigration lawyers who can guide them through the process, help avoid mistakes and give them the best possible chance of staying in Australia.