How Much Does the Aged Dependent Relative Visa (838) Cost in 2026?
Explains when subclass 838 instalments are due, why the second is invoiced later, and what the official cost estimator does not cover.
Subclass 838 is paid in two instalments: the first must be paid before the paper visa application is submitted, while the second is invoiced only after the Australian Department of Home Affairs confirms that all other visa requirements have been met. As at August 2026, the Department’s official Aged Dependent Relative visa (Subclass 838) page publishes no fixed dollar amount, and its Visa Pricing Estimator excludes both the second instalment and other costs. The figure produced by the estimator is therefore not an all-in cost for the visa. This article provides general information, not personalised legal advice; the Department’s current assessment and any invoice issued determine the amount payable in an individual matter.
Is there a fixed subclass 838 price in 2026?
The Department does not state a fixed dollar amount for subclass 838 on its official page as at August 2026. That page also says concessions may apply in limited circumstances and that there is an extra charge for each family member who applies with the primary applicant.
The official Visa Pricing Estimator is the relevant tool for assessing the visa application charge, but its result must not be treated as the total cost of obtaining the visa. The Department expressly says the estimator does not consider:
- the second instalment;
- health checks;
- police certificates; or
- biometrics.
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application using a valid passport from a specified country. The Department assesses this eligibility during the application process in ImmiAccount. Family members are also eligible for the lower charge based on the valid passport of the primary applicant or visa holder who satisfies the primary visa criteria.
When must the first instalment be paid?
The first instalment must be paid before the subclass 838 paper application is submitted. Payment is made through the online portal function in ImmiAccount, and evidence that the application has been paid for must accompany the paper application.
Subclass 838 applications cannot be paid for in person. If the correct visa application charge is not paid, Home Affairs cannot process the application. The Department says it will notify the applicant and may return the application.
The payment evidence is therefore not an optional attachment. Lodging the form without the required first-instalment payment can prevent the visa application from being processed.
When will Home Affairs request the second instalment?
Home Affairs will send an invoice for the second instalment after the applicant has met all other requirements for the visa. The trigger is therefore not simply the date on which the application is lodged.
The official subclass 838 page does not state a standard interval between the first payment and the second invoice. Nor does it provide a fixed amount or formula for calculating the second instalment in advance. Its amount is communicated through the invoice sent when Home Affairs asks for payment.
This structure means an applicant should not treat the first payment as the complete visa charge or assume that the second instalment becomes payable on a particular processing date.
What happens if the second instalment is not paid?
The Department states plainly that the second instalment must be paid; otherwise, it cannot grant the visa. This is distinct from the consequence of not paying the initial visa application charge, which is that Home Affairs cannot process the application.
The official page also says Home Affairs will not refund the application fee if it refuses a subclass 838 application. It does not provide a separate refund rule for the second instalment on this page, so that payment should not be assumed to be refundable in every refusal scenario.
What other costs may apply?
The visa application charge is not necessarily the only expense associated with a subclass 838 application. Home Affairs says an applicant might also need to pay for:
- health examinations;
- police certificates; and
- biometrics.
These amounts are not included in the Visa Pricing Estimator. Home Affairs also advises applicants not to arrange police certificates until the Department asks for them.
An additional visa charge applies for each family member who applies with the primary applicant. The official page does not publish a separate dollar amount for that charge, so the family’s exact cost is not established by the subclass 838 page alone.
Does the Visa Pricing Estimator show the full cost?
No. The estimator excludes the second instalment and the other costs identified on the subclass 838 page. Its result should therefore be read as an estimate of the visa application charge rather than the complete amount payable for the visa and related requirements.
Any assessment of the full cost needs to account separately for:
- the first instalment shown through the official estimator or payment assessment;
- the second instalment stated in the later invoice; and
- any health, police, biometric or family-related charges that apply.
This distinction is particularly important when comparing subclass 838 with visa subclasses whose pricing is fully displayed in a single published figure. The official guidance for subclass 838 does not provide that kind of all-in total.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does subclass 838 cost in 2026?
The official subclass 838 page does not publish a fixed dollar amount as at August 2026. The Visa Pricing Estimator provides an estimate of the visa application charge but excludes the second instalment and other costs, so it does not provide a complete total.
When is the first subclass 838 instalment due?
The first instalment must be paid before the paper application is submitted. Payment is made through ImmiAccount, and evidence of payment must be included with the application.
When is the second instalment requested?
Home Affairs sends the invoice after the applicant has met all other requirements for the visa. The Department does not state a fixed number of days between the first payment and that invoice.
Does the Visa Pricing Estimator include both instalments?
No. The estimator does not consider the second instalment. It also excludes expenses such as health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
What happens if I do not pay the second instalment?
Home Affairs states that the visa cannot be granted unless the second instalment is paid. The consequence is non-grant of the visa, rather than an ongoing obligation to pay after approval.
Is the subclass 838 application fee refunded if the application is refused?
The official page says Home Affairs will not refund the application fee if it refuses the application. It does not state a separate refund rule for the second instalment on the subclass 838 page.
Are health checks and biometrics included in the government fee?
No. The Department identifies health checks and biometrics as possible additional costs, and both are excluded from the Visa Pricing Estimator.