Will I Get a Refund If My 115 Visa Is Refused in 2026?
No — not for the refusal itself. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs — Remaining Relative visa (Subclass 115) official page (as of July 2026), the Department will not refund the application fee if it refuses your application. This article is general information rather than personalised migration or legal advice, so your own circumstances should be checked against the latest official publication or a qualified professional’s opinion.
What exactly does the refund rule say, and when is the fee paid?
The no-refund statement is short and unconditional: the fee is not refunded when an application is refused, and the page attaches no exception based on the reason for refusal or the stage of processing.
The same official page describes payment in two stages. You pay a first instalment when you apply, using the payment function in ImmiAccount, because this visa cannot be paid for in person. Later, after you have met all other requirements for the visa, the Department sends an invoice for a second instalment; the visa cannot be granted until that instalment is paid. The refund sentence refers to the application fee generally, so a refusal does not return it.
What two things will the refusal letter tell you?
The Subclass 115 is lodged on paper, and you must be outside Australia when the Department makes its decision. If the outcome is a refusal, the decision arrives in writing.
The written notice must tell you two things: why the visa was refused, and whether you have a right to a review of the decision. If the visa were granted instead, the written notice would list your visa grant number, the start date and any visa conditions.
The page does not go further into the review itself — it does not name the review body, set deadlines, or explain how to start a review. Those mechanics sit outside this page, so the latest official publication is the reference point if you receive a refusal letter mentioning review rights.
Is an invalid application the same as a refusal?
They are different outcomes on the official page. If required steps are incomplete, the application may be invalid; the Department does not process invalid applications, and it will notify you and, if requested, return your application.
Refusal, by contrast, follows from a decision on an application that has been assessed, and it triggers both the written refusal notice and the no-refund rule. That distinction matters when reading any search result that mixes "invalid" with "refused."
What should you take from this before you apply?
Because a refused application does not bring the fee back, the practical value lies in lodging complete and accurate material the first time. The official to-do steps require accurate information, and if you later discover a mistake, you are expected to tell the Department and complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers, which can be uploaded through ImmiAccount if you imported the paper application.
Changes after lodging — such as contact details, marital or de facto status, a new child, or a wish to withdraw — must also be conveyed through the channels the page specifies. This is a description of the paper process, not a promise about any particular result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Department refund the Subclass 115 application fee if my visa is refused?
No. The official page states plainly that the application fee is not refunded if the application is refused. The rule is not written as a partial refund or a case-by-case exception.
Are there any exceptions to the no-refund rule on the official page?
The page lists none. It simply states there is no refund on refusal and does not condition the rule on the reason for refusal or the stage at which the decision was made.
What will the refusal letter actually say?
It must tell you why the visa was refused and whether you have a right to a review of the decision. The notice is given in writing, and you must be outside Australia when the decision is made.
Is an incomplete application treated as a refusal?
Not exactly. Incomplete applications may be invalid and are not processed; the Department notifies you and may return the application if requested. A refusal is a decision on a processed application and carries the no-refund outcome.
When do I pay the first and second instalments for Subclass 115?
The first instalment is paid when you apply, using ImmiAccount’s payment function; you cannot pay in person. The second instalment is invoiced after you have met all other requirements for the visa, and the visa cannot be granted until it is paid.
What if I made a mistake on the form after applying?
You should let the Department know as soon as possible and complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers. If you imported your application into ImmiAccount, you can upload the completed form there; otherwise the alternative paper channels described on the page apply.
Do I have to be outside Australia when the decision is made?
Yes, the official step-by-step says you must be outside Australia when the Department decides the application. Do not arrange travel until you have written notice that the visa is granted.