How much does Australia Subclass 602 cost in 2026 and when is it free?
Lodged from outside Australia, the Medical Treatment visa (Subclass 602) is free. Lodged while you are already in Australia, a visa application charge applies, with concessions in limited circumstances, and the visa is free again if you represent a foreign government. That is the position set out on the Australian Department of Home Affairs' Medical Treatment visa (Subclass 602) official page, as of August 2026. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics are separate costs on top, and the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator does not factor them in.
| Where you lodge | Who you are | Visa application charge |
|---|---|---|
| Outside Australia | Patient, organ donor or support person | Free |
| In Australia | Most applicants | A charge applies; concessions apply in limited circumstances |
| In or outside Australia | Applicant representing a foreign government | Free |
| In or outside Australia | Eligible Pacific Island or Timor-Leste passport holder with a valid application | A lower charge applies from 1 July 2026 |
What does "free" actually cover?
Free means no visa application charge — nothing more. The same official page lists health checks, police certificates and biometrics as costs you might still have to meet, and notes that the Visa Pricing Estimator only estimates the visa charge, not these other costs.
Medical costs are also outside the visa fee entirely. The Department recommends health insurance for unforeseen treatment and states that you are personally liable for all your healthcare costs in Australia. In most circumstances you must pre-arrange payment of your treatment and show written proof from a public or private hospital confirming it has approved your treatment and the arrangements to pay all costs. For public hospital treatment, that letter must come from the hospital's financial officer or administration department and confirm that no Australian will be disadvantaged in accessing medical services as a result of your treatment.
Why does where you apply decide the price?
The price rule is attached to where you lodge, and a matching location rule applies at the decision. If you applied outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted; if you applied in Australia, you must be in Australia at grant. Lodging offshore is therefore not a way to get a free visa and then be granted after arriving.
This also shapes how groups apply. Each support person must lodge a separate application unless they are included in your passport, applications can be processed together, and the patient's or donor's visa must be granted before a support person's visa is granted — so a support person following the same offshore route pays no charge either, while one applying in Australia is charged.
Is there a published dollar figure for applying in Australia?
The Subclass 602 page states that a charge applies to applications made in Australia and refers applicants to the Visa Pricing Estimator rather than quoting one flat amount. The estimator is the tool the Department directs applicants to for working out what the visa will cost, and eligible applicants are charged the applicable amount during the application process in ImmiAccount.
That distinction matters for budgeting: any figure you see quoted for an onshore 602 application is a point-in-time estimate, and the amount charged is the one applied to your ImmiAccount application.
Who gets a reduced charge from 1 July 2026?
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. The Department charges the lower amount during the application process in ImmiAccount and identifies eligible applicants by the valid passport used in the application.
The passports covered are those issued by: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. This is a reduced charge, not a zero charge — the free categories remain offshore lodgement and applicants representing a foreign government.
Does "free" mean you can stay longer for free?
No. Subclass 602 is a temporary visa whose length of stay is decided case by case, with the treatment plan among the factors considered. It cannot be extended: if you need more time for treatment or another reason, you need to apply for another visa, and that new application carries whatever charge applies to it.
What happens to the charge if the application is refused?
The Department does not refund the application charge if an application is refused. The decision notice states why the visa was refused and whether you have a right to a review of the decision. There is also no fee relief for an incomplete application — the page notes that an application cannot be processed if the correct visa application charge is not paid, and you will be notified if that is the case.
This article is general information about how the published rules work, not advice on your own circumstances; check the Department's current published figures before you commit to a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Subclass 602 visa really free if I apply from outside Australia?
Yes. The Department's Subclass 602 page states the visa is free if you apply outside Australia, and this applies whether you are coming for treatment, to donate an organ, or to support someone who holds this visa. The free outcome is tied to lodging offshore — you must also be outside Australia at the moment the visa is granted.
Do I pay anything if I apply while I'm already in Australia?
A visa application charge applies to applications lodged in Australia, with concessions available only in limited circumstances. The Department's page does not quote a single flat amount and instead directs applicants to the Visa Pricing Estimator for the cost that applies to their situation.
Are Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens exempt from the fee?
Not exempt — they get a lower visa cost from 1 July 2026 when they lodge a valid application using a passport from one of the listed countries. The reduced amount is applied automatically during the application process in ImmiAccount, so no separate claim is needed.
Does the Visa Pricing Estimator include health checks and biometrics?
No. The Department states plainly that the estimator does not take into account other costs, and separately lists health checks, police certificates and biometrics as expenses you might have to pay. Hospital and treatment costs, and health insurance, are additional again.
Is the application charge refunded if my visa is refused?
No. The official page states the application charge is not refunded if the application is refused. The written decision will explain the refusal and tell you whether you have a right to review it.
If the visa is free offshore, do I still have to prove I can pay for treatment?
Yes — the money test is separate from the visa charge. The eligibility criteria require access to adequate means to support yourself, covering travel, treatment, other stay expenses and the expenses of anyone coming with you. In most cases you must also pre-arrange payment of your medical costs and show written confirmation from the hospital.
Can a support person get the visa free too?
A support person applying outside Australia pays no visa application charge, same as the patient. Each support person must lodge a separate application unless they are included in the patient's passport, and their visa can only be granted after the patient's or donor's visa is granted.