Our fees are changing

Published 18 June, updated 21 June

From 27 June 2026, the fees for making an application to VCAT and for some hearings are changing. The fees are set by the new Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Fees) Regulations 2026.

Fees are reviewed and remade periodically under these regulations. The amounts do change from time to time, usually at the start of a financial year.

This page explains what's changing, what it means for you, and where to find the exact fee for your case.

The full list of fees that apply from 27 June 2026 are available on our fees page.

Why fees are changing

VCAT's fees are set by government regulations. The new 2026 regulations update the fee structure and the amounts that apply across different case types. These are regulatory fee changes. They apply to everyone involved in a case at VCAT or wanting a VCAT service from the date they take effect.

When the changes start

The new fees apply to all cases from 27 June 2026.

Most fees are measured in fee units. The value of a fee unit is set by the Victorian Government and also updates each year on 1 July. When the new fees start on 27 June, a fee unit is $16.81. From 1 July 2026, one fee unit is $17.27.

What's changing

Some fees are lower than before and all increases are in line with the updated fee structure. The way some fees are grouped has also been simplified. Concession and fee-waiver arrangements continue to apply.

  • There are 3 fee rate categories. You pay the rate that applies to you, depending on your situation:

    • Concession rate - the lowest rate, for people with an eligible concession card.
    • Standard rate - for individuals, not-for-profits, and smaller businesses.
    • Corporate rate - the full rate, for larger businesses, companies and government agencies.

    What's changed is the gap between the 3 rates. Concession and standard users now pay a smaller share of the corporate (full) fee. For most individuals and people eligible for a concession, the cost of applying is lower than before. For businesses and larger organisations, many fees are higher.

    The percentages on this page show the approximate share of the full fee each rate now pays. Because they are rounded, applying them exactly to your case type's fees may not match the final fee you will pay. 

    • Concession rate is 11% of the full fee.
    • Standard rate is 33% of the full fee.
    • Corporate rate is 100% of the full fee.

  • More people can now get the concession rate. You can pay the concession rate if you hold one of these cards:

    • An Australian Government Health Care Card.
    • A Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card.
    • A means-tested Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Card - you need to be eligible for treatment under Part V of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. This doesn't include a veteran's dependants, other than a widow or widower.

    The changes to concession rate eligibility brings us in line with other Victorian services and means more Victorians can access the concession rates.

  • If your business has an annual turnover of less than $300,000, you pay the standard rate (the threshold used to be $200,000). Companies need to provide a statutory declaration to confirm this. Businesses with turnover of $300,000 or more pay the corporate rate.

  • Some services used to be part of your application fee. From 27 June 2026, fees are charged separately, based on the services you use. Charging this way means the application fees can be lower for some users.  

    Some case types do not attract any application or hearing fees (such as most guardianship cases) and that hasn’t changed. You only pay these fees if a fee is applied when you started your case.  

    The new separate fees are:

    • compulsory conferences
    • mediations
    • injunctions and stays that aren't urgent (excluding residential tenancy cases).
    • directions hearings and practice day hearings

    Directions hearings and practice day hearings are charged at the same daily rate as other hearings.

  • To help hearings go ahead on time, some fees must now be paid earlier.  

    • Day 1 hearing fee - you need to pay this at least 5 business days before your first hearing day. If we schedule your hearing with less than 5 business days' notice, pay it the day after we schedule it.
    • Later hearing days - you pay the fee no later than the day before that hearing day.
    • Administrative fees (like inspecting a file or getting a certificate) - you pay these fees when we provide the service, or earlier if we ask you to pay in advance.

  • There is help available for people who may have difficulty paying fees:

    • Victims of crime - if you're applying to review a decision under the Financial Assistance Scheme, you don’t have to pay the fee. It is waived automatically. You don't need to provide any evidence.
    • Family violence cases - existing fee waivers continue to apply.  

    If you've incorrectly paid the standard or corporate rate but you qualify for a lower rate, you can apply for a refund. To apply for a refund, use our application to request a refund form.

    If paying a fee would cause you hardship, you can also ask us to waive or reduce it. To find out how to apply, visit our page about fee relief.

Need help

If you're not sure which fee applies to your situation, or you'd like to discuss a concession or waiver, we can help.

Contact us

When the new fees apply to you

The fee you pay depends on when your payment is made, not only on when your hearing is held.

If your payment is made before 27 June 2026, the current (2025–26) fees apply.

If your payment is made on or after 27 June 2026, the new fees apply.

Existing and ongoing cases with VCAT before 27 June 2026

If you already have a case with VCAT, here's how the change affects you:

  • You've already paid. If you have already paid your fee, you don't need to do anything. You won't be charged again, whatever the new amount is. If you've paid, you're done.
  • If the new fee is lower than what you paid. In some cases the new fee may be lower than the fee you already paid. If you believe this applies to you, you can request a refund of the difference and we'll review it. To apply for a refund, use our application to request a refund form.
  • You've been notified of a fee but haven't paid yet. The fee that applies depends on when you pay. If you pay before 27 June 2026, the old fee applies. If you pay on or after 27 June 2026, the new fee applies.
  • Your hearing is rescheduled by VCAT. If VCAT cancels and re-lists your hearing for an administrative reason on our part, you keep your current fee. You won't be charged a higher fee because of a change we made.
  • Your hearing is rescheduled at your request. If your hearing is cancelled and re-listed because of your request or a delay on your side, the new fee may apply when the case is re-listed. If you have already paid, we'll refund that payment, and the new fee will apply when your new hearing date is set. We'll let you know this before your new date is listed.
  • Your case continues over more than one hearing day after 27 June 2026. If your hearing has already started and additional or adjourned days are scheduled on or after 27 June  2026, the new fee applies to those later days, even though earlier days were charged at the current rate.
  • Your case settles before the hearing. If you've already paid a hearing fee and your case settles or is withdrawn before the hearing, you may be eligible for a refund. To apply for a refund, use our application to request a refund form.

Service disruptions

25 June to 30 June 2026

We will be updating our online forms and portals during this time. You can expect disruptions to some of our online services during this period.

Request a refund

Application to request a refund
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