icon for overview

General federal law fees

icon for overview

Note: The fees listed below are effective from 1 July 2025.

Cheques or Money orders for the payment of fees should be made payable to the Federal Court of Australia.

A number of fees apply to Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) proceedings pursuant to Schedule 1 Part 2 of the Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court Regulations 2022.

The current fees are contained within the gazetted Annual federal courts and tribunals fee increases from 1 July 2025 or Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court Amendment (Filing Fees) Regulations 2026.

Document or service Fee
Corporations Others
Filing an application (201)
^ Note: this is not the fee payable for migration applications, see below
$2,005 $835
Filing an application (migration only) (201A)

(a) full fee—$4,015, or

(b) if a Registrar or an authorised officer has determined that the person may pay a reduced fee under section 2.06A—$2,005

Response*
Seeking different orders sought by applicant (207)
$2,005 $825
Interlocutory – interim (204)* $1,205 $485
Setting down for hearing fee (215)* $2,395 $995
Daily Hearing Fee* (for each hearing day, or part of a hearing day excluding the first hearing day) (216) $2,395 $995
Mediation by a court officer* (For each attendance) (224) $665
Filing an Application for a Review of a Registrar's Decision (205)* $1,205 $485
For the hearing of an application (including a cross-claim) under subsection 256(2) of the Federal Circuit and Family Court Act – for each day or part of day (218)* $2,395 $995
Filing a bill of costs (203)* $325
Issuing a subpoena (222)* $190 $95
On request, production of file and making of a copy or copies of a document or documents in the file: (219)

Production of the file

$60

For each page included in a copy made in accordance with the request

$1
Seizure and sale of goods (221) $765
Filing an application to register a New Zealand judgment under the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 (214A) $155

* Note: this fee is not payable for human rights applications, some fair work applications, and small claims proceedings in fair work and consumer credit claims.

Service and execution

For each service or execution, or attempted service or execution, of the process of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) by an officer of the court** an amount equal to:

  1. the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by the officer in the service or execution, or attempted service or execution, of the process; and
  2. a charge worked out at the hourly rate of salary payable to the officer for the time involved in the service or execution, or attempted service or execution (220)

**other than an application under section 46PO or 46PP of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986

Document or service Fee
Seizure and sale of goods*** (221)

$765

***other than in relation to a proceeding under the Admiralty Act 1988 or an application under section 46PO or 46PP of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986

Small claims

Document or service Fee
If the claim is
less than $10,000 or all claims are seeking a non-monetary remedy (213)
If the claim is between
$10,000 and $40,000 (214)
Filing of an application under Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 if the applicant indicates they want the small claims procedure to apply

$300

$480

Industrial Law

For proceedings other than the following the general application fee applies:

Fair work

Document or service Fee

Filing of an application under section 539 of the Fair Work Act 2009 in either of the following circumstances:

  1. the applicant has been dismissed from employment in alleged contravention of Part 3-1 of that Act;
  2. the applicant alleges a breach of section 351 of that Act (209)
$89.70
Filing of an application under section 539 of the Fair Work Act 2009 for orders in relation to an alleged contravention of Division 2 of Part 3‑5A of that Act (209A) $90.00
Filing of an application under section 539 of the Fair Work Act 2009 if the applicant has been dismissed from employment in alleged contravention of section 772 of that Act (210) $89.70

Small claims

Document or service Fee
If the claim is
less than $10,000 (211)
If the claim is between
$10,000 and $50,000 (212)
If the claim is between $50,000 and $100,000 (212AA) and the proceedings relate to one or more of the matters mentioned in paragraph 548(1B)(a) of that Act (other than a proceeding mentioned in item 212) (212A)
Filing of an application under section 548 of the Fair Work Act 2009 if the applicant indicates they want the small claims procedure to apply

$300

$480

$560 $300

Bankruptcy

Document or service Fee
Publicly listed company Corporations Public authority Others
Filing an application under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (206) $7,035 $4,695 $4,695 $1,955
Application for substituted service of a bankruptcy notice (208) $790 $520 $520 $205
For issuing a summons to a person, under section 50 or 81 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 to attend examination about a debtor's examinable affairs (223) $975 $630 $630 $325
Examination by a Registrar under section 50 or 81 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 – for each day or part of a day (217) $3,625 $2,395 $2,395 $995

Human rights

Document or service

Fee

Filing an application (Human rights under Section 46PO or 46PP of the Human Rights Commission Act 1986) (202)

$55

Migration

Document or service

Fee

Filing an application (migration only) (201A)

(a) full fee—$4,015, or

(b) if a Registrar or an authorised officer has determined that the person may pay a reduced fee under section 2.06A—$2,005

Party Category and Fee Calculation

Section 2.02 of the Regulation read in conjunction with the definitions in sections 1.03 and 1.04 sets out the basis of how fees are to be calculated. Fees for filing documents, setting down, for hearing, for mediation and for some services are calculated according to the type of body or person liable to pay them. A publicly listed company pays the highest rate of fees. A corporation and a public authority pay the next highest rate. All others, including any individuals, small businesses or unincorporated not-for-profit association, pay the lowest rate.

So the Courts can assess the correct fee which applies, each party will need to complete a Party Category Information Form.

Note: in some cases, such as if you hold certain government concession cards or you can demonstrate financial hardship, you may be exempt from the payment of court fees or entitled to a reduced fee.

01 September, 2021

FCFCOA Practice Direction – Transitional Arrangements

The Chief Justice/Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has made new rules of court for all proceedings in the Court with effect from 1 September 2021. The new rules apply to all proceedings in the Court commenced before 1 September 2021 but not finally determined before that date in accordance with the transitional arrangements described at Part 2 of this PD. The Court retains the discretion to dispense with compliance with any provision of the new rules at all times, including where application of the new rules would operate unfairly or cause injustice.

06 May, 2024

The Courts and your privacy

In most circumstances, courts and their decisions are accessible to members of the public. This policy of 'open justice' is reflected in section 97 of the Family Law Act 1975, which provides that all proceedings should be heard in open unless a court decides otherwise. The principle of open justice is fundamental to ensuring that courts remain transparent and accountable for their decisions.

General federal law: Legal aid

icon for overview

The legal aid commissions are independent statutory bodies that provide legal assistance services to the public, with a particular focus on the needs of people who are economically and/or socially disadvantaged.

Legal aid have offices in all state and territories, see below for contact details:

Australian Capital Territory

Legal Aid ACT

https://www.legalaidact.org.au/

(02) 6243 3411

New South Wales

Legal Aid New South Wales

https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/

1300 888 529

Northern Territory

Legal Aid Northern Territory

https://www.legalaid.nt.gov.au/

1800 019 343

Queensland

Legal Aid Queensland

https://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au

1300 651 188

South Australia

Legal Services Commission of South Australia

https://www.lsc.sa.gov.au/

1300 366 424

Tasmania

Tasmania Legal Aid

https://www.legalaid.tas.gov.au/

1300 366 611

Victoria

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA)

https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/

1300 792 387

Western Australia

Legal Aid Western Australia

https://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/

1300 650 579

01 September, 2021

Preparing an affidavit

This fact sheet explains what an affidavit is and when you need to file one in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court). It also gives basic information about what you can and cannot include in an affidavit.