Last updated: 30 March 2026

Australia PR Cost: Complete Fee Breakdown by Visa Type

The cost of obtaining permanent residency in Australia extends well beyond the visa application fee. There are mandatory third-party costs — skills assessment, English testing, medical examinations — that apply to most applicants regardless of which pathway they pursue. There are also discretionary costs, particularly migration agent fees, that vary considerably. This page breaks down every cost component, maps it to specific visa types, and provides realistic total budget ranges you can use for planning.

Cost Categories Overview

Every Australian PR application involves some combination of the following cost categories:

1. Visa application fee — paid to the Department of Home Affairs at the time of lodgement
2. Skills assessment fee — paid to the designated assessing body for your occupation
3. English test fee — paid to the test provider (IELTS, PTE, OET, TOEFL, Cambridge)
4. Medical examination fee — paid to a panel physician
5. Police clearance fee — paid per country where you have lived for 12+ months
6. Migration agent fee — paid to a registered migration agent (MARA) if you use one
7. Document preparation costs — NAATI translations, certified copies, postage

Not every applicant incurs every cost. Some pathways do not require a skills assessment; some applicants are exempt from certain English requirements; some applicants have medical histories that require additional specialist assessments.

Visa Application Fees by Subclass (2025–26)

Visa application fees are set by the Department of Home Affairs and adjusted periodically (typically annually in July). Fees below are the current 2025–26 rates.

Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Temporary)

Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme

Subclass 820/801 — Partner Visa (Onshore)

Partner visa application fees are substantially higher than skilled stream fees. The combined 820/801 fee covers both the temporary and permanent stages and is paid at the time of initial lodgement. Applicants transitioning from a subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa pay a reduced rate of AUD $1,560.

Fees are current 2025–26 published rates. Verify current fees on the Home Affairs website before lodging.

Skills Assessment Fees

Skills assessment fees vary by assessing body and application type. A detailed fee comparison by assessing body is on a separate page, but here is a reference summary for the most commonly used bodies.

Most applicants pay one skills assessment fee. However, if the first assessment is unsuccessful and you apply for a review or reassessment, additional fees apply. Review fees are typically $150–$300 on top of the initial assessment fee.

English Test Fees

English test fees are set by the test providers and differ slightly between test formats and delivery methods.

Most applicants budget for one or two sittings. Many test-takers need at least two attempts to reach their target score, particularly for the higher Superior English threshold (IELTS 8.0 or PTE 79 in each component). Each re-sit incurs the full test fee.

Test fees vary by city and may change. Confirm current fees on the test provider’s website.

Medical Examination Fees

All applicants for permanent residence must complete a medical examination with a panel physician approved by the Department of Home Affairs. Medical fees are charged by the panel physician clinic and are not set by the Department.

Typical fee ranges:

If you or a family member has a significant medical history — particularly tuberculosis, HIV, or a condition likely to require ongoing significant healthcare — additional specialist assessments may be required. These add $200–$1,000+ depending on the specialist and condition.

Total typical medical costs:

• Single applicant: $400–$600
• Applicant plus partner: $800–$1,200
• Family of four (2 adults, 2 children): $1,200–$2,000

Police Clearance Costs

You need a police clearance certificate from each country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years (or since turning 16, whichever is shorter). For most applicants, this means one or two countries.

Processing times vary: the AFP check typically takes 1–2 weeks; some overseas checks take 4–8 weeks or longer. Factor these timelines into your lodgement preparation.

Migration Agent Fees

Using a registered migration agent (MARA-registered) is not mandatory, but many applicants choose to engage one for skills assessment preparation, EOI strategy, or visa application lodgement.

Migration agent fees are not regulated, so costs vary considerably by agent, location, and scope of work.

Typical fee ranges:

These are per-service indicative ranges. Agents who offer bundled packages (skills assessment through to visa lodgement) may price differently from those charging per-stage fees.

If you use an agent, verify their MARA registration at the OMARA website before paying any fees. MARA-registered agents are bound by a code of conduct.

Document Preparation Costs

Additional costs that are easy to overlook in budgeting:

If multiple documents need translation (degrees, employment records, marriage certificates), translation costs can reach $500–$1,000 for applicants from non-English-speaking countries.

Total Budget Estimates by Visa Type

The following estimates represent realistic total costs for a typical applicant in each scenario. All figures are in AUD and assume one to two English test sittings, standard (not priority) skills assessment processing, and no additional medical testing requirements.

Single applicant — Subclass 189

Applicant plus partner — Subclass 189

Single applicant — Subclass 186 TRT

Applicant plus partner — Partner Visa (820/801)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay the visa fee when I submit my EOI or when I lodge the visa application?

You pay the visa application fee only when you lodge the formal visa application, after receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) from SkillSelect. Submitting an EOI is free. Skills assessment fees, English test fees, and medical costs are incurred before lodgement but are separate from the visa application fee.

Are there any government concessions or discounts on PR fees?

No general concessions apply to skilled migration visa fees. The Department of Home Affairs does not offer income-based discounts or early payment discounts on visa application fees. Some state nomination programs levy their own fees, which vary by state and change from time to time.

If my family members apply after me as secondary applicants, do they pay a separate fee?

Secondary applicants (partner and children) included in the same visa application pay separate fees as shown in the tables above. However, once the primary applicant’s visa is granted, secondary applicants who were included in the original application are generally granted at the same time. Secondary applicants added to the application later (after initial lodgement) also pay the relevant secondary applicant fee.