by Last verified: 12 October 2026. We checked every Australia PR cost below against the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing table. All amounts are in Australian dollars (AUD).
Your total starts with the visa application charge. For the main skilled permanent visas, that is about AUD6,135 to AUD6,140 (around six thousand one hundred Australian dollars) for the main applicant, with extra charges for each family member. On top of that come costs set by other bodies, such as skills assessments and English tests. In this guide, we list the official charges, calculate a family example and show the cheaper two-step regional route.
Australia PR cost: official visa application charges
First, here are the current charges from the Home Affairs pricing table:
| Visa | Main applicant | Each extra applicant 18+ | Each extra applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (189), points-tested | AUD6,135 | AUD3,070 | AUD1,540 |
| Skilled Nominated (190) | AUD6,140 | AUD3,070 | AUD1,535 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (186), all streams | AUD6,140 | AUD3,070 | AUD1,535 |
| Skilled Work Regional (491), provisional | AUD6,140 | AUD3,070 | AUD1,535 |
| Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (191), from 491/494 | Only AUD630 | AUD315 | AUD160 |
Note that the 491 is a provisional visa. It leads to permanent residence through the 191, which is why the 191 charge is much lower.
The second instalment: an extra charge if English is weak
Many applicants miss this. For the 186, Home Affairs charges a second instalment to applicants aged 18 or over who are assessed as not having functional English: AUD9,800 (nine thousand eight hundred Australian dollars) for main applicants and AUD4,890 (four thousand eight hundred and ninety Australian dollars) for secondary applicants. Similar second-instalment notes appear for other skilled visas, so check the note for your visa in the pricing table.
In practice, therefore, proving functional English for every adult family member can save thousands of dollars.
Other costs on top of the visa charge
Besides the visa charge, expect costs paid to other organisations. Home Affairs does not set these, so prices vary:
- Skills assessment: first, paid to the assessing authority for your occupation.
- English test: also, paid to the test provider.
- Health examinations: paid to the panel clinic.
- Police certificates: paid to each country where you lived.
- Employer costs for the 186: finally, nomination fees and the Skilling Australians Fund levy apply to the employer, according to Home Affairs.
Worked example: Australia PR cost for a family of four
To make this concrete, imagine Rahul, a software engineer in Bengaluru, applies for the 189 with his wife and two children under 18. Everyone over 18 has functional English.
- Main applicant: AUD6,135
- Plus his wife (18+): AUD3,070
- Plus two children under 18: 2 × AUD1,540 = AUD3,080
- Therefore, total visa charges: AUD12,285 (twelve thousand, two hundred and eighty-five Australian dollars)
By contrast, if his wife lacked functional English on a visa with a second instalment, the family would pay more. So book English tests early. Also add his skills assessment, tests, medicals and police certificates to his budget.
Is the regional route cheaper?
Partly. A single applicant going 491 then 191 pays AUD6,140 plus AUD630, which is AUD6,770 (six thousand, seven hundred and seventy Australian dollars) in visa charges. That is AUD635 more than a direct 189. However, the 491 can be easier to get for some occupations, so the right choice depends on your points and occupation. Our guide to getting PR in Australia compares the pathways.
How to work out your exact Australia PR cost
- Pick your visa. Confirm which visa fits you; see our guides to the Skilled Independent visa 189 and 186 visa requirements.
- Count your applicants. List every family member by age group.
- Check English. Decide whether each adult can prove functional English.
- Use the official estimator. Home Affairs offers a Visa Pricing Estimator for your exact charge.
- Add third-party costs. Get quotes for your skills assessment, tests and medicals.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Australia PR cost for a single applicant?
For a single applicant, the 189 visa charge is AUD6,135 and the 190 and 186 are AUD6,140, before skills assessment, English test, medical and police certificate costs.
Is the Australia PR cost refundable if I am refused?
Home Affairs explains when a refund may apply in the Refunds section of its fees page. So check you meet every requirement before you apply.
Do children pay the full Australia PR cost?
No. Children under 18 pay a lower additional applicant charge: AUD1,540 for the 189 and AUD1,535 for the 190, 186 and 491.
Official sources
- Department of Home Affairs – Current visa pricing table
- Department of Home Affairs – Visa fees and charges
Visa charges can change. Always confirm current amounts with Home Affairs before you apply. This is general information, not migration advice.
