There’s no single figure that answers how much does PR cost in Australia, because permanent residency isn’t one visa, it’s an outcome you can reach through several different pathways. The Home Affairs visa application charge alone stretches from around $6,135 for a Skilled Independent visa to well over $49,000 for a Contributory Parent visa, and that’s before skills assessments, English tests, health checks or police clearances enter the picture. This guide breaks down the real, current fees by pathway, the extra costs most people forget to budget for, and how a wrong turn early on can quietly push your total well past what it needed to be.
Why the Total PR Cost Isn’t One Fixed Number
Permanent residency can come through skilled migration, employer sponsorship, a partner visa or a parent visa, and the Department of Home Affairs prices each pathway separately. Charges are indexed every 1 July, so a figure that was accurate last financial year may already be wrong. That’s exactly why so many older guides quote numbers that no longer match what Home Affairs actually charges today.
Government Visa Fees by PR Pathway (Current as at 1 July 2026)
Here’s what the Department of Home Affairs currently charges the primary applicant for the most common routes to permanent residency:
|
Visa Pathway |
Primary Applicant Charge (from 1 July 2026) |
|
Skilled Independent (subclass 189) |
$6,135 (+$3,070 per adult, +$1,540 per child) |
|
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) |
$6,140, plus a state nomination fee in some jurisdictions |
|
Skilled Work Regional, provisional (subclass 491) |
$6,140, plus a smaller transition charge for subclass 191 later |
|
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) |
$6,140, plus a separate employer nomination fee |
|
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) |
$6,140 |
|
Partner visa, combined (subclass 820/801 or 309/100) |
$11,710 |
|
Contributory Parent (subclass 143) |
Roughly $49,900 across two instalments |
These are Home Affairs charges only, for a single primary applicant. Fees are indexed and can change without much warning, so confirm the current amount on the official visa pricing page before you lodge.
What You Pay Before You Even Lodge
The visa application charge is the headline number, but most pathways require several payments before that charge is even due:
- Skills assessment: typically $500 to $1,500, paid to the assessing authority for your occupation, not to Home Affairs.
- English test, IELTS or PTE: roughly $400 to $450.
- Health examination: around $300 to $500 per applicant.
- Police clearance certificates: $50 to $150 per country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more.
- Document translation or certification: $50 to $200 per document.
Extra Charges People Often Forget
A few costs get left off most fee lists entirely, and they can change your total meaningfully. State or territory nomination fees apply to subclass 190 and 491 visas in some jurisdictions and vary by state. Additional applicant charges apply for a partner or children included on a skilled visa. And for employer-sponsored pathways, the Skilling Australians Fund levy, paid by the employer rather than the applicant, generally runs $1,200 to $1,800 per year.
A Real-World Example
A single applicant on a Skilled Independent (189) visa, with no dependents, is typically looking at around $6,135 for the visa charge, roughly $1,000 for a skills assessment, $410 for an English test, $400 for a health exam and $100 for a police check, close to $8,000 before any professional help is factored in. A family of three applying under subclass 190, with a partner and one child, pays $6,140 plus $3,070 plus $1,540 in Home Affairs charges alone, before each family member’s own skills, health and police costs are added on top.
Common Mistakes That Push the Cost Up
The visa charge itself is fixed, but plenty of applicants end up paying more than they needed to. Some apply under a pathway they weren’t actually eligible for and get refused after the non-refundable fee has already been paid. Others submit a skills assessment with the wrong evidence and have to redo it at full cost. And missing a state nomination fee can trigger delays or a request for more information that stretches the whole process out.
Is a Migration Agent Worth the Extra Fee?
A registered agent’s fee sits on top of the government charge, not instead of it. What it buys is a second check on your eligibility and paperwork before you submit a fee that Home Affairs won’t refund if the visa is refused. Since a refused application still costs the full visa charge, most applicants find it worthwhile to confirm their pathway with a MARA-registered migration agent, rather than guessing which route fits their circumstances.
How Ausizz Migration Consultants Can Help
Ausizz Migration Consultants works through exactly this kind of budgeting question with applicants every week. Your real total depends on your occupation, points score, family size and which pathway you’re actually eligible for, not just the headline visa charge. A free initial consultation can confirm your eligibility, map out the correct pathway, and give you a realistic cost picture before you pay a single non-refundable fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does PR cost in Australia?
It depends entirely on your pathway. The Home Affairs visa application charge alone ranges from around $6,135 for a Skilled Independent visa to more than $49,000 for a Contributory Parent visa, before skills assessment, English test, medical and police check costs are added.
What is the cheapest way to get PR in Australia?
Onshore skilled pathways with no dependents attract the lowest visa application charge, but eligibility is decided by your points score, occupation and nomination options, not by which visa happens to be cheaper.
Does the PR visa fee include the skills assessment and English test?
No. Skills assessments and English tests are paid directly to the assessing authority or test provider, separately from the Home Affairs visa application charge.
How often do PR visa fees change in Australia?
Visa application charges are indexed on 1 July each year, so a fee you saw quoted last financial year may already be out of date.
Is the visa application charge refunded if my PR application is refused?
No. Home Affairs visa application charges are non-refundable, whether the visa is granted or refused, which is why confirming eligibility first matters.
Does PR cost more for a family?
Yes. Each additional applicant, a partner or a child, adds its own charge on top of the primary applicant fee, and each family member needs their own health and police checks.
Do I need a migration agent to apply for PR?
No, it’s optional, but a MARA-registered agent can check your eligibility before you pay a non-refundable government fee, which matters given refused applications aren’t reimbursed.
If you’re ready to find out exactly how much does PR cost in Australia for your own situation, get in touch with Ausizz Migration Consultants for a clear, personalised breakdown before you spend a dollar on your application.