There’s no single answer to “how much does PR cost in Australia.” The Home Affairs visa application charge alone ranges from roughly $6,135 for a Skilled Independent visa to more than $49,000 for a Contributory Parent visa. Add skills assessments, English tests, health checks and police clearances, and the final figure depends almost entirely on which pathway you’re eligible for.
Why “PR Cost” Isn’t One Number
Permanent residency isn’t a single visa. It’s an outcome you can reach through several different routes: skilled migration, employer sponsorship, partner visas, or parent visas.
Each pathway is priced separately by the Department of Home Affairs, and the charge is indexed every 1 July. A figure that was accurate last financial year can already be wrong today.
Government Visa Fees by PR Pathway (Current as at 1 July 2026)
| Visa Pathway | Primary Applicant Charge |
|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | $6,135 (+$3,070 per adult, +$1,540 per child) |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | $6,140 (some states also charge a nomination fee) |
| Skilled Work Regional, provisional (subclass 491) | $6,140, leading to a ~$430 transition charge for subclass 191 after 3 years |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | $6,140 (employer separately pays a nomination fee of around $330) |
| Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) | $6,140 |
| Partner visa, combined (subclass 820/801 or 309/100) | $11,710 |
| Contributory Parent (subclass 143) | ~$6,300 first instalment + ~$43,600 second instalment ≈ $49,900 |
Figures are Home Affairs charges only, for a single primary applicant. Always confirm the current charge with the official Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging, since indexation and policy changes happen without much warning.
What You Pay Before You Even Lodge
The visa application charge is the headline figure, but most pathways require several payments before that charge is even due.
- Skills assessment: generally $500–$1,500, paid to the relevant assessing authority for your occupation, not to Home Affairs
- English test (IELTS or PTE): around $400–$450
- Health examination: roughly $300–$500 per applicant
- Police clearance certificates: $50–$150 per country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more
- Document translation or apostille: $50–$200 per document
The Extra Charges People Forget
A few costs get left out of most fee lists entirely, and they can change the total meaningfully.
- State or territory nomination fees for subclass 190 and 491, which vary by jurisdiction and aren’t always free
- Additional applicant charges for a partner or children included on a skilled visa
- The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy on employer-sponsored pathways, paid by the employer rather than the applicant, at $1,200–$1,800 per year
A Real-World Example
A single applicant on a Skilled Independent (189) visa, with no dependents, is typically looking at: $6,135 visa charge + roughly $1,000 skills assessment + $410 English test + $400 health exam + $100 police check. That’s 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 + $3,070 + $1,540 in Home Affairs charges alone, before each family member’s own skills, health and police costs are added.
Common Mistakes That Push the Cost Up
The visa charge is fixed, but plenty of applicants end up paying more than they needed to.
- Applying under a pathway they weren’t actually eligible for, only to be refused after the non-refundable fee was already paid
- Submitting a skills assessment with the wrong evidence and needing to redo it at full cost
- Missing a state nomination fee, then facing delays or a request for more information
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 eligibility and paperwork before a non-refundable fee is submitted.
Since a refused application still costs the full visa charge, most applicants compare pathways with a MARA-registered migration agent Australia applicants can verify directly on the OMARA register, rather than guessing which route fits their circumstances.
Not sure which PR pathway actually applies to you? A free consultation with a MARA-registered migration agent Australia can confirm your eligibility before you pay a single non-refundable fee.
FAQs
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 Department of 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 regardless of whether the visa is granted or refused.
