How Much Does It Cost to Move to Australia? Complete 2026 Breakdown

At VJ Consulting and Education, we've guided applicants through every stage of Australia's immigration cost landscape — from first visa lodgement to permanent residency — and the breakdown below reflects what people actually encounter in practice.

#Is $10,000 enough to move to Australia?

$10,000 is tight but possible — if an employer is sponsoring your visa or you are moving on a working holiday visa. For any skilled migration pathway, $10,000 will not cover the full cost of getting here.

A realistic breakdown for a solo skilled migrant on a 189 visa looks like this:

That minimum figure assumes DIY lodgement, no dependants, and landing with a job already lined up. Add a partner or children and the total rises significantly — each secondary applicant on a 189 costs an additional $2,320 in government fees alone.

Tip: If your budget is close to $10,000, prioritise landing with three months' rent in reserve. Running out of cash during the first weeks in Australia creates far more problems than the visa cost itself.

→ Deep Dive: Total Cost of Immigrating to Australia

#How much money do you need to move to Australia permanently?

Permanent residency through skilled migration typically costs $15,000–$35,000 all-in for a single applicant, rising to $25,000–$55,000 for a couple. The range is wide because it depends on your occupation, the number of test attempts, whether you use an agent, and which state nominates you. Among the applicants VJCE has assisted with skilled migration pathways, the total upfront investment often comes as a surprise — budgeting conservatively from the outset tends to reduce financial stress at the points-test and nomination stages.

The Parent visa (143) is an outlier: costs run to $50,000 per applicant with a waiting time exceeding 14 years, as many applicants on our books have noted with considerable frustration.

Tip: The government fee is fixed. The variable costs — agent fees, multiple test attempts, state nomination fees — are where smart budgeting matters most.

→ Deep Dive: Total Cost of Immigrating to Australia

#How much does a 189 visa cost?

The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa government application fee is $4,640 for the primary applicant (2026 rate). Secondary applicants aged 18 and over pay $2,320 each; children under 18 pay $1,160 each.

Beyond the visa fee, a realistic total for a 189 application includes:

The 189 is the most competitive skilled visa — you need at minimum 65 points on the points test and must receive an invitation from SkillSelect. High-demand occupations currently require 80–90+ points to receive an invitation, meaning many applicants sit multiple English tests and pursue further qualifications to boost their score, adding cost.

→ Deep Dive: Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass (2026)

#How much does a 482 visa cost an employer?

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa involves mandatory government charges that employers bear — and it is illegal for an employer to pass these costs to the employee.

For a standard two-year 482 nomination, a mid-size employer pays approximately $7,000–$10,000 in government charges alone — before any legal or migration agent fees.

One of our clients on a 482 visa described feeling completely trapped at a difficult workplace — unable to change employers easily because the sponsorship process had cost their employer thousands, creating an implicit power imbalance.

Tip: If your employer is asking you to contribute to SAF levy or nomination costs, that is a breach of migration law. Document it and seek advice immediately.

→ Deep Dive: Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass (2026)

#How much does an 820 visa cost?

The Subclass 820/801 onshore partner visa costs $8,850 for the primary applicant — one fee covers both the temporary 820 stage and the permanent 801 stage. Secondary applicants aged 18 or over pay $4,430 each; children under 18 pay $2,210 each.

Additional costs to budget for:

Many applicants ask us about the cost of agent fees specifically for the partner visa. The work involved in a partner visa is substantial — relationship evidence, statutory declarations, sponsor assessment — and the agent fee reflects that.

Tip: The offshore equivalent (309/100 partner visa) costs the same government fee but processing times can be significantly longer. Onshore (820) applicants receive a bridging visa allowing them to remain in Australia during processing.

→ Deep Dive: Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass (2026)

#How much does a 485 visa cost?

As of 1 March 2026, the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee doubled from $2,300 to $4,600 — a 100% increase applied immediately with no transition period. This caught many international students completely off guard.

A separate client who lodged DIY noted her full 485 cost came to roughly $6,800 after factoring in the OVHC (Overseas Visitor Health Cover), English test, and ACS skills assessment — before any agent fees.

Tip: The 485 fee increase is part of a broader government strategy to reduce demand on the Temporary Graduate visa stream. If you are close to completing your studies, factor $4,600 (plus dependants) into your post-graduation budget now.

→ Deep Dive: Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass (2026)

#How much does a visitor visa subclass 600 cost?

The Subclass 600 Visitor visa is one of the most affordable Australian visas. The standard tourist stream fee is $190 for a single-entry visa. The fee varies slightly by stream and applicant nationality, but for most applicants, the government charge is $190 – $370.

Note that the Subclass 600 is a temporary visa and does not lead to permanent residency. It cannot be used as a pathway to skilled migration — you would need to depart Australia and apply for the appropriate substantive visa.

Tip: A visitor visa refusal can complicate future skilled visa applications. If your circumstances are complex (previous refusals, gaps in travel history), have a migration agent review your application before lodging. The $190 visa fee is cheap; a refusal on record is costly.

→ Deep Dive: Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass (2026)

#What is the new visa fee for Australia 2026?

Several significant fee increases took effect in 2025–2026. The most impactful changes across common visa subclasses are:

The 485 doubling is the most dramatic single change and generated significant concern among international students and migration advisers alike, with many applicants only discovering the change after lodgement.

Tip: Government visa fees are set by the Department of Home Affairs and updated periodically — always verify the current fee on the ImmiAccount fee estimator before lodging.

→ Deep Dive: Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass (2026)

#How much does it cost for skill assessment in Australia?

Skills assessment costs vary significantly by assessing authority and occupation. Most assessments cost between $400 and $1,200 in government/assessing body fees, though some professional assessments with document review and interviews can reach $2,000+. VJ Consulting agents generally advise applicants to confirm their target occupation's assessing authority early, as choosing the wrong body can mean duplicated costs and significant delays to an EOI submission.

These are the assessing body's own fees. If you use a migration agent or specialist consultant to prepare your skills assessment application, add a further $1,500 – $4,000 in professional fees depending on complexity.

Tip: Skills assessment and visa applications are separate processes. A successful skills assessment does not guarantee a visa invitation — it only makes you eligible to submit an Expression of Interest.

→ Deep Dive: ACS Skills Assessment: Requirements, Timeline & Cost

#How much does VETASSESS cost?

VETASSESS handles skills assessments for more than 350 professional and managerial occupations not covered by specialist bodies. Their fee structure depends on assessment type.

VETASSESS is commonly used for occupations such as project administrator, marketing specialist, human resources professional, and business analyst — roles that sit outside the ACS or Engineers Australia scope.

One client we assisted — a project administrator with a Masters in IT — was quoted $3,300 by a private lawyer to prepare their VETASSESS application. We advised them that while this is premium pricing, complex employment history cases with overseas experience genuinely do require detailed Evidence of Employment reports and careful occupation matching.

Tip: VETASSESS requires evidence of both qualifications and relevant employment experience. If your employment history has gaps or your job titles don't match ANZSCO descriptors exactly, invest in professional preparation — a failed assessment means repaying the fee and waiting months to reapply.

→ Deep Dive: VETASSESS Skills Assessment Australia

#How much is the ACS fee for skills assessment?

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) assesses IT and ICT occupations and is the most commonly used assessing body for technology professionals applying through skilled migration pathways.

The standard ACS assessment at $530 is among the more affordable options in the skilled migration ecosystem. However, many IT applicants require the RPL pathway — used when your qualification is not directly ICT-related — which costs $820 and requires a substantial written submission demonstrating ICT competency through work experience.

Processing times for a standard ACS assessment currently run 4–6 weeks; priority processing reduces this to 5 business days.

Tip: ACS assesses your qualification against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). If your overseas degree is not directly in ICT, you will almost certainly need the RPL pathway. Factor an extra 4–8 hours of preparation time (or agent fees) into your planning.

→ Deep Dive: ACS Skills Assessment: Requirements, Timeline & Cost

#How much does the professional year cost?

The Professional Year (PY) program adds 5 points to your skilled migration points score and is available to accounting, IT, and engineering graduates from Australian universities. It is one of the most significant optional costs in the immigration journey.

The program runs for 44 weeks (approximately 12 months) and includes structured coursework plus a 12-week internship with an Australian employer. Costs vary significantly between providers — it pays to compare.

For applicants sitting at 75–80 points on the SkillSelect points test and struggling to receive an invitation, the 5-point boost from a Professional Year can be the difference between waiting indefinitely and securing an invitation within one or two rounds.

Tip: The 5 points from PY are only valuable if you are genuinely points-constrained. If your occupation is on a state nomination list and you can reach the state's points threshold without PY, the $10,000–$14,000 may be better spent elsewhere.

#How much does it cost an employer to sponsor a work visa?

Employer sponsorship costs are substantial — and the law is explicit that these costs cannot be passed to the sponsored worker. For employer sponsorship via a 482 visa, the total employer outlay typically runs $7,000–$15,000 per sponsored worker.

For a 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, the structure is similar but the SAF levy and nomination fee differ slightly.

Tip: The Skilling Australians Fund levy is non-refundable and cannot be waived. Employers who baulk at the SAF levy are often unaware of it until late in the process — we recommend flagging this upfront when negotiating a sponsorship arrangement.

→ Deep Dive: Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass (2026)

#What is the living cost in Australia for immigrants?

Living costs in Australia vary enormously by city. Sydney and Melbourne are the most expensive; Adelaide and Perth are meaningfully cheaper. The following figures are realistic monthly budgets for a single adult with no dependants. In VJ Consulting and Education's experience, newly arrived immigrants frequently underestimate the gap between theoretical budget projections and actual day-to-day living costs, particularly in the first three to six months before employment income stabilises.

These figures do not include health insurance (OVHC/OSHC: $80–$180/month), entertainment, or discretionary spending. For a family of four, multiply the above by roughly 2.5x.

One of our clients, a software engineer on a 491 visa who relocated to regional Queensland, found his monthly outgoings were nearly 30% lower than the same lifestyle would have cost him in Sydney — a meaningful consideration when regional pathways also carry a points advantage.

→ Deep Dive: Cost of Living in Australia for Immigrants

#Is $70,000 a good salary in Australia?

$70,000 per year (AUD) is liveable but not comfortable in Sydney or Melbourne; it is a reasonable salary in most other Australian cities. After tax, $70,000 gross translates to approximately $55,000–$56,000 net (take-home), or roughly $4,600 per month.

The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) is currently $73,150 per annum — meaning $70,000 does not meet the minimum for a 482 visa. Employers must pay at least TSMIT to sponsor a skilled worker.

Tip: $70,000 is a reasonable starting point for many mid-level professional roles in regional areas. In Sydney, most of our clients on skilled visas are targeting $90,000+ to live comfortably and meet sponsorship thresholds.

→ Deep Dive: Cost of Living in Australia for Immigrants

#How much does it cost to emigrate from South Africa?

South Africa is one of the largest source countries for Australian skilled migration. South African applicants face the same visa fees as all applicants, but some country-specific costs apply.

South African applicants frequently choose Perth or Adelaide as destination cities, where rental costs are lower and established South African communities ease the settlement process. Many of our South African clients are engineers, IT professionals, and healthcare workers — occupations where skills assessments are well-established.

Tip: SAPS clearance certificates can take 8–16 weeks — start this process as early as possible, as it is often the longest-lead item in a South African applicant's pre-lodgement checklist.

#How much does it cost to immigrate from Pakistan?

Pakistani nationals make up a significant portion of Australian student visa holders and skilled migration applicants. Pakistan-specific costs include:

Pakistani applicants on student visas seeking to remain in Australia post-study often ask about OSHC costs. One applicant we spoke with — a Pakistani student currently in the UK on a Post-Study Work visa — asked about the cheapest OSHC options before lodging an Australian student visa. OSHC costs vary by provider and coverage level; Medibank, Bupa, and AHM are the major approved providers, with annual premiums running $600–$900 for singles.

Tip: The Department of Home Affairs scrutinises student visa applications from Pakistan carefully under the genuine student and financial capacity criteria. Robust financial evidence is essential — understating your available funds is one of the fastest routes to a refusal.

#How much does the AAT review cost?

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) — now restructured as the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) — charges a lodgement fee of $3,600 for most migration matters as of 2026. This is the tribunal filing fee only; legal representation adds substantially to the total.

One of our clients whose student visa was refused and who was considering a judicial review asked about costs: the $3,600 ART fee is the starting point, but judicial review in the Federal Circuit Court carries additional costs and much longer timeframes.

Tip: Before lodging an ART review, have a MARA-registered agent assess your prospects honestly. Reviews with weak merits consume significant money and time. If there are genuine grounds, the review is worth pursuing — but the decision should be based on legal assessment, not hope.

→ Deep Dive: Visa Refusal / Appeals

#Is it cheaper to live in Australia or the UK?

Australia is generally more expensive than the UK for accommodation and groceries in major cities, but wages are higher and the tax-to-benefit ratio is broadly comparable. The net financial position depends heavily on occupation and city.

London is meaningfully more expensive than any Australian city on rent. Outside London, UK cities like Manchester and Birmingham are cost-competitive with Perth or Adelaide. Australian salaries in IT, engineering, and healthcare tend to be higher in absolute terms than UK equivalents.

Tip: The comparison shifts significantly when you factor in Australia's compulsory superannuation (currently 11.5% employer contribution) — effectively a salary supplement that the UK's pension system does not match in the short term. Factor this in when comparing job offers.

→ Deep Dive: Cost of Living in Australia for Immigrants

#How much does a migration agent cost?

Migration agent fees in Australia are not regulated by the government — the market sets prices. Typical fees by visa type are: