Step 7 of 9
How Long / How Much?
Visa fees, agent fees, processing times, and the total cost picture.
125 questions 7 in-depth guides
Common questions at this stage
Straight answers to what people actually ask at this point.
How long does visa cancellation take?
The timeline depends entirely on who is driving the cancellation. Department-ini… Read full answer →
How much does the AAT review cost?
The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) charges a lodgement fee that varies by … Read full answer →
How long does it take to appeal a visa refusal in Australia?
The short answer is: far longer than most applicants expect. Current ART process… Read full answer →
How much does it cost to appeal a visa refusal in Australia?
The total cost of an ART appeal has two components: the government lodgement fee… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a visa after an AAT appeal?
After a successful ART decision remitting your case to the Department, you are n… Read full answer →
How long does it take to cancel a visa in Australia?
This question is often asked alongside the process question, so to be direct: th… Read full answer →
How long does it take to cancel your Australian visa?
The answer here mirrors the above, but it is worth distinguishing the voluntary … Read full answer →
How much does it cost to appeal a tourist visa refusal in Australia?
For visitor visa (Subclass 600) refusals, the ART review fee is the same standar… Read full answer →
How much is visa cancellation?
The Department of Home Affairs does not charge a fee to cancel a visa — whether … Read full answer →
How long does skills assessment take?
Skills assessment timelines depend entirely on which assessing body handles your… Read full answer →
How long does state nomination take?
State nomination adds 4–12 weeks to your pathway in most cases, but several stat… Read full answer →
How long does EOI take to get invited?
There is no fixed wait time for an Expression of Interest — invitation rounds ar… Read full answer →
How long does 485 visa take?
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa typically processes in 3–8 months in 20… Read full answer →
How long does student visa take?
The Subclass 500 Student visa currently processes in 4–8 weeks for the majority … Read full answer →
How long does citizenship application take?
Australian citizenship by conferral — the most common pathway for permanent resi… Read full answer →
How long does 482 visa take to process?
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa currently processes in 1 to 6 months for … Read full answer →
How long does 186 visa take?
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa is currently the slowest employ… Read full answer →
How long does 494 visa take?
The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa typically processes in… Read full answer →
How long does 407 visa take?
The Subclass 407 Training visa is one of the faster employer sponsored options, … Read full answer →
How long does employer nomination take?
Employer nomination processing is the step that most applicants underestimate, a… Read full answer →
Can I speed up my 482 processing?
There is no formal priority processing request available for the Subclass 482 vi… Read full answer →
How long does labour agreement take?
Labour agreement pathways are the slowest employer sponsored stream, adding 3 to… Read full answer →
How long does skills assessment take for 482?
Skills assessment is required for some Subclass 482 occupations and is a prerequ… Read full answer →
How long does TSMIT processing take?
TSMIT — the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold — is not a separate app… Read full answer →
What are current 186 processing times?
As of mid-2026, the Subclass 186 is processing in 8 to 24 months for most applic… Read full answer →
How long does TRT stream take?
The Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Subclass 186 visa is the … Read full answer →
How long does Direct Entry 186 take?
The Direct Entry (DE) stream of the Subclass 186 visa is currently processing in… Read full answer →
How much does it cost an employer to sponsor a 482 visa?
Sponsoring a worker on a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa typically costs em… Read full answer →
Do employers pay for visa sponsorship?
Yes — under Australian law, employers are legally required to bear all costs ass… Read full answer →
How much does 186 sponsorship cost the employer?
The Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa is generally less expensive f… Read full answer →
Can employers pass sponsorship costs to employees?
No — passing sponsorship costs to employees is illegal in Australia, and this pr… Read full answer →
What are the training levy costs for sponsorship?
The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is mandatory for all Subclass 482 nomin… Read full answer →
Is it expensive to sponsor someone in Australia?
Compared to other developed countries, Australia's employer sponsorship costs ar… Read full answer →
How long does partner visa 820 take?
The Subclass 820 onshore partner visa is currently one of the slowest-processing… Read full answer →
How long does partner visa 309 take?
The Subclass 309 offshore partner visa — applied for by applicants who are outsi… Read full answer →
How long are spouse visas taking right now?
Right now, in 2026, Australian spouse and partner visas are taking longer than a… Read full answer →
How long does the partner visa process take?
From start to finish — meaning from the day you decide to apply to the day you h… Read full answer →
How long is the process for a partnership visa?
"Partnership visa" is a colloquial term Australians use to describe the full sui… Read full answer →
How long does it take for a partner visa to be approved?
Approval timelines depend on the subclass and the complexity of the individual c… Read full answer →
How long will a partner visa take?
There is no single answer — but here is a realistic planning framework. Budget f… Read full answer →
How long does it take for a partnership visa to be approved?
This question is substantively identical to the timeline question above, but wor… Read full answer →
How long does a partner visa take to the USA?
This article covers Australian partner visas, but the USA question comes up freq… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a partner visa for 820?
The 820 visa application itself — meaning the lodgement — can be submitted withi… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a partner visa in the USA?
For US partner visas, the timeline breaks down by visa type and whether the spon… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a partner visa for Australia 820?
From the day you decide to apply to the day you hold the 820 temporary visa in y… Read full answer →
How long does a US partner visa take?
Covered in full in the sections above, but to summarise: US partner visa process… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a partner visa in Australia 309?
The 309 offshore partner visa takes 20–36 months from lodgement to the temporary… Read full answer →
How long does it take to approve a partner visa?
Approval — meaning the actual grant decision, not just lodgement acknowledgement… Read full answer →
How long is the wait for the partner visa?
The wait in 2026 is long — longer than most applicants expect when they begin th… Read full answer →
How long is the partner visa in the UAE?
The UAE does not have a direct equivalent of Australia's partner visa, but it do… Read full answer →
How long does it take for a UK partner visa to be approved?
The UK spouse/partner visa (formally the UK Spouse Visa or Partner Visa under Ap… Read full answer →
How long does an Ireland spouse visa take?
Ireland's spouse/civil partner visa (the Join Family Visa, Category D) currently… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a spouse visa in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong's Dependent Visa for spouses of Hong Kong residents (citizens or perma… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a 491 visa?
The Subclass 491 currently processes in 12–24 months for most applicants, though… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a subclass 190 visa?
The Subclass 190 has seen a notable improvement in 2026. When one of our clients… Read full answer →
How long does a skilled migration visa take?
Across the entire skilled migration program, processing times in 2026 span a wid… Read full answer →
How long will it take to get 491 visa in 2026?
For applications lodged in 2026, the realistic expectation for a Subclass 491 gr… Read full answer →
How long does it take for a 491 visa to be granted?
From the date of application lodgement, a Subclass 491 is typically granted with… Read full answer →
How long does a skilled migration visa take in Australia?
Across all pathways in 2026, the skilled migration program processes visas acros… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get a 191 visa from 491?
Getting the Subclass 191 from a Subclass 491 involves two distinct timelines: th… Read full answer →
How much does it cost an employer to sponsor a work visa?
Employer sponsorship in Australia involves three separate fee components, and th… Read full answer →
How much does it cost an employer to sponsor a work visa in Australia?
The full cost breakdown for an employer sponsoring a worker on a Subclass 482 vi… Read full answer →
How much does a 189 visa cost?
The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa carries a base application charge of $… Read full answer →
How much does a 482 visa cost an employer?
The employer's direct cost for the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa nomination… Read full answer →
How much does a 485 visa cost?
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa doubled in cost overnight on 1 March 20… Read full answer →
How much does an 820 visa cost?
The Subclass 820/801 Onshore Partner visa is a two-stage grant (temporary 820, t… Read full answer →
How much does a subclass 300 visa cost?
The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa carries a government application fee … Read full answer →
How much does a visitor visa subclass 600 cost?
The Subclass 600 Visitor visa is one of Australia's most affordable entry pathwa… Read full answer →
How much does 190 cost?
The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa costs $4,640 for a primary applicant — i… Read full answer →
What is the new visa fee for Australia 2026?
The most significant fee change in 2026 was the doubling of the Subclass 485 Tem… Read full answer →
How much bank balance is required for an Australia tourist visa from the Philippines?
There is no fixed minimum bank balance mandated by the Department of Home Affair… Read full answer →
How much is a visa to Australia from the Philippines?
Filipino nationals applying for an Australian visitor visa pay the same governme… Read full answer →
What is the visa fee for Australia from Pakistan?
Pakistani nationals pay the same government-set application fee as all other nat… Read full answer →
How much is a visa from Malaysia to Australia?
Malaysian nationals pay standard Australian government visa fees with no country… Read full answer →
How much does it cost to get a partner visa subclass 820/801?
The Subclass 820/801 Onshore Partner visa is one of Australia's most expensive v… Read full answer →
How much does the 189 visa cost?
The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa government fee is $4,640 for the prima… Read full answer →
How much is the fee for subclass 309 100?
The Subclass 309/100 Offshore Partner visa — the offshore equivalent of the 820/… Read full answer →
How much does it cost to apply for a 482 visa?
The applicant (employee) pays the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa application… Read full answer →
How much is the 300 visa fee?
The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa government fee is $8,850 for the prim… Read full answer →
How much is a partner visa?
"Partner visa" covers four separate subclasses with different fee structures dep… Read full answer →
How much is the visa fee for Australia for Nigerians?
Nigerian nationals pay the same government-mandated application fees as all othe… Read full answer →
How much is the visa fee for Australia in 2026?
Australia's current government visa application charges across all major categor… Read full answer →
How much is an Australia visa from Kenya?
Kenyan nationals pay standard Australian government fees — the same as all other… Read full answer →
How much does an Australian visa cost from the UK?
UK nationals enjoy a significant advantage: holders Read full answer →
Is $10,000 enough to move to Australia?
$10,000 is tight but possible — if an employer is sponsoring your visa or you ar… Read full answer →
How much money do you need to move to Australia permanently?
Permanent residency through skilled migration typically costs $15,000–$35,000 al… Read full answer →
How much does a 189 visa cost?
The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa government application fee is $4,640 f… Read full answer →
How much does a 482 visa cost an employer?
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa involves mandatory government charges tha… Read full answer →
How much does an 820 visa cost?
The Subclass 820/801 onshore partner visa costs $8,850 for the primary applicant… Read full answer →
How much does a 485 visa cost?
As of 1 March 2026, the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee doubled from $2… Read full answer →
How much does a visitor visa subclass 600 cost?
The Subclass 600 Visitor visa is one of the most affordable Australian visas. Th… Read full answer →
What is the new visa fee for Australia 2026?
Several significant fee increases took effect in 2025–2026. The most impactful c… Read full answer →
How much does it cost for skill assessment in Australia?
Skills assessment costs vary significantly by assessing authority and occupation… Read full answer →
How much does VETASSESS cost?
VETASSESS handles skills assessments for more than 350 professional and manageri… Read full answer →
How much is the ACS fee for skills assessment?
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) assesses IT and ICT occupations and is the… Read full answer →
How much does the professional year cost?
The Professional Year (PY) program adds 5 points to your skilled migration point… Read full answer →
How much does it cost an employer to sponsor a work visa?
Employer sponsorship costs are substantial — and the law is explicit that these … Read full answer →
How much does it cost to emigrate from South Africa?
South Africa is one of the largest source countries for Australian skilled migra… Read full answer →
How much does it cost to immigrate from Pakistan?
Pakistani nationals make up a significant portion of Australian student visa hol… Read full answer →
How much does a migration agent cost?
Migration agent fees in Australia are not regulated by the government — the mark… Read full answer →
Application Charges Reference Table (2026)
Visa application charges are indexed annually and were updated on 1 July 2025. T… Read full answer →
How long does 491 to 191 take?
There are two distinct time periods: the 3-year qualifying period on the Subclas… Read full answer →
Costs: what you pay vs. what the employer pays
Transparency on costs eliminates one of the biggest sources of conflict in spons… Read full answer →
How long does it take to get an invitation after submitting an EOI?
There is no guaranteed timeframe. The waiting period ranges from a few weeks to … Read full answer →
Visa Application Fees: What Switching Costs You
Switching visas is not free. Each new application incurs a government charge, an… Read full answer →
How long does a bridging visa last?
A Bridging Visa A (BVA) has no fixed expiry date — it remains valid until your s… Read full answer →
How much does professional year cost?
Expect to pay between $8,000 and $15,000 in total, with most providers in major … Read full answer →
How long does VETASSESS take?
Standard VETASSESS processing takes 10–14 weeks from the date your complete appl… Read full answer →
How much does VETASSESS cost?
The standard VETASSESS fee starts at $850 for a General Skilled Migration assess… Read full answer →
How long does ACS assessment take?
The standard processing time is 4–8 weeks from the date ACS receives your comple… Read full answer →
How much does ACS cost?
The base fee for a standard ACS skills assessment is $530 AUD. Additional fees a… Read full answer →
How much does a migration agent cost in Australia?
Fees vary significantly by visa type and agent seniority, but the ranges below r… Read full answer →
How much do MARA agents charge?
MARA agents are not subject to a government fee schedule — they set their own ra… Read full answer →
What is the average fee for a migration agent?
Averaged across all visa types, most Australian clients pay between $3,000 and $… Read full answer →
A note on overall migration costs
Agent fees do not exist in isolation. The total cost of an Australian skilled mi… Read full answer →
How much does PTE cost in Australia?
PTE Academic is priced at approximately $395–$420 AUD for a standard sitting, wi… Read full answer →
How much does IELTS cost?
IELTS (Academic or General Training) costs between $370 and $415 AUD in Australi… Read full answer →
How much does ACS skills assessment cost?
ACS fees increased by 3.3% on 1 November 2025, making it one of the more expensi… Read full answer →
How much does VETASSESS cost?
VETASSESS fees vary by stream — professional occupations assessed under the Grou… Read full answer →
How much does Engineers Australia assessment cost?
Engineers Australia charges $700–$825 for most migration skills assessments, wit… Read full answer →
How long does ACS assessment take?
The standard ACS processing time is 8–12 weeks from the date your application is… Read full answer →
How long does VETASSESS take?
VETASSESS standard processing takes 10–16 weeks for professional occupation asse… Read full answer →
How long does student to PR take?
The realistic timeline from arriving on a student visa to holding a PR visa is 5… Read full answer →
Which partner visa is fastest?
The 820 temporary stage is typically the fastest grant, but "fastest" is relativ… Read full answer →
How much does it cost to sponsor someone on a 482 visa?
The employer bears the majority of costs. According to the Department of Home Af… Read full answer →
In-depth articles
Go deeper — real numbers, real trade-offs.
Featured
Visa Processing Times 2026: EOI, Nomination & All Subclasses
Australian visa processing times in 2026 vary enormously — from weeks at the skills assessment stage to 40+ months for onshore partner visas. The biggest delays hit before you even…
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Employer Sponsored Visa Processing Times 2026: 482, 186, 494 & 407
Employer sponsored visa processing times in 2026 vary dramatically — from a single day to over 24 months — with the Subc…
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Employer Sponsorship Costs: What Employers & Workers Actually Pay
Sponsoring a worker on a Subclass 482 visa costs employers between $8,000 and $20,000 or more — and passing any of that …
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Partner Visa Processing Times 2026: 820, 309, 801 & 300
Partner visa wait times in Australia have blown out to 24–40 months for the onshore Subclass 820 and 20–36 months for th…
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Australian Visa Application Fees by Subclass: Complete 2026 Guide
Australian visa fees in 2026 span a wide range — from $190 for a visitor visa to $8,850+ for partner and skilled permane…
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How Much Does It Cost to Move to Australia? Complete 2026 Breakdown
Skilled migration to Australia costs a minimum of around $11,590 for a solo applicant — and realistically $15,000–$35,00…
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Skilled Visa Processing Times 2026: 189, 190, 491 & More
Skilled visa processing times in 2026 vary widely — the Subclass 491 takes 12–24 months, the 190 around 10–15 months, an…
Read →Still weighing up your next move?
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