How Much Does It Cost to Immigrate to Australia in 2026

September 18, 2026

cost to immigrate to Australia: Australian government visa application charges increased by approximately 25% on 1 July 2026, under new Home Affairs regulations. This is the largest single-year increase in recent years and it changes what every applicant needs to budget for.

So what is the actual cost to immigrate to Australia in 2026? For a single skilled applicant, the total typically falls between AUD 16,500 and 17,500. For a family of four, the total typically falls between AUD 35,500 and 37,500. These figures cover the visa application charge, skills assessment, English test, medical examination, flights and an initial settlement period.

This guide sets out every cost involved, using figures published by the Department of Home Affairs, British Council Pakistan, VETASSESS, and the International Organization for Migration’s Pakistan office. Every figure in the summary table below is explained in the section it comes from.

Need your exact cost broken down by occupation and family size? Book a free eligibility assessment with AIRCS Group.

Table of Contents

Pre-Application Costs

Government Visa Application Charges by Pathway

cost to immigrate to Australia: The visa application charge is the largest single cost in any Australian immigration application. It varies by visa subclass and by the number of family members included in the application.

Visa Pathway	Primary Applicant	Partner (18+)	Child (under 18)
Skilled Independent (189)	AUD 6,135	AUD 3,070	AUD 1,540
Skilled Nominated (190)	AUD 6,140	AUD 3,070	AUD 1,540
Skilled Work Regional (491)	AUD 6,140	AUD 3,070	AUD 1,540
Employer Nomination (186)	AUD 6,140	AUD 3,070	AUD 1,540

These charges apply to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. They will be reviewed again on 1 July 2027, as Home Affairs reviews visa pricing annually, though the exact adjustment is not yet published. Confirm the current figure for your lodgement date using the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before submitting payment.

The 25% Visa Application Charge Increase Explained

cost to immigrate to Australia: The revised charges took effect on 1 July 2026. The increase applies across skilled, employer-sponsored, student, and visitor visa categories.

For a family of four applying under the subclass 189 pathway, the total government charge is AUD 12,285. This is calculated as the AUD 6,135 primary applicant charge, plus AUD 3,070 for a partner, plus AUD 1,540 for each of two children.

The applicable charge is the one in force on the date the application is lodged, not the date preparation began.

Skills Assessment Fees

A positive skills assessment is required before lodging most points-tested skilled visa applications. This fee is paid separately to the visa application charge, to a different authority entirely.

VETASSESS (most professional and trade occupations): AUD 1,205.60 for applicants inside Australia, or AUD 1,096 for applicants outside Australia
Engineers Australia (engineering occupations): AUD 1,034 including GST for a standard Competency Demonstration Report, rising to AUD 1,127.50 from 1 July 2026
ACS (information technology occupations): fees are assessed per occupation category; check the current schedule on the ACS website directly, as this guide does not include a specific ACS figure
Trades Recognition Australia (trade occupations): typically AUD 800 to 1,600, depending on trade and assessment pathway

This guide uses the VETASSESS standard fee of AUD 1,205.60, rounded to AUD 1,200, as the representative figure in the cost table below, since VETASSESS covers the widest range of occupations. Confirm the correct assessing authority for your specific occupation before applying, as fees vary.

English Language Test Costs (IELTS/PTE)

cost to immigrate to Australia: Most Australian visa pathways require evidence of English language proficiency. In Pakistan, this is typically satisfied through IELTS or PTE Academic.

British Council Pakistan’s official pricing, effective 2 July 2026, sets the standard IELTS registration fee at PKR 75,600 to 76,240 depending on test centre location, with IELTS for UKVI priced at PKR 78,820. At current exchange rates, this is approximately AUD 390 to 400 per attempt. This guide uses AUD 400 as the representative figure in the cost table.

For subclass 189 and 190 applicants specifically, a second visa instalment of AUD 4,885 applies to each applicant aged 18 or over who does not demonstrate functional English at the time of grant. Meeting the English requirement before lodgement avoids this additional charge entirely.

Medical Checks and Police Clearances

cost to immigrate to Australia: Most applicants and accompanying family members must complete a health examination with an approved panel physician, along with a police clearance certificate from each country of residence over the past 10 years.

The International Organization for Migration’s Pakistan office publishes the official medical examination fee schedule for Australian visa applicants:

Age 15 and over: PKR 31,000 (approximately AUD 160)
Age 11 to 14: PKR 26,000 (approximately AUD 135)
Under 11: PKR 22,000 (approximately AUD 115)

For a family of four with two adults and two children aged 12 and 8, the combined medical examination cost is approximately AUD 570 (two adult fees at AUD 160, one fee at AUD 135, one at AUD 115).

Police clearance certificates and Visa Application Centre service charges together typically cost PKR 3,000 to 8,000 per adult applicant, approximately AUD 15 to 40. Children under 16 are generally exempt from police clearance requirements. This guide uses AUD 25 per adult as the representative figure in the cost table.

Total Cost to Immigrate to Australia: Single Applicant vs Family of Four

The table below sets out the estimated total cost for a subclass 189 application, using the figures explained in each section above. Where a cost item is a range, the table uses the midpoint, and the relevant section states the full range.

Cost Item	Single Applicant	Family of Four
Visa application charge	AUD 6,135	AUD 12,285
Skills assessment	AUD 1,200	AUD 1,200
English test(s)	AUD 400	AUD 800
Medical examinations	AUD 160	AUD 570
Police clearance and VAC service fees	AUD 25	AUD 50
Flights (one way)	AUD 1,100	AUD 4,400
Shipping and temporary accommodation	AUD 1,150	AUD 2,750
Three month settlement buffer	AUD 6,750	AUD 14,250
Estimated total	AUD 16,920	AUD 36,305

A contingency margin of 10 to 15% above these totals is a reasonable planning buffer, since exchange rates, airfares, and rental markets fluctuate.

For a cost breakdown specific to your occupation, visa subclass, and family composition, contact an AIRCS consultant directly.

Proof of Funds and Settlement Money

Is There a Minimum Bank Balance Requirement?

There is no fixed minimum bank balance requirement for Australia’s points-tested skilled visas, subclass 189, 190, or 491. Unlike Canada’s Express Entry program, these pathways are assessed on the points test, not on a stated funds threshold.

This does not mean funds are irrelevant. Applicants still need enough money to cover the costs set out in this guide, plus a settlement buffer once they arrive. The most useful planning figure is the monthly cost of living shown below, applied across a three month buffer, rather than a fixed rule that does not exist in the visa criteria.

Housing Deposits and Cost of Living Buffer

Securing rental accommodation in Australia requires upfront funds beyond the first rent payment. According to PropTrack’s national rental report, median weekly rent across Australia reached AUD 620 as of December 2024, the most recently published national figure at the time of writing, and AUD 730 in Sydney specifically. Landlords typically require a bond equivalent to four weeks’ rent, plus two weeks’ rent in advance, before the tenancy begins.

For a two bedroom rental at AUD 600 per week, this results in an upfront cost of approximately AUD 3,600, in addition to the settlement buffer covering ongoing living expenses.

As a monthly planning estimate, a single applicant should budget AUD 2,000 to 2,500 for rent, food, transport, and utilities. A family of four should budget AUD 4,000 to 5,500 per month, depending on the city. Multiplied across three months, this produces the AUD 6,750 and AUD 14,250 settlement buffer figures used in the cost table above.

Relocation Costs

Flight Costs from Pakistan

One-way airfare is the relevant figure for migration planning, not round-trip pricing. Current round-trip economy fares from Karachi to Sydney start from approximately PKR 290,000, and to Melbourne from approximately PKR 319,000. From Lahore, round-trip fares to Sydney or Melbourne are generally higher, ranging from PKR 386,000 to 450,000.

One-way fares are typically 55 to 65% of the round-trip price. This puts a one-way fare in the range of PKR 160,000 to 250,000 per adult, approximately AUD 865 to 1,350. This guide uses AUD 1,100 as the midpoint figure in the cost table.

Shipping Belongings and Temporary Accommodation

Most applicants ship a limited volume of essential belongings by air freight rather than a full household by sea freight, since air freight clears customs faster and has lower minimum costs.

Air freight for a single applicant’s personal items typically costs AUD 800 to 1,500, with a midpoint of AUD 1,150 used in the cost table. For a family shipping multiple boxes, AUD 2,000 to 3,500 is typical, with a midpoint of AUD 2,750. Full container sea freight is generally only cost effective for high value furniture, with container costs starting around AUD 3,000.

Applicants should also budget for one to two weeks of temporary accommodation while securing a rental. Serviced apartments in Australian capital cities typically range from AUD 100 to 180 per night.

How to Budget for Your Visa Pathway

Points-Tested Skilled Visa Budget

This applies to subclass 189, 190, and 491 applicants. All costs, including the visa application charge, skills assessment, English test, medical examination, and police clearance, are paid directly by the applicant.

Combined government and testing costs for a single applicant typically total AUD 8,000 to 9,000, before settlement costs are added. Confirm your occupation’s eligibility against the relevant skilled occupation list before incurring assessment fees. See our Australia PR service page for occupation eligibility and points requirements.

Employer-Sponsored Visa Budget

Subclass 186 does not reduce the applicant’s own cost. The AUD 6,140 application charge is marginally higher than the AUD 6,135 charged for the subclass 189. The applicant still pays their own visa charge, skills assessment, English test, and medical costs in full.

The financial benefit of this pathway sits with the employer, not the applicant. The sponsoring employer is legally required to pay the nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund levy, currently AUD 3,000 for businesses with annual turnover under AUD 10 million, or AUD 5,000 for larger businesses, and is prohibited from passing these costs to the applicant. These charges do not exist on the subclass 189 pathway at all, since there is no employer or nomination involved.

FAQs