How Much Does It Cost to Move to Australia from the Philippines?

TL;DR

There's no single reliable total for moving from the Philippines to Australia — it depends on your visa pathway, whether you're a healthcare worker, and whether you use an agent. The visa application charge is fixed and published, running AUD 2,500 to AUD 11,710 for common pathways as at 1 July 2026; healthcare workers add a published ANMAC assessment fee (AUD 395–595, September 2026). English testing, NBI clearance, a DFA apostille, and health exams all add to the total but are set by individual providers, not government. Balikbayan boxes generally cost less than a shared container.

Moving from the Philippines to Australia involves visa charges, skills assessments, English testing, health exams, police clearances, and settling-in costs. This guide breaks down every category in PHP and AUD.

All conversions use approximately 37 PHP = 1 AUD (June 2026). Check the live rate when you budget. For pathway details, see our Philippines-to-Australia visa options guide.

Visa application charges

Visa charges update annually on 1 July. Check the current schedule before you lodge.

These are the charges in force from 1 July 2026. Adding family members increases the total. On skilled visas, add AUD 3,070 (PHP 113,590) per adult and AUD 1,535 to 1,540 (PHP 56,795 to 56,980) per child. Use Migratio's visa cost calculator to estimate.

Second VAC. There is none on partner visas — Schedule 1 sets the second instalment for the 820/801 and 309/100 at nil, so the figure in the table above is the whole charge. The functional-English second instalment applies to SKILLED and employer-sponsored visas instead: roughly AUD 4,885 to 4,890 (PHP 180,745 to 180,930) per adult on the 189, 190, 491, 858 and 887, and AUD 9,800 for a primary applicant on the 186 or 494. Passing an English test before the decision avoids it.

AHPRA and ANMAC costs for healthcare workers

Many Filipino migrants are nurses and aged care workers. Healthcare professions carry extra registration and assessment costs.

ANMAC skills assessment. As published by ANMAC in September 2026, fees are AUD 595 for a Full skills assessment (most internationally-qualified nurses and midwives), AUD 545 for a Direct Care skills assessment (nursing support workers and personal care assistants), and AUD 395 for a Modified skills assessment (applicants already registered with AHPRA/NMBA or the Nursing Council of New Zealand). ANMAC has flagged fee and assessment-name changes coming later in 2026 — check anmac.org.au before you apply.

AHPRA registration. After a positive ANMAC outcome, register with AHPRA through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which sets and reviews its own fees each year (general registration renewal has been reported at roughly AUD 193 for 2026–27). Confirm the current initial-registration fee on the Board's own fees page, since it is set separately from the assessment fee above.

Bridging programs. If ANMAC identifies qualification gaps, a bridging program's cost is set by the individual education provider, so there is no single published figure. Not everyone needs one.

OET for healthcare workers. A specific fee is set locally by OET's booking system and changes periodically — check the current price on oet.com before you register. See alternatives below.

Skills assessment fees — other occupations

Skilled visas (189, 190, 491, 482) require a positive skills assessment. Fees depend on your occupation and are reviewed periodically by each assessing body, so treat the figures below as a September 2026 snapshot.

TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) assesses chefs, electricians, plumbers, and mechanics through several different pathways with different fees depending on which one applies to you — check tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au for the pathway and fee that matches your occupation and location rather than a single figure. OFWs with existing overseas certifications can use them to support their application. Processing takes 6 to 16 weeks. See our skills assessment guide.

English testing costs

Although English is widely spoken in the Philippines, no passport exemption applies. You must sit an approved test.

As published by the British Council in the Philippines, IELTS Academic and General Training cost PHP 14,470 (as at September 2026) — up from earlier in the year, since fees there rose from 1 July 2026 and again since. PTE Academic and OET fees are set locally through each provider's own booking site and are not fixed figures here — check pearsonpte.com and oet.com directly before you pay. TOEFL iBT pricing is set by ETS and shown at the time of registration.

Test centres operate in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Most skilled visas require Competent English (IELTS 6.0 per band). Higher scores add points: 7.0 adds 10, 8.0 adds 20. Budget for two attempts, since a retake means paying the fee again.

Health exams and NBI clearance

Health examination

All applicants must attend a panel-approved clinic. Bupa Medical Visa Services operates panel clinics in Manila and Cebu. The fee is set by the individual clinic, not by Home Affairs, so there is no single published figure — confirm the current price when you book. Results go directly to Home Affairs.

NBI clearance

You need a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance. Apply online, pay the fee, and attend an NBI branch appointment. Processing is often same-day if your record is clear ("no hit"). A "hit" adds two to four weeks. If you lived in another country for 12+ months in the past 10 years, you need police certificates from there too. Check the NBI's own online application portal for the current standard and rush-processing fees.

DFA apostille and PSA document costs

Australian visa applications require authenticated civil documents from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), then an apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs — the apostille replaced the older "red ribbon" consular authentication once the Philippines joined the Apostille Convention in 2019, so Philippine documents for Australia no longer need red-ribbon authentication.

As published by PSA-authorised services, a PSA birth or marriage certificate ordered online costs around PHP 365, and a CENOMAR (certificate of no marriage record) around PHP 420. The DFA moved to a fully digital e-Apostille system from March 2026; check the current per-document fee on apostille.gov.ph before budgeting, since it has changed more than once this year. Order PSA documents online through PSA Serbilis. Allow one to three weeks for the full process. See our Philippines document authentication guide for the step-by-step walkthrough.

Travel costs

Airfares are set by individual airlines and move with season and booking timing, so any specific fare quoted here would date quickly — check current fares directly with an airline or flight search site closer to your travel date. Direct flights to Sydney generally cost more than one-stop routes via Singapore. Book three to six months ahead for the better fares, and get a current quote for travel insurance from your insurer rather than assuming a fixed cost.

Shipping — balikbayan boxes and beyond

Filipino movers have a distinct advantage: the balikbayan box system. LBC, JRS Express, Forex Cargo, and others offer door-to-door shipping to Australia, priced by box size and destination. As these are individual companies' commercial rates rather than a regulated schedule, get a current quote from a couple of providers for your destination city rather than budgeting from a remembered figure — as a rule of thumb, several balikbayan boxes generally cost less than a shared container, which in turn costs less than a full 20-foot container, and a full container only makes sense for a full household. Transit time is typically several weeks longer by sea than by balikbayan box for smaller volumes.

Personal effects owned and used for 12+ months are generally exempt from customs duty and GST. Keep receipts for new items.

Settlement costs by city

Your first month requires a cash buffer. Blacktown, Dandenong, and Mandurah are popular Filipino settlement suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth respectively, each with established Filipino communities, grocery stores, and remittance centres.

Rental bonds (typically four weeks' rent) and two weeks' rent in advance are the two upfront costs every tenancy involves; the actual amount depends on the current median rent in the suburb you choose, which is worth checking on a rental listings site rather than assuming from a table, since rents move from quarter to quarter — Sydney generally costs more than Melbourne, which generally costs more than Perth, for equivalent housing. Groceries, public transport, and a mobile plan are priced by individual retailers, transport authorities, and carriers, not by any single published schedule. See our settling in Australia guide for housing, banking, and everyday life.

Student pathway costs

A subclass 500 student visa can lead to a 485 Temporary Graduate visa, giving you time to gain local experience and build points.

Living costs. Home Affairs requires proof of at least AUD 29,710 (PHP 1,099,270) per year, plus return airfare and dependant costs.

OSHC. Mandatory health cover runs AUD 500 to AUD 700 (PHP 18,500 to PHP 25,900) per year.

All-in, a two-year master's could cost AUD 90,000 to AUD 140,000 (PHP 3,330,000 to PHP 5,180,000).

Migration agent fees

Migration agent fees vary widely by visa complexity — agents set their own fees and there is no regulated schedule, so always confirm in writing before engaging one. Student cases generally cost less than skilled or partner visa cases. Compare quotes through Migratio's agent directory or see partner visa specialists. Read our guide to choosing an agent first.

Remittances. Many Filipino migrants support family back home. Factor regular remittance commitments into your Australian budget from day one.

Total budget summary

The one figure in a total that is fixed and dated is the visa application charge (see the table above); for healthcare workers, the ANMAC assessment fee is also fixed and published. Everything else — English tests, health and NBI checks, document authentication, flights, shipping, and first-month settlement — is priced by an individual provider and reviewed periodically, so adding it all into one headline total would create a precision the underlying numbers don't have. As a rough shape: a single skilled applicant with no agent will generally spend several hundred thousand pesos once the visa charge, assessment, tests, checks, one flight, and a first month's settlement are all added up; a couple, a partner visa, or the use of an agent adds meaningfully to that, and a multi-year study pathway is a different order of magnitude because it includes tuition. Build your own total from current visa, assessment, and quoted figures rather than relying on a single published number.

Saving tips:

• Check your points first. Use Migratio's points calculator before paying for a skills assessment. No refund if your occupation is not on the list.
• Start ANMAC early. Healthcare workers should begin months before visa lodgement.
• Test early — a retake means paying the test fee again.
• Use balikbayan boxes. A few boxes generally cost far less than a shared container.
• Book flights midweek and outside December and school holidays.
• Ship light. Selling furniture and buying secondhand in Australia beats a container.
• Order PSA documents online. PSA Serbilis delivers to your door.
• Get NBI clearance early. A "hit" can delay your application by weeks.

Next steps

1. Review visa options for Filipino citizens and identify your subclass.
2. Use Migratio's points calculator to estimate your score.
3. Get your Philippine documents ready — PSA, NBI, DFA apostille.
4. Book your IELTS, PTE, or OET test early.
5. If you are a healthcare worker, begin the ANMAC process now.
6. Read our guide to choosing a migration agent.
7. Browse MARA-registered agents on Migratio and compare consultation fees (comparing is free; consults are typically $150–$300).
8. Start settlement planning so you hit the ground running.

Related resources

• Philippines to Australia — 2026 Overview
• Visa Options for Filipino Citizens
• Philippines Document Authentication
• Settling in Australia from the Philippines
• Filipino Nurse to Australia
• Filipino Aged Care Worker to Australia
• Filipino IT Worker to Australia
• How to Choose a Migration Agent
• What Is a Skills Assessment?
• Find a Skilled Visa Agent

How much does AHPRA registration cost for Filipino nurses?

As published by ANMAC in September 2026, the skills assessment fee is AUD 595 for most internationally-qualified nurses (a Full skills assessment), AUD 545 for support workers, or AUD 395 if you're already registered elsewhere. AHPRA registration is a separate fee set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board each year — check the Board's own fees page for the current amount. Add English test fees (check the current IELTS or OET price directly with the provider) and potentially bridging program costs if required.

Can I send balikbayan boxes to Australia?

Yes. Balikbayan boxes are a cost-effective way to ship household items and personal effects from the Philippines. Services like LBC, JRS Express, and other Filipino logistics companies offer door-to-door service, priced by box size — get a current quote from the provider for your destination city rather than a remembered figure.

How much should I save before moving to Australia?

There's no single figure — it depends on your visa pathway, family size, and whether you use an agent. The one fixed, dated cost is the visa application charge; everything else (assessments, tests, flights, shipping, settlement) is priced individually and should be quoted current before you rely on it. For a student pathway, Home Affairs requires proof of at least AUD 29,710 per year for living costs on top of tuition. Having a few months of living expenses saved beyond visa costs provides a safety net.