Australian Visa Fees 2026: Full Schedule, $6,135 for a Subclass 189

Every major visa fee as it stands from 1 July 2026 — skilled, employer-sponsored, partner, parent, student and working holiday — plus the extras a visa fee doesn't cover, like ART review, health exams and police clearances. Covers refund rules and the annual indexation. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

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Chapters

  1. 0:00 $6,135.
  2. 0:13 189: $6,135.
  3. 0:36 191 (permanent, regional):
  4. 0:51 482: $4,015 + SAF $1,200–$1,800/yr.
  5. 1:17 Employer extras:
  6. 1:33 188 and 132 (business visas):
  7. 1:50 $11,710.
  8. 2:01 870: $1,515 + $4,855/$10,925.
  9. 2:33 Student 500: $2,500 / $2,050.
  10. 3:01 407 (Training visa):
  11. 3:32 AOS bond:
  12. 3:47 Refused: no refund.
  13. 3:59 1 July 2026 rise: ~25%
  14. 4:15 Little room for exceptions —
  15. 4:27 Where to read more

Transcript

A subclass 189 visa costs $6,135 in government fees alone — and that's before an agent charges a cent.

The subclass 189 charges $6,135 for the primary applicant. The 190 and 491 both charge $6,140. Partners add $3,070, children $1,540 to $1,535, and the 189's New Zealand stream is billed separately at $850.

The subclass 191, permanent residence for skilled regional visa holders, costs just $630 for the primary applicant, $315 for a partner, $160 per child — the standard rate for most applicants.

A subclass 482 costs $4,015 for the primary applicant or a partner, plus $1,005 per child. Employers also pay a Skilling Australians Fund levy: $1,200 a year for a small business, $1,800 for a large one. A subclass 186 costs $6,140, with a one-off SAF levy of $3,000 to $5,000.

Beyond the visa fee, an employer pays a $420 Standard Business Sponsor fee, valid 5 years, plus a nomination fee: $330 for a 482, $540 for a 186 — per position.

The Business Innovation and Investment visa, subclass 188, and the Business Talent visa, subclass 132, both closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. Applications lodged before that date continue to be processed.

A partner visa charges one combined government fee — $11,710 — covering both stages. The second stage costs nothing extra on top of it.

An extra adult on a partner or prospective marriage visa costs $5,860. The 870 Sponsored Parent charges $1,515 upfront, then $4,855 or $10,925. The Contributory Parent 143 runs $6,300 then $43,600 — about $49,900 in total. The non-contributory 103 is $6,600 plus $2,065.

On the education and working-holiday side: a student 500 costs $2,500 for higher education, $2,050 for ELICOS. A graduate 485 is $5,750. A working holiday 417 or 462 is $840 for a first visa, $1,000 for a second or third. A visitor 600 applied for onshore costs $630.

A Training visa, subclass 407, costs $535 for the primary applicant.

Add the costs neither the agent nor the visa fee cover: an ART review costs $3,727. A health exam runs $300 to $500. Police clearances cost $50 to $150 per country, translation $50 to $150 per document, and apostille or legalisation $50 to $200.

Parent visa sponsors may also need an Assurance of Support bond — a sum that can be forfeited if the assured person claims certain welfare payments. Services Australia sets the current bond amount and period, so check its page for the figure that applies to your visa.

Visa fees aren't refunded if you're refused — they're a sunk cost either way. Win an ART review, though, and that $3,727 fee comes back.

Most fees are indexed every 1 July. The rise from 1 July 2026 was roughly 25% across most visa application charges — much bigger than a typical year, so don't assume that pattern repeats next time.

There's very little room for exceptions — most skilled, family and employer-sponsored applications pay the standard schedule regardless of circumstances, so it's worth checking the current rate before you lodge.

The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.

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