Commonwealth of Australia
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186): government fee breakdown
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Home Affairs current pricing lists the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa application charge at AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, with AUD 3,070 per adult dependant and AUD 1,535 per child, before any functional-English second instalment.
These are the fees paid to the Commonwealth of Australia government. For sponsored routes, the payer varies by country and component; use the item notes and primary source to confirm whether the sponsor, applicant, or both pay. Fees for dependants, priority services, or higher salary bands may change the total.
How much does the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) cost in Australia?
Home Affairs current pricing lists the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa application charge at AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, with AUD 3,070 per adult dependant and AUD 1,535 per child, before any functional-English second instalment.
Source checked against Home Affairs - current visa pricing table on 1 July 2026.
Headline total
A$6,140
Single applicant, competent English, applicant visa charge only
No changes recorded for this figure since 1 July 2026.
Currency
AUD (Australian dollar)
Last checked
1 July 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
Employer Nomination Scheme visa application charge (main applicant)# Applies to the Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition and Labour Agreement streams in the Home Affairs current pricing table from 1 July 2026. Eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concessions may reduce the charge. | A$6,140 | Yes |
Additional applicant charge (18+)# | A$3,070per adult | Optional |
Additional applicant charge (under 18)# | A$1,535per child | Optional |
Second instalment - main applicant without functional English# Charged only if an applicant aged 18+ is assessed as not having functional English and no exemption applies. | A$9,800 | Optional |
Second instalment - family member without functional English# Charged only if a secondary applicant aged 18+ is assessed as not having functional English and no exemption applies. | A$4,890per adult dependant | Optional |
ENS nomination application fee# Employer-side nomination fee, subject to stream and location. Home Affairs says sponsor, nomination and sponsorship costs cannot be transferred to the visa holder or family. | A$540 | Optional |
Skilling Australians Fund levy - small business ENS nomination# Employer-side one-off SAF levy for ENS nominations by businesses with annual turnover under AUD 10 million. The SAF levy cannot be passed to the applicant. | A$3,000 | Optional |
Skilling Australians Fund levy - other business ENS nomination# Employer-side one-off SAF levy for ENS nominations by businesses with annual turnover of at least AUD 10 million. The SAF levy cannot be passed to the applicant. | A$5,000 | Optional |
Worked example
Single applicant, competent English, applicant visa charge only — A$6,140
- AUD 6,140 main applicant visa application charge
- Employer nomination, SAF levy, family members and second-instalment English charges are separate.
How to read these fees
The A$6,140 headline covers single applicant, competent English, applicant visa charge only. Of the 8 components listed above, 1 is mandatory and 7 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is Employer Nomination Scheme visa application charge (main applicant) at A$6,140.
Bringing family changes the total — see the dependant section below. Treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a quote: confirm each line on the official source linked below on the day you pay, because these fees are revised regularly.
Dependant fees
Add AUD 3,070 per adult additional applicant and AUD 1,535 per child. A second instalment of AUD 9,800 for the main applicant or AUD 4,890 per adult dependant can apply where functional English is not met.
Employer nomination and SAF levy costs are visible budgeting items but Home Affairs says they cannot be passed on to the visa holder or family.
Why fees change
The current visa pricing table was updated on 1 July 2026 and subclass 186 concessions were introduced for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Employer nomination and SAF levy amounts sit on the separate cost-of-sponsoring page and must be checked before nomination lodgement.
Primary source
Home Affairs - current visa pricing table
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/fees-and-charges/current-visa-pricing
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) fee schedule", https://visaatlas.org/fees/australia/subclass-186-ens. Last checked 1 July 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/fees
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) cost in government fees?
Home Affairs current pricing lists the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa application charge at AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, with AUD 3,070 per adult dependant and AUD 1,535 per child, before any functional-English second instalment. The worked example assumes single applicant, competent english, applicant visa charge only, totalling A$6,140. Fees for dependants, priority service, or higher-tier salary bands change the total — see the itemised table above.
Are these fees refundable if my application is refused?
Most application fees are non-refundable once the government begins processing. Some jurisdictions refund specific components (e.g. Canada's Right of Permanent Residence Fee refunds if refused; UK IHS refunds if the visa is refused). Check the linked primary source for the route you are applying to.
How often do these fees change?
The current visa pricing table was updated on 1 July 2026 and subclass 186 concessions were introduced for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Employer nomination and SAF levy amounts sit on the separate cost-of-sponsoring page and must be checked before nomination lodgement.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
Add AUD 3,070 per adult additional applicant and AUD 1,535 per child. A second instalment of AUD 9,800 for the main applicant or AUD 4,890 per adult dependant can apply where functional English is not met.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
Processing time
How long the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) takes from application to decision.
Compare: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) fees
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled roles an Australian employer cannot fill locally.
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.