Commonwealth of Australia
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189): government fee breakdown
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
The subclass 189 points-tested visa application charge is A$6,135 for the primary applicant, plus A$3,070 per additional adult and A$1,540 per child under 18. A couple pays A$9,205 in first-instalment charges. Conditional English charges and separately paid assessment, testing and document costs are extra.
These are the fees paid to the Commonwealth of Australia government. You pay these directly as part of your application. Additional applicants and an applicable second instalment change the total. Separately paid assessment and document costs are excluded.
How much does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) cost in Australia?
The subclass 189 points-tested visa application charge is A$6,135 for the primary applicant, plus A$3,070 per additional adult and A$1,540 per child under 18. A couple pays A$9,205 in first-instalment charges. Conditional English charges and separately paid assessment, testing and document costs are extra.
Source checked against Home Affairs — current visa pricing table on 10 September 2026.
Headline total
A$6,135
Single applicant, first-instalment application charge only
No changes recorded for this figure since 10 September 2026.
Currency
AUD (Australian dollar)
Last checked
10 September 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
Visa application charge (primary applicant)# First instalment for the subclass 189 points-tested stream. This is the application charge, not an all-in migration budget. | A$6,135 | Yes |
Additional applicant charge (18+)# | A$3,070per adult | If applicable |
Additional applicant charge (under 18)# | A$1,540per child | If applicable |
Second instalment — less than functional English# Conditional second instalment for an applicant aged 18 or over at application who is assessed as not having functional English. Pay only when requested by Home Affairs; the second instalment is nil for other applicants. This does not replace the primary applicant’s English eligibility requirement. | A$4,885per applicant aged 18+ | If applicable |
Worked example
Single applicant, first-instalment application charge only — A$6,135
- A$6,135 primary applicant first instalment.
- No additional applicants or conditional second instalment included.
- Skills assessment, English testing if needed, police certificates, health examinations, translations and payment surcharges are separate; obtain quotes for your circumstances.
What will your family pay?
These are first-instalment visa application charges for the points-tested stream, not a total relocation budget. An additional applicant charge is required when that family member is included; it is not an optional service.
| Applicants | Calculation | First instalment |
|---|---|---|
| One applicant | A$6,135 | A$6,135 |
| Two adults | A$6,135 + A$3,070 | A$9,205 |
| Two adults and one child under 18 | A$6,135 + A$3,070 + A$1,540 | A$10,745 |
| Two adults and two children under 18 | A$6,135 + A$3,070 + 2 × A$1,540 | A$12,285 |
If Home Affairs requests one A$4,885 functional-English second instalment, add it separately. For example, two adults plus one applicable second instalment pay A$14,090 in application charges. Do not add this charge automatically for every adult.
Home Affairs current visa pricing: select Skilled Independent (189), points-tested stream
Costs outside the visa application charge
Keep skills assessment, English testing where needed, police certificates, health examinations, translations and any payment surcharge outside the government-charge subtotal. Their cost depends on your occupation, evidence, provider and location; obtain the applicable quotes before committing to a budget.
A concrete assessing-authority example: the ACS General Skills assessment pathway publishes an A$1,498 fee. This is an ACS pathway price, not a Home Affairs charge or a universal assessment price for every subclass 189 applicant. It is excluded from the totals above. ACS General Skills assessment fee (checked 10 September 2026).
Dependant fees
Add A$3,070 per additional applicant aged 18 or over and A$1,540 per additional applicant under 18. A conditional A$4,885 second instalment can apply to an applicant aged 18 or over at application who is assessed as not having functional English; pay it only if Home Affairs requests it.
First-instalment examples: two adults A$9,205; two adults and one child under 18 A$10,745; two adults and two children under 18 A$12,285. Two adults plus one applicable A$4,885 second instalment total A$14,090 in visa application charges. These totals exclude separately paid assessment, testing, certificates, examinations, translations and payment surcharges.
Why fees change
Check the Home Affairs current pricing table for the points-tested stream immediately before paying. Application charges can change, and other subclass 189 streams can have different figures. The table separates the first instalment from any conditional second instalment; neither is a universal all-in migration cost.
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, "Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) fee schedule", https://visaatlas.org/fees/australia/subclass-189-skilled-independent. Last checked 10 September 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/fees
Primary source (1)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) cost in government fees?
The subclass 189 points-tested visa application charge is A$6,135 for the primary applicant, plus A$3,070 per additional adult and A$1,540 per child under 18. A couple pays A$9,205 in first-instalment charges. Conditional English charges and separately paid assessment, testing and document costs are extra. The worked example assumes single applicant, first-instalment application charge only, totalling A$6,135. Additional applicants and any applicable second instalment change the application-charge total; separately paid assessment and document costs are excluded.
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?
Check the Home Affairs current pricing table for the points-tested stream immediately before paying. Application charges can change, and other subclass 189 streams can have different figures. The table separates the first instalment from any conditional second instalment; neither is a universal all-in migration cost.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
Add A$3,070 per additional applicant aged 18 or over and A$1,540 per additional applicant under 18. A conditional A$4,885 second instalment can apply to an applicant aged 18 or over at application who is assessed as not having functional English; pay it only if Home Affairs requests it.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189).
Processing time
How long the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) takes from application to decision.
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Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.