Complete Cost to Get PR in Australia 2026: Budget Breakdown for Africans

Australia Permanent Residency sounds like freedom. But getting there costs more than most Africans realise. Between visa application fees, skills assessment, English testing, medicals, and police clearances, the bill climbs quickly. If you're serious about PR in 2026, you need to know exactly what you're paying for.

This guide breaks down every cost you'll face on the path to Australian PR, so you can budget properly and avoid nasty surprises halfway through.

The Real Cost to Get PR in Australia 2026

Visa application fees alone range from roughly AUD $4,640 for a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) to over AUD $49,000 for a Contributory Parent visa. But that's just the beginning. Skills assessment, English testing, medicals, and police checks add another AUD $1,100 to $2,300 on top.

If you're shooting for a 189 or state-nominated 190 visa as a skilled migrant, expect to spend between AUD $5,800 and $7,500 total just to lodge and complete your application as a solo applicant. Add in professional help, and that figure jumps higher.

The cost varies wildly depending on which visa pathway you're targeting and your personal circumstances. Let's break it down by category.

Visa Application Fees: The Main Bill

Home Affairs application charges are the biggest single cost. Here are the key skilled migration routes in 2026:

• •Skilled Independent (189): AUD $4,640 primary applicant, plus additional fees per family member (check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for current secondary applicant charges)
• •State Nominated (190): Similar to 189 - refer to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for the exact 2025-26 figure, plus a state nomination fee (varies by state, typically AUD $300-$500)
• •Skilled Work Regional (491): Refer to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for the current 2025-26 primary applicant fee, plus a sponsorship or nomination fee that varies by state or territory

These fees apply when you actually lodge your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs. Before that, you'll have spent money on other requirements.

Graduate Visa (485) Pathway

If you're studying in Australia first and using the graduate visa to build work experience for PR, the 485 application fee is AUD $1,895 (2025-26). Since November 2023, the Graduate visa (subclass 485) gives you significantly more time to gain Australian work experience:

• •Bachelor's degree: 4 years
• •Master's degree (coursework or research): 5 years
• •Doctorate (PhD): 6 years

This extended stay is a major advantage for African graduates and often feeds into a skilled permanent visa application later.

Skills Assessment: Non-Negotiable and Often Expensive

Before you can even submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for skilled migration, your qualifications must be assessed by an official body. These assessments typically cost AUD $500 to $1,200 depending on your occupation and how many qualifications you're submitting.

For engineers, nurses, accountants, and IT professionals, the major assessing bodies in Australia are rigorous and thorough. They may ask for official transcripts from your African university, certified documents, and references. Each piece adds time and sometimes cost.

Examples (approximate fees based on 2025 schedules):

• •Engineers Australia (engineers): Around AUD $890
• •ANMAC - Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (nurses and midwives): Around AUD $1,100
• •CPA Australia / CA ANZ (accountants): Around AUD $400-$700 - verify directly with CAANZ or CPA Australia
• •ACS - Australian Computer Society (IT professionals): Around AUD $530
• •VETASSESS (a broad range of professional and trade-related occupations): Around AUD $600-$900 depending on occupation type

Note: ANMAC is the correct skills assessing authority for nurses seeking skilled migration, not AHPRA. AHPRA handles professional registration once you are already in Australia - it is a separate step that comes after your visa is granted.

You can explore the skills assessment process in detail here.

English Language Testing: IELTS, PTE or Duolingo

Visa applications require proof of English ability. The major tests are IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English).

• •IELTS Academic: Around AUD $360-$400 per attempt
• •PTE Academic: Around AUD $320-$360 per attempt
• •Duolingo English Test: Around AUD $49 (much cheaper, but acceptance is narrower - not accepted for most skilled migration applications)

For skilled visas, the standard minimum is an IELTS score of at least 6.0 in each individual band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) - not just an overall score. Some occupations, particularly in healthcare and education, require higher scores. The equivalent PTE Academic minimum is 50 in each communicative skill.

Many applicants need more than one attempt, particularly for Writing and Speaking. Budget for at least two attempts to be safe.

If English is your weak point, targeted coaching before your test can save you the cost of a re-sit - which is the same price as your first attempt.

Medical Examination: Required by Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs requires all primary applicants (and usually family members) to undergo an approved medical examination. This includes blood tests, chest X-ray, and a GP review conducted by an accredited panel doctor.

Costs vary by city and clinic, but expect:

• •Australia-based medical exam: AUD $300-$500 per person
• •Overseas medical exam (before you arrive): AUD $250-$450 per person, depending on your country

If you're already in Australia, you can use a panel doctor approved by Home Affairs. If you're overseas, you'll use an approved overseas panel physician - this is often slightly cheaper but varies by country.

Police Clearance Certificates: One Per Country

You need a police clearance from every country where you've lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. For most Africans, this means at least one certificate from your home country.

Costs range widely:

• •Nigeria Police Clearance: Around AUD $150-$250 equivalent (often paid locally in Naira at the prevailing rate)
• •Kenya, Ghana, South Africa: Around AUD $100-$200 equivalent
• •Australian Federal Police (AFP) Check (if you've lived in Australia): Around AUD $50-$100

The real cost here is time. Police clearances from African countries can take weeks or even months. Factor in courier fees if documents need to be mailed internationally, and apply early.

Summary Table: Full Cost Breakdown for 189 Visa (Skilled Independent)

If you add a spouse or de facto partner and one child, your total visa fee alone could exceed AUD $9,000-$11,000 before any other costs. Family members also each require their own medical and police clearance, which adds up fast.

What About Agent or Migration Consultant Fees?

A Registered Migration Agent (RMA) in Australia can charge AUD $3,000-$10,000+ for managing a full skilled migration application, depending on complexity. This is not a government charge - it's a professional service fee.

For complex cases - for example, if your overseas qualifications are not straightforward, your English history is varied, or you've lived in multiple countries - professional help can save you from costly mistakes. A single error in an EOI or application can mean waiting an extra year or losing your chance at a high-priority invitation round.

Occupation Lists: What You Need to Know

Not every occupation qualifies for skilled migration. Since 1 July 2023, the relevant occupation list for most employer-sponsored and independent skilled visas is the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The old lists - MLTSSL, ROL, and STSOL - have been replaced. Always check the current CSOL on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au to confirm your occupation is eligible before investing in a skills assessment.

Salary Thresholds: The Employer-Sponsored Route

If you're pursuing PR via an employer-sponsored pathway (such as the subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa leading to the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme), you need to be aware of salary floors:

• •TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold): AUD $73,150 per year (from July 2024). Your employer must pay you at least this amount.
• •Skills in Demand (SID) visa - Specialist Skills stream: Requires a salary of AUD $135,000 or more per year.
• •482 TSS → 186 ENS transition: Since November 2023, you only need 2 years of work with your sponsoring employer (reduced from 3 years) before you can apply for the 186 permanent visa.

Final Budget Checklist Before You Apply

Before lodging anything, make sure you have budgeted for:

• •[ ] Skills assessment fee (your occupation's assessing body)
• •[ ] IELTS or PTE Academic test (possibly twice)
• •[ ] Medical examination (yourself and each family member)
• •[ ] Police clearances (every country, 12+ months in the last 10 years)
• •[ ] State nomination fee (if applying for 190 or 491)
• •[ ] Visa application fee (189, 190, or 491)
• •[ ] Migration agent fee (if using one)
• •[ ] Document translation and certification costs
• •[ ] Courier and postage for overseas documents

Total costs for a solo applicant targeting the 189 Skilled Independent visa typically fall between AUD $5,900 and $7,500 before agent fees. Couples and families should budget considerably more.

If you want a personalised cost estimate based on your specific occupation, country of origin, and family situation, speak with an Afrovo migration consultant. We work exclusively with African migrants navigating the Australian system and can help you plan your PR journey from day one.