Migrating to Australia as a family through the Permanent Residency (PR) route involves multiple costs at various stages. In this blog, we break down the cost of Australia PR visa for family, including visa application charges, skill assessment fees, English test costs (IELTS, PTE), as well as additional costs and tips to plan your finances.
1. Overview: Why costs matter in PR for families
Moving as a family under PR means more people to include (spouse, children, possibly parents), which means additional expenses. These costs are not just visa application fees, but also ancillary and mandatory checks — so budgeting well in advance is crucial.
2. Visa application fees for skilled PR (for main applicant + family)
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs sets the visa application charges (VAC), which you must pay in instalments (often first at lodgement, then a second instalment later for some applicants).
Here’s a summary of typical costs (as of mid-2025), especially for skilled visas (Subclass 189, 190, 491) which many families use:
| Applicant type | Approximate visa application charge (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Main applicant (adult) | ~ AUD 4,765 |
| Dependent (18+ years) | ~ AUD 2,385 |
| Dependent child (under 18) | ~ AUD 1,190 |
Notes & caveats:
Some visa subclasses require a second instalment before the visa is granted, especially for dependents who don’t meet certain English language requirements.
The visa charge is non-refundable.
The “Visa Pricing Estimator” tool from Australian DHS helps estimate charges under your specific scenario.
For a family, the combined visa application fees can become substantial. For example, a couple applying together might expect ~ AUD 7,150 (sum of main + partner) excluding children and ancillary costs.
3. Skill assessment fees in Australia
For skilled migration, before lodging the visa, your qualifications and work experience have to be assessed by a relevant assessing authority (e.g. Engineers Australia, ACS, VETASSESS, etc.). That cost varies by occupation, assessing body, and complexity.
Typical ranges and examples
Engineers Australia: ~ AUD 1,175 for a standard migration skills assessment (2025).
ACS (Australian Computer Society) for ICT/IT roles: ~ AUD 1,450 (General Skills pathway)
VETASSESS — trade occupations: Multistage process. Stage 1 (documentary) AUD 1,120; technical interview AUD 2,000; practical assessment AUD 2,200.
For professional occupations (VETASSESS): smaller fixed fee like AUD 167 in some cases (for re-opening)
Migration Skills Assessment (Managers & Leaders): ~ AUD 788 (outside Australia).
Because different professions have different requirements, your cost might vary significantly. It’s safe to budget AUD 500 to AUD 3,000+ depending on your occupation and assessing authority.
These fees are usually paid before the visa application, directly to the assessing body.
4. English language test costs & score requirements
English proficiency is a mandatory requirement. Depending on which test you choose (IELTS or PTE), costs differ by country. Also, the PTE score for Australia PR and IELTS score for Australia PR determine your points outcome.
Test costs (India example)
IELTS (India, 2025): ~ INR 18,000 for both Academic and General Training versions.
PTE Academic (India): ~ INR 15,900 (or ~ AUD 280–290)
These tests are taken prior to EOI or visa lodgement, and scores must be valid (typically less than 3 years old).
Score requirements & impact on points
To gain points under Australia’s skilled migration:
IELTS: Usually you need at least a “Proficient English” level, which means IELTS 7.0 in all four bands (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). That earns you 10 points. For “Superior English” (IELTS 8.0+ in all bands), you get 20 points.
PTE Academic: The equivalent bands are typically PTE 65 (for proficient) or PTE 79+ (for superior), depending on policy.
Note: The exact mapping may depend on the point rules at the time you apply, so always check the current Home Affairs documentation.
5. Additional costs: health, police checks, translations, biometrics
When migrating as a family, you must also account for these additional, often overlooked, costs:
Medical examinations: Each applicant must undergo health checks via panel physicians. The cost depends on your country. In India, it might be AUD 300–500 or so.
Police clearance / background checks: For every country where you lived for a period (often 12+ months). Cost small but cumulative.
Biometrics: Some visa applications require fingerprinting/face photo. The cost varies by where you provide them.
Document translation and certification: If documents are not in English, translation and certification may be needed. This cost depends on volume and translators.
Miscellaneous administrative expenses: Postage, courier, scans, legal attestation, etc.
These combined extra costs (for a family) may add a few hundred to a couple of thousand AUD (or equivalent) to your budget.
6. Putting it all together: total cost estimate for a family
Now let’s aggregate costs for a hypothetical family scenario:
Scenario: You + spouse + one child (under 18), applying through skilled migration (e.g. Subclass 190)
| Cost Component | Estimate (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Visa application charges (main + spouse + child) | ~ 4,770 + 2,385 + 1,190 = AUD 8,345 (first instalment) |
| Skill assessments (2 adults) | ~ AUD 1,000 – 2,500+ (depends on profession) |
| English test (2 adults) | ~ AUD 280 × 2 = AUD 560 (if choosing PTE) |
| Medical & health checks (3 persons) | ~ AUD 300–500 each, so ~ AUD 900–1,500 |
| Police checks, biometrics, translations etc. | ~ AUD 200–500 (or more depending on countries) |
| Second instalment (if applicable) | Dependent on English level & requirements (may or may not apply) |
Thus, in total, for a family of three, you might expect a ballpark of AUD 11,000 to AUD 15,000+ or more, depending on occupation and other variables.
Converted to INR (for Indian applicants), due to exchange rate fluctuations, this could be approximately ₹7–12 lakhs (or more). Some immigration consultants estimate for a family of three the cost to be between ₹8,00,000 and ₹12,00,000 in total (visa + ancillary costs) for Indian applicants.
These are estimates — actual cost can vary based on:
Your occupation and required assessment body
Whether you and your spouse need English tests
Number of dependents
Location, translation needs, health conditions
Changes in currency and visa fees between application and grant
7. Application & processing fee payment structure & timing
Understanding when to pay matters:
Lodgement (first instalment): At the time of submitting the visa application, you pay the first instalment of the VAC.
Second instalment: For some dependents who lack English ability (i.e., do not meet functional English), a second instalment may apply before visa grant.
Skill assessments: Paid at time of applying to assessing body, before visa step.
English tests: Paid when booking your test.
Medical, police, biometrics: Usually paid at each appointment.
Translation, certification: As needed before document submission.
Processing time varies by subclass and complexity, so delays might incur extra costs (e.g. renewing police checks, translation revisions, etc.).
8. Tips & sanity checks before applying
Use the Visa Pricing Estimator provided by Home Affairs to get an up-to-date estimate for your scenario.
Check your occupation’s assessing authority and their published fee schedule in advance.
Factor in buffer/wiggle room of 10–20% extra, since unforeseen costs often arise.
Use accurate currency conversions for your country — costs paid locally may vary due to banking/transaction fees.
Retake timing: If your English test score is low, retaking may be necessary — plan for that additional cost.
Paying second instalment: Ensure your dependents meet English requirements to possibly avoid second instalment fees.
Stay updated: Visa and assessment fees tend to increase periodically, and immigration policy may change.
9. Summary & key takeaways
The cost of Australia PR visa for family is substantial and comprises multiple components beyond just the visa application fee.
Visa application charges for skilled PR (Subclass 189/190/491) for primary + dependents together may run into several thousand AUD.
Skill assessment fees in Australia depend heavily on your occupation and assessing body — range from a few hundred to a few thousand AUD.
PTE score for Australia PR and IELTS score for Australia PR matter — achieving “Proficient” or “Superior” English can gain you immigration points.
English tests cost (e.g. ~ INR 18,000 for IELTS, ~ INR 15,900 for PTE in India) also add to expense.
Additional costs (medical, police checks, translations, biometrics) are unavoidable and must be included in your budget.
If you like, I can prepare a custom cost estimator for your specific family (you, spouse, children) in INR/AUD so you know exactly how much you should budget. Would you like me to do that?
