Cheapest Way to Migrate to Australia: Budget-Friendly Pathways (2026)

Here's a rough ranking of common migration pathways by total government fees:

Lowest Cost (Under $2,000) - [Working Holiday](/visa/working-holiday-visa) Visa (Subclass 417/462): ~$650 — Temporary, but can lead to further opportunities - New Zealand Stream (Subclass 189 NZ): ~$0 for eligible NZ citizens — Free pathway to PR

Medium Cost ($2,000–$10,000) - [Employer Sponsored](/visa/employer-sponsored-visa) 482 (Short-Term): ~$1,455 — Employer may cover this - Employer Sponsored 482 (Medium-Term): ~$3,035 - [Student Visa](/visa/student-visa) (Subclass 500): ~$720 — Plus tuition fees - [Skilled Independent](/visa/skilled-independent-visa) (Subclass 189): ~$4,770 - Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190): ~$4,770 - Skilled Regional (Subclass 491): ~$4,640

High Cost ($10,000+) - [Partner Visa](/visa/partner-visa) (Subclass 820/801): ~$9,095 - Business Innovation (Subclass 188): ~$6,370–$9,455 - Contributory Parent (Subclass 143): ~$48,900 — The most expensive standard visa

### 1. Working Holiday Visa → Employer Sponsorship Total estimated cost: $2,000–$6,000

The Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417 or 462) costs only ~$650 and lets you work in Australia for up to 3 years (with extensions). During this time, if you find an employer willing to sponsor you, they can nominate you for a Subclass 482 visa, and eventually a Subclass 186 permanent visa.

• - Visa fee: ~$650
• - Health & police checks: ~$500
• - The employer typically pays for the sponsorship costs
• - Your only additional costs are English tests if required

### 2. Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) Total estimated cost: $6,000–$10,000 (DIY) or $9,000–$16,000 (with agent)

• - Visa fee: ~$4,770
• - Skills assessment: $500–$3,000 depending on the assessing authority
• - English test (PTE/IELTS): ~$400
• - Health examination: ~$400
• - Police checks: ~$100–$300
• - Migration agent (optional): $3,000–$6,000

The 189 is relatively affordable because there's no employer involvement and no second-stage charges. The main cost beyond the visa fee is the skills assessment.

### 3. Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) Total estimated cost: $6,000–$10,000 (DIY)

Almost identical costs to the 189, but you get 5 bonus points from state nomination. Some states charge a small nomination fee ($200–$500), but others don't charge at all.

### 4. Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 491 → 191) Total estimated cost: $6,000–$10,000 (DIY)

The 491 costs about the same as the 189/190, and you get 15 bonus points from state or family nomination. The trade-off is living in regional Australia for 3 years before transitioning to the permanent 191 visa ($425 fee).

For applicants who wouldn't otherwise reach the competitive invitation score for the 189, the 491 is often the most cost-effective permanent migration pathway.

### 5. Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482 → 186) Total estimated cost: $3,000–$8,000 (employee's share)

Many employers cover all or most of the sponsorship and visa costs. Your out-of-pocket expenses may be limited to: - Health examination: ~$400 - Police checks: ~$100–$300 - English test: ~$400 - Migration agent fee (if you use your own): $3,000–$7,000

This is potentially the cheapest pathway to PR if your employer covers the visa fees.

Beyond the visa application charge, budget for these often-overlooked costs:

• - Skills assessment fees: $500–$3,500 depending on your occupation and assessing authority. Some (like Engineers Australia at ~$1,200 or ACS for IT at ~$550) can be significant.
• - English language tests: ~$400 per attempt. Many applicants need 2–3 attempts to reach their target score.
• - Health examinations: $300–$500 per person. Required for most visa types.
• - Police clearances: $50–$200 per country you've lived in. You need clearances from every country you've spent 12+ months in over the past 10 years.
• - Document translation: $50–$150 per document for NAATI-certified translations
• - Professional Year programs: ~$12,000–$15,000 (for accounting, IT, engineering graduates wanting 5 extra points)
• - NAATI CCL test: ~$800 (for 5 community language points)
• - Migration agent fees: $2,000–$10,000+ depending on visa type and complexity

1. DIY simple visas — Working holiday and visitor visas are straightforward enough for most people to do themselves
2. Use free consultations — Many migration agents offer a free initial consultation. Use our directory to send enquiries to multiple agents
3. Get your English score up — Higher English scores mean more points, potentially avoiding expensive alternatives like Professional Year programs
4. Apply to regional areas — Regional visas often have lower competition and some states waive nomination fees
5. Ask your employer to pay — For employer sponsored visas, negotiate for the employer to cover visa and agent fees as part of your employment package
6. Don't pay for unnecessary services — Some agents upsell services you don't need. Get clear quotes and compare
7. Avoid refusals — A refused visa means lost application fees (often thousands) and potentially paying for a new application. Getting it right the first time saves money
8. Check for fee waivers — Some visa types have fee exemptions for certain applicants (e.g., family violence provisions for partner visas)

While saving money is important, there are areas where cutting costs can backfire:

• - Don't use an unregistered agent — It's illegal for them to charge you, and they may give wrong advice. Cheap now, expensive later.
• - Don't skip health exams or police checks — These are mandatory. Incomplete applications get refused.
• - Don't submit incomplete evidence — Particularly for partner and skilled visas. Weak applications lead to refusals, which cost far more than doing it properly.
• - Don't ignore English preparation — Investing $500–$1,000 in English preparation can save you $12,000+ on a Professional Year program.

The cheapest migration pathway is the one you get right the first time.