How to budget for a skilled visa application

Visa charges and provider fees change. A useful budget therefore starts with live quotes and includes every stage, instead of treating a dollar figure copied from an older article as current.

1. Government visa charges

Use the Home Affairs pricing estimator for the exact subclass, lodgement date, applicant location and family composition. Check whether later charges could apply. Government charges may be non-refundable in circumstances described by Home Affairs, including after a refusal.

2. Pre-application costs

• skills assessment and any review or priority service;
• English-language tests and possible retakes;
• translations, certified copies and document retrieval;
• state or territory nomination fees where applicable; and
• professional advice if you choose to use it.

Obtain current prices from the relevant assessing authority, test provider and jurisdiction.

3. Application and post-lodgement costs

• health examinations for each person required to complete them;
• Australian and overseas police certificates;
• travel to appointments or document-issuing authorities; and
• further evidence, translations or professional work requested during processing.

Build a safer budget

1. Record the source and date beside every amount.
2. Separate unavoidable government charges from optional services.
3. Include each accompanying family member.
4. Add a contingency for retesting, replacement documents and price changes.
5. Recheck all amounts immediately before paying.

Be cautious of a representative who combines government charges and professional fees into one unexplained amount. Ask for an itemised written agreement and confirm any migration agent on the official register.