Top 5 Things to Know About the 189 Visa Fee [2025–2026 Guide]

Meta Description: Confused by the 189 visa fee? Our 2025 guide breaks down the costs, payment rules, and hidden charges. Learn how to budget for your Skilled Independent visa application.

Slug: 189-visa-fee-cost-payment

TL;DR: The current 189 visa fee is AUD $4,710 for the primary applicant. The single-sentence answer is that the total cost depends on your family composition, as you must pay additional charges for each accompanying dependent and for certain health and police checks. Always check the latest fees on the official Department of Home Affairs website before you apply.

What is the Current 189 Visa Fee?

The current 189 visa fee is AUD $4,710 for the primary applicant. This is the base application charge you must pay to the Department of Home Affairs when you submit your visa application after receiving an invitation. It’s crucial to understand that this is just the starting point; the total cost of your visa journey will be higher when you factor in charges for dependents, mandatory checks, and potential agent fees. According to the Department of Home Affairs’ official Skilled Visa page, this fee is subject to change, typically on 1 July each financial year, so always verify the amount at the time of your application.

Key facts about the 189 visa fee:

• The primary application charge is non-refundable if your application is refused or withdrawn.
• Payment is usually made online through the ImmiAccount portal via credit card or PayPal.
• The fee covers the cost of processing your application, not the guarantee of a visa grant.

How Much Do I Pay for My Family on the 189 Visa?

You must pay an additional fee for every family member included in your 189 visa application. For a partner or dependent child over 18, the additional charge is AUD $2,355. For each dependent child under 18, the fee is AUD $1,180. Therefore, a family of two adults and one child under 18 would face a total visa fee of $4,710 + $2,355 + $1,180 = AUD $8,245. These fees are mandatory and must be paid at the time of application submission for all members included.

It’s a critical budgeting step to calculate this total before you receive an invitation. Tools like the NovenAI Visa Success Predictor can help you model different family scenarios and understand the full financial commitment, ensuring you are fully prepared when the invitation arrives.

Key facts about family member fees:

• All dependents must meet health, character, and dependency requirements.
• You cannot add dependents to the application after submission without incurring new visa application charges.
• Failing to declare all family members can lead to visa refusal or cancellation.

Are There Other Mandatory Costs Besides the Visa Fee?

Yes, the 189 visa fee is only one part of the total cost. Mandatory additional expenses include health examinations and police clearance certificates. Health examinations for you and your family, conducted by a Bupa Medical Visa Services panel doctor, typically cost between AUD $300–$400 per person. Police checks from every country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years also vary in cost (e.g., an Australian Federal Police check is around AUD $42). Furthermore, you must provide evidence of competent English, which means paying for an approved test like IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL, with fees ranging from AUD $300–$400.

According to the Department of Home Affairs’ official health requirements page, you cannot bypass these checks. Budgeting for these ancillary costs is as important as budgeting for the visa fee itself. For a precise breakdown of English test requirements and costs, our English Level Guide provides up-to-date comparisons.

Key additional costs:

• Health Examinations: ~AUD $300–$400 per person.
• Police Checks: Vary by country (AFP check ~AUD $42).
• English Tests: AUD $300–$400 (e.g., PTE, IELTS).
• Skills Assessment: A separate, upfront fee paid to your assessing authority (e.g., Engineers Australia, ACS), often between AUD $500–$1,200.

When and How Do I Pay the 189 Visa Fee?

You pay the 189 visa fee at the final stage of submitting your application through your ImmiAccount, after you have received an invitation from SkillSelect. The system will not let you proceed to submission without payment. Accepted methods include most major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) and PayPal. It is vital that you have the full amount available, as partial payments are not accepted. The Department will issue a receipt through your ImmiAccount, which you should keep for your records.

A common pitfall is not having funds ready when the invitation arrives, causing unnecessary stress. Planning your finances well in advance is key. For a holistic view of your eligibility and chances before paying any fees, using a NovenAI Visa Success Predictor can provide a data-driven assessment based on current trends.

Key payment rules:

• Payment is due upon online application submission.
• Keep the transaction receipt from ImmiAccount as proof of payment.
• Do not send cash or cheques; only electronic payments via ImmiAccount are accepted.

Can the 189 Visa Fee Be Waived or Refunded?

The 189 visa fee is almost never waived or refunded. Refunds are only considered in very limited circumstances, such as if the Department makes an error leading to a duplicate payment, or if you withdraw your application before it has commenced processing. If your application is refused, you will not get your money back. There are no fee waivers based on financial hardship for this visa subclass.

This underscores the importance of submitting a complete and accurate application. A single mistake or missing document can lead to refusal and the loss of thousands of dollars. This is where professional guidance, whether from a registered migration agent or an AI-powered mentor like NovenAI, can be invaluable. NovenAI’s system, built on an 18 GB+ knowledge base of Home Affairs data, can help you avoid common errors by providing real-time, accurate checklists and policy alerts.

Key points on waivers and refunds:

• Refunds for refusal or personal change of circumstances are not granted.
• The fee is for processing the application, not for granting the visa.
• Double-check all eligibility criteria using official sources or trusted tools before paying.

Navigating the financial aspects of the 189 visa is a crucial step in your migration journey. While the headline fee is significant, successful planning accounts for the total cost—from dependent charges to health checks. By using official resources and leveraging intelligent tools to prepare accurately, you can approach the payment with confidence, knowing you’ve budgeted for every requirement.

Ready to take the next step with clarity and confidence? Explore your full eligibility and get a personalised roadmap for your Australian skilled migration journey at NovenAI.