Subclass 189 Costs & Processing Timeline

Planning your budget is crucial. Here's a complete breakdown of all costs involved and expected processing times for the Subclass 189 visa.

?? Visa Application Fees

?? Current as of December 2025
Visa fees are set by the Australian Government and updated annually, usually in July.

Main Applicant

Base Application Charge

AUD $4,640

Additional Applicants

Partner/Spouse (18+ years): AUD $2,320
Dependent child (under 18): AUD $1,160
Dependent child (18+ years): AUD $2,320

Family Example Costs

Example: Couple with 2 children

Main applicant: AUD $4,640
Spouse: AUD $2,320
Child 1 (10 years): AUD $1,160
Child 2 (7 years): AUD $1,160

Total Visa Fee: AUD $9,280

?? Important: Visa application fees are non-refundable, even if your application is refused. Make sure you're eligible before applying!

?? Additional Costs (Before Application)

1. Skills Assessment

Required before you can submit an EOI. Costs vary by occupation and assessing authority:

Engineers Australia: AUD $500 - $1,200
ACS (IT): AUD $500 - $550
CPA/CA (Accountants): AUD $870 - $1,170
VETASSESS (Various): AUD $1,050 - $1,350
AHPRA (Health): AUD $850 - $3,500+

Tip: Skills assessments can take 6-12 weeks or longer. Factor this into your timeline planning!

2. English Language Tests

Must provide valid test results (within 3 years):

IELTS Academic: AUD $410
PTE Academic: AUD $440
TOEFL iBT: USD $245 (~AUD $380)
Cambridge (CAE/CPE): AUD $380 - $450

Note: You may need to take the test multiple times to achieve your target score.

3. Document Translations

All non-English documents must be translated by a NAATI-certified translator:

Standard document (1-2 pages): AUD $50 - $100 per document
Complex documents: AUD $100 - $300+
Educational transcripts: AUD $70 - $150

4. Document Certifications

Notary/JP certification: AUD $0 - $100 (varies by document and location)
Police certificates: AUD $42 - $200+ (varies by country)

?? Additional Costs (During Application)

5. Health Examinations

Mandatory for all applicants. Must be done by panel physicians:

Adult (16+ years): AUD $300 - $500
Child (under 16): AUD $150 - $300
Additional tests (if required): AUD $100 - $500+

Note: Pregnant women may need to defer X-rays until after delivery, which can delay visa processing.

6. Police Clearance Certificates

Required from every country you've lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years:

Australian Federal Police check: AUD $42
International police checks: AUD $0 - $200+ (varies by country)

7. Second Instalment (If Applicable)

?? English Requirement Fee: If your partner (18+) doesn't have at least Functional English, you must pay a second instalment of AUD $4,890 before visa grant.

?? Optional Professional Costs

8. Migration Agent Fees

While not required, many applicants use registered migration agents:

Full service (EOI to visa grant): AUD $3,000 - $8,000+
Application preparation only: AUD $1,500 - $4,000
Consultation (hourly): AUD $200 - $500 per hour
Document review: AUD $500 - $1,500

Total Cost Estimate

Single Applicant Budget

Minimum Estimate:

Visa application: AUD $4,640
Skills assessment: AUD $500 - $1,200
English test: AUD $410
Health exam: AUD $400
Police checks: AUD $100
Miscellaneous: AUD $500

Total: AUD $6,550 - $7,250

With Migration Agent:

Total: AUD $9,550 - $15,250

Family of 4 Budget

Estimate:

Visa application: AUD $9,280
Skills assessment: AUD $1,000
English tests (2 adults): AUD $820
Health exams (2 adults, 2 kids): AUD $1,600
Police checks: AUD $300
Translations/certifications: AUD $1,000

Total: AUD $14,000 - $16,000

With Migration Agent:

Total: AUD $17,000 - $24,000

Processing Timeline

Official Processing Times

As per Department of Home Affairs data (December 2025):

25% of applications: Processed within 7 months

50% of applications: Processed within 9 months

75% of applications: Processed within 12 months

90% of applications: Processed within 16 months

?? Important: These are guidelines only. Actual processing times vary based on application complexity, document quality, occupation checks, and Department workload.

Factors Affecting Processing Time

May Speed Up Processing:

? Complete and accurate application
? All documents submitted upfront
? Quick response to Department requests
? Straightforward employment history
? Common occupation with standard checks

May Slow Down Processing:

? Incomplete applications or missing documents
? Complex employment history requiring verification
? Multiple countries requiring police checks
? Occupations requiring security/additional checks (defence, security, etc.)
? Health conditions requiring further assessment
? Character concerns or past visa issues
? Peak application periods

?? Complete Timeline Estimate

From Start to PR Grant

Skills Assessment: 6-12 weeks
English Test: 2-4 weeks (including preparation)
EOI Submission: 1 day
Waiting for Invitation: 1-12+ months (varies greatly)
Gathering Documents: 2-8 weeks
Health Checks: 1-2 weeks
Police Checks: 2-8 weeks
Application Lodgement: 1 week
Processing by Department: 7-16 months

Total Expected Timeline: 18-36+ months
From starting preparation to visa grant

Cost-Saving Tips

Retake English tests strategically: If close to a higher band, one more test could gain you 10 points
Do your own research: Many applicants successfully apply without a migration agent
Use free resources: Department website, forums, and guides like this one
Plan timing: Have all documents ready before invitation to avoid rushed/expensive services
Group family health exams: Some clinics offer family packages
Check fee exemptions: Some police checks may be free for visa purposes

Ready to Compare?

Now that you understand the costs and timeline, let's see how the Subclass 189 compares to other skilled visa options.

? How It Works Next: Visa Comparison ?