🇦🇺 Australia Proof of Funds & Visa Costs 2026

Visitor Visa (Subclass 600): Bank Statements, Not a Fixed Number

For the standard tourist visa, there's no published minimum bank balance. You need to submit 3-6 months of bank statements showing a steady flow of funds, plus recent payslips if employed, and tax returns if self-employed. If someone else is sponsoring your trip, they need to provide a signed sponsorship letter plus their own financial records.

Skilled Migration: Realistic Total Budget

For the points-tested skilled visas (189/190/491), minimum costs for a single applicant run from roughly AUD $7,900 just for the application process itself — skills assessment ($500-1,500), English test (~$410), visa application fee (~$6,135, following the 1 July 2026 fee increase from $4,640), and medical/police clearances ($400-900). Add first-3-months living costs of $5,000-$15,000 depending on the city, and a realistic total budget for a single applicant sits around AUD $20,000-$40,000, especially if using a migration agent ($5,000-$15,000 extra).

Partner Visa (820/801 or 309/100): No Fixed Threshold, But Very High Fees

The partner visa doesn't have a simple minimum personal funds threshold like a visitor visa — but the combined application fee itself is one of the highest in Australian migration, at AUD $11,710 for the main applicant (following the 1 July 2026 increase from $9,365), covering both the temporary and permanent stages. Add migration agent fees ($2,000-$5,000+) and health/police clearance costs, and total cost for a couple can exceed $15,000-$20,000.

Regional Visa (491): Lower Fee, Extra Requirement

The Subclass 491 base fee is AUD $6,140 (following the 1 July 2026 increase from $4,910) — the same level as 189/190 rather than meaningfully lower as it once was — but comes with its own financial test at the permanent-residence stage: to progress from 491 to the 191 permanent visa, you must show tax returns with taxable income at or above a prescribed minimum in at least 3 of your 5 years on the 491, tied to Skills in Demand salary thresholds.

Skills in Demand Visa (Employer-Sponsored): Who Pays What

For the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the visa application charge itself is AUD $4,015 — a single fee across all streams, with no split between short-term and medium-term pricing. Many employers cover this and other sponsorship costs as part of the job offer, but they're not legally required to, so clarify who pays what before accepting a sponsored role. The Specialist Skills stream (for roles paying above $146,576, up from $141,210) and Core Skills stream (from $79,423, up from $76,515) have different salary thresholds but the same visa fee structure.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming a single "proof of funds" figure applies across all visa types. Australia's financial requirements are visa-specific, not a single universal threshold.
• Underbudgeting the total skilled migration cost. The visa application fee is just one line item — skills assessment, English testing, health checks, and 3 months of living costs add up to $20,000-$40,000 realistically.
• Forgetting the 491-to-191 income test. Meeting the initial 491 requirements doesn't guarantee the permanent 191 — you need 3 years of qualifying tax returns at the prescribed minimum income.
• Not budgeting migration agent fees separately. These commonly add $2,000-$10,000 on top of government fees, depending on visa complexity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do I need to show for an Australian visitor visa?

There's no fixed minimum — you need 3-6 months of bank statements showing steady funds, plus payslips or tax returns as applicable, or a sponsorship letter if someone else is funding your trip.

What's the realistic total cost of Australian skilled migration?

Around AUD $20,000-$40,000 for a single applicant once you include the visa fee, skills assessment, English test, health/police checks, first 3 months of living costs, and (often) migration agent fees.

How much does an Australian partner visa cost?

AUD $11,710 for the combined 820/801 or 309/100 application (following the 1 July 2026 fee increase), covering both the temporary and permanent stages, paid upfront as one fee.