🇦🇺 Australia Proof of Funds & Visa Costs 2026
Australia doesn't set one fixed "settlement funds" figure the way some countries do — the requirement depends entirely on which visa you're applying for. Here's what each route actually needs.
Worked example: student with a partner and one child
| Item | AUD |
|---|---|
| Living costs, student | $29,710 |
| Partner | $10,394 |
| Child | $4,449 |
| Total living funds to show (plus tuition, travel and schooling) | $44,553 |
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 $146,717, up from $141,210) and Core Skills stream (from $79,499, 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.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these official or primary sources on 30 October 2026.