Total Cost of Australia 189 PR from India in 2026: Realistic Budget Breakdown
Subclass 189 visa fee, skills assessment, IELTS / PTE, settlement, first 3 months — full cost picture for a single applicant, couple, and family of 4 from India. PTA-licensed honest budget.
Australia 189 PR from India costs INR 20-45 lakh total exposure depending on family size.
Subclass 189 visa fee ~AUD 4,640 (main applicant, CPI-indexed each 1 July) plus skills assessment, English testing, medical, and settlement. All figures verified against Department of Home Affairs published rates.
Australia's Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa is one of the most-applied skilled-migration pathways from India, alongside Canada Express Entry, but the cost picture differs in important ways. Australia's visa fees are structurally higher than Canada's, while ongoing living costs are usually lower in non-Sydney/Melbourne cities. Here's the realistic line-by-line breakdown for an Indian applicant in 2026.
The headline numbers
AUD 4,640
Subclass 189 main applicant
Base visa fee · indexed 1 July
AUD 2,320
Secondary applicant (18+)
50% of base
AUD 1,160
Secondary applicant (under 18)
25% of base
65 / 90+
Points test
Minimum / typical invitation
Realistic total exposure from EOI to landing:
Single applicant: AUD 7,500 - 11,000 / INR 4-6 lakh total cost outlay
Couple: AUD 10,500 - 14,500 / INR 6-8 lakh
Family of 4: AUD 13,500 - 18,500 / INR 7-10 lakh
Plus recommended pre-settlement liquidity (not a fee but a real liquidity requirement): Single AUD 20,000-25,000 / Family of 4 AUD 35,000-45,000.
Phase 1: Pre-EOI costs
Costs incurred before submitting Expression of Interest
Family of 4: AUD ~10,420 / INR ~5.62 lakh (spouse has functional English)
Phase 3: Settlement liquidity
Australia doesn't have a hard "proof of funds" requirement like Canada's LICO-based table. But the realistic liquidity needed for first 3-6 months in Australia is significant.
Recommended liquid funds at landing:
Single applicant: AUD 20,000-25,000 (INR ~12-15 lakh)
Couple: AUD 28,000-35,000 (INR ~17-21 lakh)
Family of 4: AUD 35,000-45,000 (INR ~22-27 lakh)
Phase 4: Pre-landing costs
One-time costs around departure to Australia
Economy one-way flight India to Australia (single)INR 55,000-1 lakh · depending on city and season
Bond + 4 weeks rent in advance (one-time)Usually 4 weeks bond + 4 weeks rent upfront
AUD 4,000-7,000
Groceries3 months: AUD 2,400-3,600
AUD 800-1,200 / mo
Transport (public transport, Opal/Myki)Per adult
AUD 200-400 / mo
Phone + internetTelstra/Optus
AUD 100-200 / mo
Private health insurance (until Medicare)Bupa, Medibank, NIB
AUD 150-300 / mo
Children: school supplies, uniformsPublic school books + uniforms
AUD 200-500 / mo
Banking, IDs, household setupOne-time
AUD 1,500-3,000
First 3 months, family of 4 in Sydney/Melbourne: AUD 20,000-30,000 / INR 11-17 lakh.
First 3 months, family of 4 in Brisbane/Perth/Adelaide: AUD 15,000-23,000 / INR 8-13 lakh.
Realistic total exposure by family configuration
Scenario A
Single applicant: IT professional
Pre-EOI (English + ACS + apostille): INR 1.7 lakh
Visa stage (incl. medical): INR 2.7 lakh
Pre-landing (flight, accommodation): INR 1.5 lakh
First 3 months in Sydney/Melbourne: AUD 9-12k / INR 5-7 lakh
Many applicants need 2-3 attempts to score Superior English. Realistic budget: INR 50,000-80,000 for the English testing alone.
Skills assessment re-applications
If your initial outcome is negative, you may need to re-apply. Each iteration costs another AUD 200-1,000 plus weeks of delay.
The Second Instalment Charge for spouse English
AUD 4,890 per secondary applicant who can't demonstrate functional English. The most common avoidable cost.
The 4-weeks rent + bond ambush
AUD 6,000-10,000 upfront in Sydney/Melbourne before moving in.
Currency conversion costs
Moving INR to AUD typically costs 1-3% above the spot rate. On INR 25 lakh, that's INR 25,000-75,000.
Childcare / school costs
Australian public school is free for PR holders, but uniforms, books, lunch programmes add AUD 100-300/month per child. Childcare for under-5s ranges AUD 100-180/day (CCS subsidies available for PR holders).
Australia 189 vs Canada Express Entry: quick cost comparison
Australia 189
Family of 4 from India
Total cost outlay: INR 21-34 lakh
Recommended liquidity: INR 22-34 lakh additional
Visa fee: AUD 4,640 main + 50%/25% structure
No mandatory settlement funds proof
Processing time: 12-18 months for 189
Strongest for: MLTSSL occupations, Superior English
We never predict an outcome or promise a visa. We tell you what your file says and what can be fixed.
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