The Australia partner visa cost starts at AUD 9,365 in government fees for the main applicant in 2026, but a realistic all-in budget runs AUD 10,000 to AUD 15,000 or more once health exams, police clearances, translations, payment surcharges, and any migration agent fees are added. That range applies to both the onshore Subclass 820/801 and the offshore Subclass 309/100. Couples coming through the Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) pay far less at the partner-visa stage. Everything below breaks down where the money actually goes.
The Base Government Charge
The visa application charge is AUD 9,365 for the main applicant, and it is the same for the onshore Subclass 820/801 and the offshore Subclass 309/100.1Department of Home Affairs. Subclass 820 Partner Visa (Temporary) One payment covers both stages: the temporary visa granted first and the permanent visa assessed roughly two years later.2Department of Home Affairs. Partner Visas (Apply in Australia) You do not pay again when the permanent stage is assessed.
Every family member added to the application increases the total. Adult dependents cost several thousand dollars more each, and children under 18 add a smaller amount. The Department publishes a visa pricing estimator that gives an exact figure based on the number and ages of dependents.1Department of Home Affairs. Subclass 820 Partner Visa (Temporary) All fees are paid at lodgement so the family is processed together. Charges are adjusted periodically, so confirm the current amount before you lodge.
The Reduced Fee for Subclass 300 Holders
If you entered Australia on a Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) and it is still valid when you apply for the partner visa, the main-applicant charge drops to AUD 1,560.1Department of Home Affairs. Subclass 820 Partner Visa (Temporary) This reflects that the couple has already paid for and been assessed under the earlier process.
If the Subclass 300 has expired and you no longer hold a substantive visa but originally entered on it, the fee is AUD 1,980.1Department of Home Affairs. Subclass 820 Partner Visa (Temporary) Lodging while the Subclass 300 is still active saves a few hundred dollars, so watch the timing.
Health Exams
Every applicant needs a health assessment. In Australia these are done by Bupa Medical Visa Services, the Department’s designated provider.3Department of Home Affairs. Arrange Your Health Examinations The standard medical examination is AUD 268.30, a chest x-ray is AUD 138.60, and pathology testing for conditions such as syphilis adds more.4Bupa Medical Visa Services. Medical Examination Cost for Australian Visa Most partner visa applicants need all three, so budget AUD 400 to 500 per person. Offshore applicants use Department-approved panel physicians locally, and prices vary by country.
Police Clearances
Both the applicant and the sponsoring partner need police clearances from every country where they have lived 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16.5Australian Embassy in the United States. Visa Requirements An Australian Federal Police national police check is AUD 56, or AUD 113 if fingerprints are required.6Australian Federal Police. Apply for a National Police Certificate
Foreign clearances vary widely. Some countries charge nothing; others charge the equivalent of AUD 50 to 150 or more when fingerprinting or in-person appointments are involved. Some take several weeks, so start early. At certain offshore locations, biometrics collection at an Australian visa application centre may also be required.
Translations and Certified Copies
Any document not in English needs a translation from a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).7Australian High Commission. Document Translations Prices depend on language, word count, and urgency, but typically run AUD 30 to 80 per page. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, IDs, and relationship evidence in another language add up quickly.
Supporting statements from friends and family use Form 888 and must be witnessed. A Justice of the Peace usually does this free; a solicitor or notary public charges around AUD 10 to 30 per document. A thorough application often includes four or more Form 888 statements plus certified copies of identity documents.
Payment Surcharges
The visa application charge is paid through ImmiAccount at lodgement. Every accepted payment method carries a surcharge, calculated as a percentage of the total:8Department of Home Affairs. Fees and Charges for Visas – Surcharges for Payments
- Visa or Mastercard, including debit: 1.40%, about AUD 131 on a AUD 9,365 charge
- American Express or JCB: 1.40%
- PayPal: 1.01%, roughly AUD 95
- UnionPay: 1.90%, roughly AUD 178
- BPAY is also accepted through ImmiAccount
Check that your bank’s daily transaction limit can handle a payment of this size in one go. A declined payment at lodgement can mean restarting the submission.
Migration Agent Fees
A registered migration agent is not required, but many couples hire one because the evidence needed to prove a genuine relationship is extensive. Full-service fees covering both stages generally run AUD 3,000 to AUD 6,000, depending on complexity and whether the agent manages everything or only reviews and lodges. Lodgement-only services cost less than end-to-end case management.
If you use an agent, confirm registration with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. Unregistered agents are illegal in Australia and their work carries no consumer protections. Agent fees sit on top of every government charge and are non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Refunds Are Rare
The Department does not refund the visa application charge simply because the application was refused or you changed your mind. Refund rules for the first and second instalments are set out in Regulations 2.12F and 2.12H of the Migration Regulations 1994.9Commonwealth Ombudsman. Righting Refunds – Investigation Into Visa Application Charge Refunds A first-instalment refund is mandatory only where the Department’s mistake caused you to apply, and discretionary where you made the mistake. The second instalment must be refunded if you withdraw in writing before a decision, or if the applicant dies before entering Australia on the visa, among other narrow situations.10Australasian Legal Information Institute. Migration Regulations 1994 – Reg 2.12H Refund of Second Instalment of Visa Application Charge Requests use Form 1424, submitted to the office processing your application.11Department of Home Affairs. Getting a Refund For planning purposes, treat the charge as non-recoverable.
A Realistic Total
For a single applicant with no dependents and no migration agent, budget roughly AUD 10,000 to AUD 11,000: AUD 9,365 for the government fee, AUD 400 to 500 for health exams, AUD 50 to 200 for police clearances, AUD 100 to 200 for payment surcharges, and a few hundred more for translations and certified copies. Add a migration agent and the total moves into AUD 13,000 to AUD 16,000. Including dependents pushes it higher again.
The most common budgeting mistake is planning only for the government fee. The ancillary costs are unavoidable, and an incomplete application risks delays on top of an already long wait. Getting the documentation right the first time costs less than fixing it later.