Visa fees · Subclass 494 · 2026-27 charges
494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional cost — 2026-27 application charges
Short answer: the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional application charge is A$6,140 for the main applicant, plus A$3,070 per additional adult and A$1,535 per child — the Department of Home Affairs' own pricing, read by us on 21 August 2026. Not refunded on refusal, and indexed each 1 July.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed 21 August 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Main applicant
- A$6,140
- Each adult dependant
- A$3,070
- Each child under 18
- A$1,535
- Charges from
- 1 July 2026
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →Current 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional application charges
| Applicant | Main applicant | Adult (18+) | Under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | A$6,140 | A$3,070 | A$1,535 |
Source: the Department of Home Affairs visa pricing data (Department of Home Affairs visa pricing service (the same GetVisaPrices API the immi.homeaffairs.gov.au visa pages render their Cost sections from)), read by WIDEN on 21 August 2026. Family totals for your exact situation: the fee calculator.
What the application charge does not include
- Health examinations — paid to the panel clinic; varies by country and tests required.
- Police certificates — one per country lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years.
- English tests, skills assessments and registrations — where the visa requires them.
- Second instalments and levies — some visas (contributory parent among them) carry a substantial second instalment before grant; employer-sponsored visas carry sponsor-side charges and the SAF levy, paid by the business.
- Professional fees — quoted in writing before engagement if you use a registered migration agent.
Refused = forfeited
The application charge is not refunded on refusal. For the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional that means a refused application costs A$6,140 plus every family member’s charge — gone, along with months of waiting. The cheapest protection in the whole process is knowing the pathway is right before lodging: a consultation is $330 inc. GST, credited in full toward your fee if you engage WIDEN, and a full written assessment maps every pathway on your documents before a dollar goes to the Department.
General information only, not migration advice. Charges are the Department's and change with indexation and Budget decisions — confirm in ImmiAccount at lodgement. Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536 · WIDEN — Migration Experts.
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How much does the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional cost in 2026?
The Department of Home Affairs visa application charge is A$6,140 for the main applicant, plus A$3,070 for each additional applicant 18 or over and A$1,535 for each applicant under 18. These are the government charges only — verified against the Department's own pricing data on 21 August 2026. Charges are indexed at least every 1 July.
Is the 494 visa fee refunded if the application is refused?
No. The visa application charge is not refunded on refusal — a refused 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional application forfeits the full A$6,140 plus any family-member charges. That is why establishing the right pathway before lodgement matters more than any fee: a consultation costs $330 inc. GST; a refusal costs the entire charge plus time.
What other costs come on top of the 494 application charge?
Depending on the visa: health examinations, police certificates, English tests, skills assessments (for skilled visas), and professional fees if you engage a registered migration agent. Some visas also carry a second instalment or levies payable before grant. The application charge on this page is the government's own fee for lodging.
When do Australian visa fees change?
Charges are indexed at least each 1 July, and the government can also raise specific charges in the Budget. The figures here come from the Department's live pricing data (read 21 August 2026) and this page is refreshed when the source data changes — always confirm against ImmiAccount at lodgement.
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