Budgeting for Australian skilled migration involves far more than the government’s headline visa fee, and that’s especially true if you’re an Indian citizen planning your application while living in Japan. The Australian skilled visa cost for Indians in Japan is made up of several separate layers, the government’s visa application charge, your skills assessment, English testing, health checks, police certificates, and, depending on your pathway, state or territory nomination costs. It’s worth being clear from the outset that living in Japan doesn’t put you into a different Australian fee category; the charges are set by your visa subclass and circumstances, not by your country of residence.
This guide walks through what each stage actually costs in 2026, how the three main points-tested pathways subclasses 189, 190 and 491 compare, and what to budget for beyond the visa application itself. If you’re still deciding which pathway fits your situation, our broader guide on how Indians can move to Australia from Japan is a useful starting point before diving into the cost specifics below.
The Government Skilled Visa Cost Application Charge in 2026
From 1 July 2026, the Australian Government increased visa application charges across most categories, including the three main skilled visas. The subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) charge for the primary applicant is now AUD 6,135, while both subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) and subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) sit at AUD 6,140 all up from AUD 4,910 previously, an increase of roughly 25%.
These figures represent the base charge for the main applicant only; additional applicant charges apply for a partner or dependent children, and the amount payable is determined by the date your application is received, not the date you started preparing it. Because visa pricing can be revised again, it’s worth checking the current figure on the official Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before you lodge, rather than relying on a number from an earlier blog post or forum thread.
The Visa Fee Is Not the Total Cost
This is one of the most important distinctions to understand early. The government charge covers the visa application itself, but a realistic budget also needs to include a skills assessment, an English test, medical examinations, police certificates, translation where relevant, and for subclass 190 and 491 potential state or territory nomination costs. Many applicants underestimate their total spend by focusing only on the headline visa fee, which is one reason it’s worth reading our detailed Australian visa documents checklist for Indians in Japan alongside this cost breakdown, since the documents you’ll need directly drive several of these additional expenses.
Subclass 189, 190 and 491: How the Costs Compare
Subclass 189 doesn’t require state nomination, so its total cost is generally limited to the government charge plus skills assessment, English test, and health and character expenses. Subclass 190 adds a state or territory nomination step on top of the same base costs nomination requirements and any associated fees vary by state, so it isn’t safe to assume every jurisdiction charges the same amount or nothing at all. Subclass 491 follows a similar structure to 190, with nomination or family sponsorship sitting alongside the federal visa charge, and it’s worth remembering that 491 is a provisional regional visa at grant rather than an immediate permanent visa. For a deeper look at how these three pathways differ beyond cost.
Skills Assessment, English Testing and Other Pre-Application Costs
Before you can even submit an Expression of Interest, most applicants need a positive skills assessment from the authority relevant to their occupation, and fees vary meaningfully depending on which authority assesses your role. English testing is another variable cost. IELTS, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT fees differ by test centre and location, and if you don’t reach your required score on the first attempt, retake fees can add up quickly. Submitting an EOI itself doesn’t cost anything and isn’t the same as paying the visa application charge; it’s simply the stage where you register your interest and wait for an invitation, which is required before you can proceed to the visa application for 189, 190 or 491.
Health, Character and Documentation Costs
Medical examinations, including a chest X-ray where required, are carried out through an approved panel physician, and costs vary by clinic and location. Character documentation is where things can get more complex for an Indian citizen living in Japan: depending on your residence history, you may need both a Japanese police certificate and an Indian police clearance certificate, rather than just one or the other, and any documents issued in Japanese will typically need to be professionally translated.
It’s worth avoiding the assumption that every applicant needs an identical set of character documents. Your specific residence and travel history determines what’s required, which is exactly why our Australian visa documents checklist for Indians in Japan is worth reviewing early rather than after you’ve already started collecting paperwork.
Family Members Add Real Cost
If you’re applying with a spouse or partner, an additional applicant charge generally applies on top of the main applicant’s visa fee, and your partner will also need to meet health and character requirements. Dependent children add their own additional applicant charges plus medical and documentation costs. In some circumstances, a second visa application instalment can apply for applicants aged 18 or over who don’t have functional English, so it’s worth checking whether this affects your family’s specific application before you finalise your budget a single applicant’s total cost and a family of three or four can look very different once every additional charge is added up.
Converting AUD Into JPY and INR
Australian government visa charges are set and paid in AUD, so as an Indian citizen budgeting from Japan, you’ll want to convert using the current exchange rate rather than a fixed figure you saw months ago. As a rough illustration only, at rates seen through parts of 2026, AUD 1 has traded anywhere from roughly ¥105 to ¥115, and separately against the rupee anywhere from around ₹63 to ₹69 both ranges move regularly, and your bank or card provider’s actual conversion rate, plus any foreign transaction fee or credit card surcharge, will differ from the headline market rate.
Because of this, it’s sensible to check the live rate close to your payment date rather than budgeting off an estimate from earlier in your planning process.
What About Points-Tested vs Employer-Sponsored Costs?
It’s worth briefly noting that 189, 190 and 491 are points-tested visas with a different cost structure to employer-sponsored pathways like subclass 482 or 186, where sponsorship and nomination costs are typically borne partly or wholly by the employer rather than the applicant. If you’re weighing a points-tested pathway against an employer-sponsored one, the total cost comparison depends heavily on who’s paying which fees, so it’s worth clarifying this with any prospective employer before assuming one route is cheaper than the other overall.
Building a Realistic Budget
A sensible approach is to add up each stage individually rather than searching for a single “total cost” figure: the government visa charge for your chosen subclass, your skills assessment fee, English test costs (including a buffer for a possible retake), medical and police certificate costs for yourself and any family members, translation costs where applicable, any state nomination fee for 190 or 491, and a contingency for unexpected requests for further information. Professional migration assistance, if you choose to use it, sits outside all of the above as an optional cost rather than a government charge, and should be budgeted separately.
FAQs
How much does an Australian Skilled Visa cost for Indians in Japan in 2026?
The cost depends on the visa subclass and the applicant’s circumstances. From 1 July 2026, the government visa application charge is AUD 6,135 for subclass 189 and AUD 6,140 for subclasses 190 and 491, excluding additional costs such as skills assessment, English testing, medical examinations and police certificates.
Does living in Japan change the Australian Skilled Visa fee for Indian applicants?
No. Australian skilled visa fees are generally determined by the visa subclass and application circumstances, not by the applicant’s country of residence. Indian citizens living in Japan pay the applicable Australian government charge for their chosen visa pathway.
What additional costs should Indians in Japan budget for an Australian Skilled Visa?
Beyond the visa application charge, applicants may need to budget for skills assessment, English language testing, medical examinations, police certificates, document translations and other documentation costs. Applicants for subclasses 190 and 491 may also need to consider state or territory nomination fees.
Is subclass 189 cheaper than subclass 190 or 491 in Australia?
The government application charge for subclass 189 is slightly lower in the figures covered in the article: AUD 6,135, compared with AUD 6,140 for subclasses 190 and 491 from 1 July 2026. However, the overall cost can differ because subclass 190 and 491 may involve state or territory nomination-related costs.
Do I need a Japanese Police Certificate if I am an Indian citizen living in Japan?
Depending on your residence and travel history, you may need character documents from Japan and India. Japanese documents may also require professional English translation, so applicants should check their individual documentation requirements before preparing their visa application.
Final Thoughts and Your Next Step
Working out your total Australian skilled visa cost and which pathway makes the most financial and practical sense for your situation is easier with a clear picture of your occupation, family size, and current residence circumstances in Japan. Kangaroo Migration Consultants can help you assess your eligibility across subclasses 189, 190 and 491, plan your skills assessment and documentation, and build a realistic cost timeline before you commit to an application. Reach out to Kangaroo Migration Consultants today to get your skilled visa costs and pathway properly planned.