Migration agent fees by city and visa 2026 skilled, partner, 482, AAT

The Legal Desk · Editorial team, family law + personal injury + migration · Updated 6 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

In 2026, MARA-registered migration agents typically charge $3,500-$7,000 for skilled visas, $3,500-$6,500 for partner visas, $4,000-$9,000 for employer-sponsored 482/186, $1,500-$3,500 for student visas, and $5,000-$15,000 for AAT/Tribunal appeals. These are professional fees only and sit on top of the government visa application charge ($4,640 for subclass 189).

★Key takeaways

  • ✓Agent fees by visa in 2026: skilled $3,500-$7,000, partner $3,500-$6,500, employer-sponsored $4,000-$9,000, student $1,500-$3,500, AAT appeals $5,000-$15,000.
  • ✓These professional fees are separate from the government visa application charge (for example $4,640 for subclass 189).
  • ✓There is no city price list. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Gold Coast agents each set their own fees.
  • ✓The MARA Code of Conduct requires a written, itemised fee agreement before you pay anything.
  • ✓No legitimate agent can guarantee a visa outcome, no matter the fee.

Migration agent fees by visa type (2026)

There is no government-set price for migration assistance. The bands below reflect the typical professional fee ranges MARA-registered agents quote in Australia in 2026 for each visa stream. They are the agent's fee only, not the government charges covered further down.

Visa stream Subclasses Typical agent fee (AUD)
Skilled migration189, 190, 491$3,500 - $7,000
Partner820/801 onshore, 309/100 offshore$3,500 - $6,500
Employer-sponsored482 TSS, 186 ENS, 494 regional$4,000 - $9,000
Student500$1,500 - $3,500
Citizenship (by conferral)conferral application$1,500 - $3,000
AAT / Tribunal appealmerits review of a refusal$5,000 - $15,000

Want a more detailed cost breakdown of inclusions and what you actually get for the fee? See our cost of a migration agent in Australia 2026 guide.

Does the city change the fee?

Not in any regulated way. There is no Sydney rate or Perth rate set by MARA or the Department of Home Affairs, and agents in every city set their own fees. Within a single city, the same partner visa can vary by several thousand dollars between firms. What drives the fee is the complexity of your case, the visa subclass and the agent's experience, not the postcode.

For that reason, the table below shows the same national fee bands as a planning guide for each major city, and links you to the local MARA-registered agents you can compare directly. Always get the actual figure in a written fee agreement from the agent you choose.

City Skilled fee band Partner fee band Compare local agents
Sydney$3,500 - $7,000$3,500 - $6,500best migration agents in Sydney
Melbourne$3,500 - $7,000$3,500 - $6,500best migration agents in Melbourne
Brisbane$3,500 - $7,000$3,500 - $6,500best migration agents in Brisbane
Perth$3,500 - $7,000$3,500 - $6,500best migration agents in Perth
Gold Coast$3,500 - $7,000$3,500 - $6,500best migration agents on the Gold Coast

Government charges that sit on top of the agent fee

The biggest mistake applicants make is treating the agent fee as the total cost. The government visa application charge (VAC) and third-party costs are separate and often larger than the agent fee:

  • Visa application charge (VAC). Paid to the Department of Home Affairs. For example, the primary applicant VAC for subclass 189 Skilled Independent is $4,640 in 2026, with extra charges for partners and dependants. Confirm current figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
  • Skills assessment. $300-$1,000+ depending on the assessing authority for your occupation.
  • English testing. IELTS or PTE Academic, roughly $375-$450 per sitting.
  • Health and character. Health examinations and police clearances from each country you have lived in.
  • Tribunal fee. If you appeal a refusal, the Administrative Review Tribunal charges its own application fee on top of your agent or lawyer fee.

Agent vs immigration lawyer: the hourly-rate difference

For routine visas and Tribunal review, a MARA-registered migration agent and an immigration lawyer can both act, but the hourly economics differ:

  • Migration agent: roughly $200-$400 an hour, usually quoted as a fixed per-visa fee.
  • Immigration lawyer: roughly $350-$650 an hour, and the only option for judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court or a section 501 character case.

Read our full breakdown of migration agent vs immigration lawyer in 2026 before you choose.

How to get an honest, comparable quote

  1. Define the exact scope. Name your visa subclass and family size so each agent quotes the same job.
  2. Insist on a written fee agreement. The MARA Code of Conduct requires it. It must itemise professional fees, disbursements and refund terms before you pay.
  3. Separate agent fee from VAC. Ask the agent to list the government charges separately so you see the true total.
  4. Compare two or three agents. Use the city rankings above to shortlist MARA-registered firms near you.
  5. Verify registration. Check the MARN on the MARA register at mara.gov.au, and walk away from anyone who guarantees a visa or demands full payment upfront.

Related coverage

Common questions

Migration agent fees: frequently asked questions

How much does a migration agent charge by visa type in 2026?

Indicative professional fees in 2026 are skilled visas (189/190/491) $3,500-$7,000, partner visas (820/801, 309/100) $3,500-$6,500, employer-sponsored (482/186/494) $4,000-$9,000, student visas (500) $1,500-$3,500, and AAT/Tribunal appeals $5,000-$15,000. These agent fees are separate from the government visa application charge, skills assessments, English tests and health checks.

Do migration agents charge different fees in different cities?

There is no regulated price list and no city-specific fee schedule. Agents in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and the Gold Coast all set their own fees, so the same visa can vary by several thousand dollars within one city. What matters far more than location is the complexity of your case and the agent's experience with your visa subclass. Always compare two or three written quotes for the same scope of work.

Are migration agent fees fixed or hourly?

Most agents quote a fixed professional fee per visa subclass for routine work, sometimes staged across milestones. Hourly billing ($200-$400 an hour for agents, $350-$650 for immigration lawyers) is more common for advice-only consultations, AAT/Tribunal appeals and unusual or character matters. The MARA Code of Conduct requires a written fee agreement before you commit.

What government charges sit on top of the agent fee?

The Department of Home Affairs visa application charge (VAC) is separate from your agent fee. For example, the primary applicant VAC for subclass 189 Skilled Independent is $4,640 in 2026, with additional charges for partners and dependants. You also pay for skills assessments ($300-$1,000+ depending on the assessing authority), English testing (IELTS/PTE around $375-$450), police checks and medicals. Always confirm current VAC figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

Why do AAT appeals cost so much more than a normal application?

Appeals to the Administrative Review Tribunal (which replaced the AAT on 14 October 2024) involve reviewing the refusal reasons, gathering new evidence, drafting legal submissions and often attending a hearing. The work is closer to litigation than form-filling, so professional fees of $5,000-$15,000 are common, on top of the Tribunal application fee set by the Commonwealth. Get a written scope and fee estimate before you lodge.

Can a migration agent guarantee my visa for a higher fee?

No. The MARA Code of Conduct prohibits any agent from guaranteeing a visa outcome, regardless of fee. The Department of Home Affairs makes the final decision. Treat any agent who promises approval, or demands the full fee upfront before doing any work, as a red flag.