Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): Fees Breakdown for Nigerians ₦6,561,569
Below is the complete breakdown of Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) fees for Nigerian applicants moving to Australia. Every line item is verified against the official immigration authority schedule — application fee, health surcharge, language test, credential evaluation, and other government fees.
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) fees — verified breakdown
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee | ₦4,806,401 (~$3,523 USD) |
| Proof of funds (your own savings)Not required | ₦0 (~$0 USD) |
| Health surcharge | ₦0 (~$0 USD) |
| Language test (IELTS/TEF) | ₦288,776 (~$212 USD) |
| Credential evaluation | ₦1,466,393 (~$1,075 USD) |
| Total government fees | ₦6,561,569 (~$4,810 USD) |
Verified against official immigration authority schedule. Exchange rates as of 3 June 2026. Proof of funds is your own money — you do not pay it to the government.
Expert tip
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
The 189 visa has no employer or state sponsor requirement — it's the gold standard for permanent residency. But the minimum 65 points is a myth in practice: recent invitation rounds for popular occupations like software engineers and accountants required 85–95+ points. You earn points for age (25–32 is the sweet spot at 30 points), English (Superior English via PTE/IELTS gives 20 points), and experience. Skills assessment costs vary: ACS (IT) charges A$1,498, Engineers Australia charges A$539 (Accord) to A$1,311 (CDR + fast-track), and VETASSESS (general) charges A$1,096 standard to A$1,921 priority (updated October 2025). Budget 8–16 weeks for the assessment alone. The 189 is uncapped by state — you can live and work anywhere in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) cost for Nigerians moving to Australia?
- Total government fees for the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) are ₦6,561,569 (about $4,810). This includes the visa application fee, health surcharge, language test, and credential evaluation where applicable.
- How long does Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) processing take from Nigeria?
- Processing time for the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) for Nigerian applicants is 6–12 months (from invitation to grant).
- What is the most important tip for Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) applicants from Nigeria?
- The 189 visa has no employer or state sponsor requirement — it's the gold standard for permanent residency. But the minimum 65 points is a myth in practice: recent invitation rounds for popular occupations like software engineers and accountants required 85–95+ points. You earn points for age (25–32 is the sweet spot at 30 points), English (Superior English via PTE/IELTS gives 20 points), and experience. Skills assessment costs vary: ACS (IT) charges A$1,498, Engineers Australia charges A$539 (Accord) to A$1,311 (CDR + fast-track), and VETASSESS (general) charges A$1,096 standard to A$1,921 priority (updated October 2025). Budget 8–16 weeks for the assessment alone. The 189 is uncapped by state — you can live and work anywhere in Australia.
Related guides
Sibling variants of this visa route and other ways into Australia.
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Start Free CalculatorData methodology: Visa fees sourced from official immigration authority schedules. Naira conversions use live exchange rates from open.er-api.com (last updated 3 June 2026). All fees are subject to change with policy updates — verify with the official immigration website before applying. Last verified: 2026-06-02