The visa's funds requirement
Both the 417 and 462 require you to show you can support yourself in Australia and afford to leave at the end of your stay. This is usually around A$5,000, plus the cost of an onward or return fare. If you apply outside Australia and don't attach evidence, processing can be delayed while Home Affairs asks for it. If you apply onshore for a second or third visa, you generally don't need to attach evidence up front.
A$5,000 is the funds test, not your real budget. It's what you need to show on paper. What you actually need day to day depends on your city, your spending habits, and how fast you find work.
A realistic first-month budget
| Item | Typical weekly cost |
|---|---|
| Hostel or share house | A$150 to A$300 [VERIFY] |
| Food, cooking mostly at home | A$80 to A$150 [VERIFY] |
| Transport, public transport pass | A$40 to A$70 [VERIFY] |
| Phone plan | A$15 to A$40 [VERIFY] |
| Going out, incidentals | A$50 to A$150 [VERIFY] |
Add these up and a first month before any income tends to land somewhere between A$1,500 and A$3,000, on top of the visa application charge and travel insurance.
Sydney runs higher than most regional towns, budget accordingly.
What you can expect to earn
Casual minimum wage runs around A$33.05 an hour [VERIFY], and hospitality, retail and farm work all typically pay at or above that. A full-time casual week works out to roughly A$1,000 to A$1,300 gross before tax [VERIFY], though it takes most people one to three weeks to land their first job and a further one to two weeks to receive their first pay.
One-off costs to plan for
- Visa application charge, AUD840.00 for a first visa
- Travel insurance for the year, cost varies by provider
- Any health checks or biometrics requested
- A soft landing package, if you use one, from A$499 onshore or A$990 offshore
The bottom line. Most people arrive with A$3,000 to A$5,000 available, land a job within the first two to three weeks, and are earning steadily within a month. Arriving with less makes the first few weeks tighter, not impossible, but tighter.