Most people do not realise this until they are already deep into the process. A basic consultation with a registered migration agent in Australia costs between $100 and $300 just to sit down and explain your options. And that is before they charge you thousands to actually handle your application.
The frustrating part is that most of that initial consultation is just publicly available information. Which visa suits your situation. How many points you have. What documents you need to collect. What your pathway to PR looks like.
So here is what you actually need to know before you spend a cent on an agent:
The basics of skilled migration: You need a minimum of 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest via SkillSelect. Most occupations require 80 or more points to actually receive an invitation in recent rounds. Points come from age, English proficiency, work experience, education, partner skills, and bonus categories like regional nomination and Australian study.
The partner visa pathway: If you are married to or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident you can apply for a partner visa without needing points. It is a two stage process taking approximately 2 years and leads directly to permanent residency.
The citizenship requirements: To apply for Australian citizenship you need 4 years total in Australia on a valid visa, at least 1 year as a permanent resident, and no more than 12 months total absence across those 4 years.
The single most impactful thing most people miss: Sitting an English test and scoring IELTS 8.0 or above adds 20 points to your skilled migration score instantly. That single improvement often makes the difference between not being competitive and being invited.
Always verify your specific situation at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and consult a registered MARA agent at mara.gov.au before making any decisions.
I also built a tool called AusPath Pro that puts all of this in one place. It calculates your points score, tells you which visa suits your situation, gives you a personalised roadmap, and includes a full document checklist. Check it out at auspathpro.com if it helps.