Huge Hike in Australian Student Visa Application fees
Effective from 1 July 2024, the Australian government has made big changes to the fees for student visas. There is an increase of more than 200%, that is, the application fee which was previously AUS$710 will now be AUS$1,600.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs website now has the most up-to-date fee list for the Student visa (subclass 500). The Australian government has raised the fee for main applicants and will now charge AUS$1,445 for each supporting candidate aged 18 or more. Family members under 18 years old who come with the applicant will be charged AUS$390.
These changes come less than two months after the government raised the minimum amount of money that foreign students needed to pay for school. At the time, there were also rumours of a big rise in entry fees. The government’s budget for May 14, 2024, did not include any increases. However, at that time, it was thought that visa fees would “likely to go up significantly ‘at a later date.’”
Today, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said in a statement, “The changes coming into force today will help restore integrity to our international education system, and create a migration system which is fairer, smaller and better able to deliver for Australia,” Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said in a statement.
Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy said the government’s continued policy pressure on the sector would put the country’s position of strength at risk. “This is not good for our economy or our universities, both of which rely heavily on international student fees,” Sheehy said in an emailed response.
Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy said the government’s continued policy pressure on the sector would put the country’s position of strength at risk. “This is not good for our economy or our universities, both of which rely heavily on international student fees,” Sheehy said in an emailed response.