Australia has significantly increased visa application fees for international students and post-study work applicants, triggering a strong backlash from universities and education bodies that say the move will make the country less competitive as a study destination.
The new fees, announced by the Department of Home Affairs, came into effect on July 1, 2026, without prior consultation with the international education sector.
Under the revised structure, the application fee for the Student Visa (Subclass 500) for higher education and vocational (VET) students has risen from AU$2,000 to AU$2,500. Students from ASEAN countries will pay AU$2,050, reported ICEF Monitor.
Also Read: France changes housing aid rules for international students: Here's what to know
The fee for English language (ELICOS) students has increased to AU$2,050, while the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) now costs AU$5,750, up from AU$4,600. Partner visa fees have also increased to AU$11,710 from AU$9,365, according to an ICEF Monitor report.
The government has also raised salary thresholds for employer-sponsored skilled visas, increasing the minimum salary requirement to AU$79,499 from AU$76,515.
Australia now among the costliest study destinations
With the latest increase, Australia's student visa application fee is now substantially higher than those charged by other major study destinations.
An Australian student visa now costs about AU$2,500, compared with approximately AU$935 in the UK, AU$790 in New Zealand, AU$775 in the US, and AU$240 in Canada, ICEF Monitor cited in its report.
Since 2022, Australia's student visa fee has increased by 285%, while post-study work visa charges have climbed 148%. During the same period, countries such as Canada and the US have largely kept their student visa fees unchanged, while the UK's increases have been relatively modest.
Vicki Thomson, Chief Executive of the Group of Eight, told ICEF Monitor that the latest decision goes beyond a routine fee revision.
"This is not just a visa fee increase. It is a direct hit to Australia's competitiveness, skills pipeline and international standing," she said.
In an email to ICEF Monitor, Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), said competitor countries stood to gain from Australia's latest policy shift.
"Australia's competitor study destination countries will be celebrating today at our market share's expense. With no consultation and no phase-in period, all visa categories have been increased overnight," he said.
Honeywood also said the sector was increasingly being treated as a revenue source for unrelated government spending rather than being recognised as a key export industry.
