The Australian government has implemented a significant increase in student visa fees. Effective 1 July 2024, the application fee will increase to AUS$1,600, representing a 225% jump from the previous fee of AUS$710.
An official government release explains, “This increase reflects the increasing value of education in Australia and reflects the Government’s commitment to restoring integrity in the international education sector.”
The statement notes that the increase will help fund a number of important initiatives in education and migration, including the “ongoing implementation of the Migration Strategy.”
“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,” added Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil.
The updated fee schedule for the Student visa (subclass 500) has been published on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website. Alongside the increased fee for main applicants, the Australian government will now charge AUS$1,445 for each accompanying applicant aged 18 and over. Accompanying family members under 18 years of age, will be charged AUS$390.
The moves comes less than two months after the government increased the minimum funds requirements for international students. A significant increase in visa fees was rumoured at the time as well. There was no mention of any increase in the government’s budget tabled on 14 May 2024, but the understanding at that point was that visa fees were “likely to go up significantly ‘at a later date.’”
Today’s announcement makes it clear that that “later date” is 1 July 2024.
Also of note is that the fee increase is being put in place even as rejection rates for student visa applications have reached historically high levels in at least the first four months of this year.
For additional background, please see:
Source
