Australia hikes student visa fee, yet again

Effective July 1, the student visa application fee has risen 25% to AU$2,000 (US$1,320), according to an announcement on the Australian government’s website.

This follows a sharp 125% hike in July 2024, when fees increased from AU$710 to AU$1,600.

A spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs told The PIE News that: "The international education sector is important to Australia, and the Australian government is committed to managing the international education sector at a sustainable level while ensuring its equity, quality and integrity."

Australia's ruling Labor Party had announced its plan to raise visa fees for international students to AU$2,000 if reelected, a move first proposed in April.

While international students are a major source of revenue for Australian universities, their rising numbers have also contributed to an increase in net migration, an issue linked to surging housing costs.

Government statistics show that nearly 200,000 international students arrived in Australia in February 2025, a 12.1% increase over the previous year and 7.3% above pre-Covid levels in February 2019.

Labor has pledged to cap international student commencements at 270,000 in 2025, while the opposition has proposed a lower limit of 240,000.

In 2024, more than one million international students were enrolled in Australia, with 572,000 commencing their studies that year.

Australia’s student visa fees remain significantly higher than in comparable destinations, such as the United States and Canada, where visa application fees are around US$185 and C$150 ($108), respectively.

In addition to fee increases, the government last year introduced stricter English language requirements for both student and graduate visas. It also implemented new powers to suspend education providers from enrolling international students if they repeatedly violate regulations.