Australia has actually increased student visa application charges overnight, with the Student visa (subclass 500) rising from $2,000 to $2,500. The change follows the last boost in July 2025.
A different pricing structure has actually also been introduced for ELICOS trainees under the subclass 500 visa. In spite of market groups lobbying for a decrease listed below the $2,000 cost, mentioning declining enrolments and the short-term nature of many ELICOS courses, the federal government has instead increased the ELICOS visa charge to $2,050, compared to the previous shared $2,000 rate.
In addition, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) application fee has actually increased once again, increasing from $4,600 to $5,750– a 25% dive and the second increase in four months.
Discussing increase in the Temporary Graduate visa, Jesse Gardner-Russell, nationwide president, Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, said: “This is a charge on the exit door, not the front door.
“If the goal is to manage who is available in, charging individuals already on their way out is the incorrect instrument. The only thing a higher 485 charge dependably manages is revenue.”
“International students are not just another resource to be mined, their value drawn out and then delivered offshore, like iron ore. They are a critical element of Australia’s international soft-power and part of our multicultural community,” he included.
International students are not just another resource to be mined, their value drawn out and then delivered offshore, like iron ore
Jesse Gardner-Russell
On The Other Hand, Richard Lee, CAPA national vice president cautioned: “Every increase in the expense of staying, provided without caution, informs the best graduates that Australia is an unforeseeable location to build a future.
“These are people who chose Australia, studied here, and wish to stay and contribute. We are making that more difficult, two times in one year, for no clear gain.”
The increases form part of a broader uplift throughout a lot of major visa classifications, including skilled, partner and working holiday visas.
Weihong Liang, president of The International Trainees Representative Council of Australia (ISRC of Australia) stated that although governments “have the right to alter migration policy … fair policy execution needs notice, transition arrangements, and respect for those who have actually currently made decisions in excellent faith.”
“International trainees ought to not be anticipated to take in abrupt policy costs without warning,” he added.
“Tonight, I am deeply dissatisfied for the thousands of students who will get up tomorrow to find that their post-study pathway has actually become significantly more expensive over night.”