The Australian government has raised the cost of student visas. Starting July 1, 2024, the fee to apply will be AUD $1,600. This is a big increase of 125% from the old fee of AUD $710. The statement says that the increase will help pay for important projects in education and migration, including continuing to put the Migration Strategy into action.
The Updated Fee Schedule for Australian Student Visa
The updated fee schedule for the Student visa (subclass 500) has been published on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
Visa Subclass | Base Application Charge | Additional Applicant Charge 18 And Over | Additional Applicant Charge Under 18 | Non-Internet Application Charge | Subsequent Temporary Application Charge |
Student Visa (Subclass 500) | AUD 1,600 | N/A | N/A | N/A | AUD 700 |
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New Student Visa Application Fee in Australia 2024
The student visa application fee in Australia has been increased to AUD 1,600. The Australian government will now charge AUD$1,445 for each family member aged 18 and over who comes with the main applicant. For family members under 18, the fee will be AUD$390.
In comparison, the current student visa fees in Canada and the United States are CDN$150 (AUD$165) and US$185 (AUD$280) respectively.
An official government statement says, “This rise shows that education is becoming more important in Australia and shows the Government’s promise to bring back trust in international education.”
Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil said that- “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”
Less than two months ago, the government raised the minimum amount of money international students need to have. This was the second increase in the past few months. At that time, there were also rumours about a big rise in visa fees. Although there was no mention of an increase in the government’s budget on May 14, 2024, it was expected that visa fees would go up significantly later. However, the announcement confirms that the “later date” is July 1, 2024.
Keep your eyes on AIMS Education to get more updates about Australian student visas and immigration updates.