The Australian government has significantly increased its visa fee for international students, more than doubling the cost by raising it by 125%. Starting from July 1, the fee for an international student visa has jumped from A$710 to A$1,600.
Additionally, visitor visa holders and students on temporary graduate visas are no longer allowed to apply for a student visa while staying in Australia.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil explained that these changes are intended to bring integrity back to the international education system and to establish a fairer migration system overall.
Recent official data revealed that net immigration surged by 60%, reaching a record high of 548,800 people in the year leading up to September 30, 2023. This sharp increase underscores the government’s efforts to manage the influx of international students and other immigrants more effectively.