Sydney (Web Desk Monitoring) — In an effort to curb record-high migration, the Australian government has significantly increased its visa fee for international students by 125%.
As of July 1, the international student visa fee has risen from A$710 to A$1,600. Additionally, visitor visa holders and students with temporary graduate visas are now prohibited from applying onshore for a student visa.
“These changes, effective today, aim to restore integrity to our international education system and create a fairer, smaller migration system that better serves Australia,” stated Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil.
Data released in March indicated that net immigration surged by 60% to a record 548,800 people in the year leading up to September 30, 2023.
The increased fees make applying for an Australian student visa more costly compared to other popular destinations, such as the United States and Canada, where student visas cost about $185 and C$150 ($110), respectively.
The government also announced the closure of visa rule loopholes that allowed foreign students to extend their stay indefinitely. The number of students on second or subsequent visas spiked by over 30% to more than 150,000 in the 2022-23 period.
This increase in fees is part of a series of measures introduced since late last year to tighten student visa regulations, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions which led to a surge in annual migration.
In March, English language requirements were strengthened, and in May, the required savings for international students to obtain a visa were raised to A$29,710 ($19,823) from A$24,505, marking the second increase in seven months.
Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy expressed concern that ongoing policy pressure on the sector could jeopardize Australia’s competitive position. “This is not good for our economy or our universities, both of which rely heavily on international student fees,” Sheehy said in an email.
International education is a major export industry for Australia, contributing A$36.4 billion to the economy in the 2022-2023 financial year.
