Australia has increased its student visa application fees from A$2,000, which is Rs384,144, to A$2,500, which is Rs480,180.
The new fee applies to the Student Visa or the Subclass 500 and took effect overnight. This is the second fee increase after the previous rise in July 2025.
ELICOS fee
The Australian government has also introduced a separate fee for students applying for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) under the same visa category.
The application fee for these students has increased to A$2,050 or Rs393,747, up from the previous A$2,000 or Rs384,144.
According to reports, the education groups had asked the government to reduce the fee for ELICOS students.
They said that many of these courses are short and that student numbers have been falling. However, the government decided to raise the fee instead.
ELICOS fee for ASEAN students
Students from ASEAN countries will pay the lower ELICOS rate, while applicants from Pacific Island countries will continue to pay A$745 or Rs143,093.
The application fee for the Temporary Graduate Visa ot the Subclass 485 has also increased. It has gone up from A$4,600 or Rs883,531 to A$5,750 or Rs1,104,414. This is the second increase in the last four months.
Jesse Gardner-Russell, the national president of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, criticised the increase.
He said the higher fee affects graduates who are already preparing to leave Australia. He added that raising the fee is more about increasing government revenue than managing migration.
Extension of visas for stranded visitors
Earlier, Australia announced support measures for visa holders and visitors who were unable to leave the country because of airspace closures in the Middle East.
Officials said visitors who are still in Australia and cannot return home can apply for a new Visitor Visa before their current visa expires. The government said visa extensions will not be granted automatically, and a new application is required.
