International students planning to study in Australia should be aware of a major upcoming change: visa fees are set to rise again from July 2025.
The Australian Labor government has announced it will increase the international student visa application fee from $1,600 to $2,000 if it wins re-election.
This comes after the federal Opposition announced plans to raise visa application fees. Students applying to Group of Eight universities (such as the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne) would pay $5,000 to apply for a visa, while all other international students would pay $2,500.
Why are visa fees increasing?
The government plans to use the extra revenue to fund $760 million worth of election commitments. According to Labor, this move is part of a broader strategy to manage migration levels and ease pressure on Australia’s housing and public services.
This is not the first increase. In July 2024, the fee had already more than doubled, jumping from $710 to $1,600.
What are people saying?
As with the announcement from the Opposition, these changes have been met with immense backlash.
However, as shared by Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), some visa fees may be reduced.
“…we have a commitment from Labor that they will be open to discussion about visa fee reductions as per IEAA’s Election Platform which calls for a 50% discount for less than 12 months study programs including English language and learning abroad,” he says.
What does this mean for international students?
If you are planning to study in Australia, it is important to stay updated on these changes, plan ahead financially, and seek advice from education agents or educational institutions directly.
For full details about the upcoming changes, read the original SBS article here.
