Australia Raises Student Visa Fees Once More

The Australian Government has declared that the application fee for international students has increased. As of 1st July 2025, the application fee under the Student Visa 500 and Student Guardian visas (subclass 590) has increased to A$2,000 as compared to A$1,600. According to the Department of Education, the increase in fees is also a component of the overarching program to make the migration system of Australia both sustainable and efficient.

The hike has triggered concerns specifically for the English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELIOS) sectors. Many students who are enrolling in short-term courses are reportedly unwilling to pay such higher fees. Several ELIOS providers have shut down due to declining enrollments and rising operational costs.

In addition to fee changes, the Australian government has introduced other measures to implement stricter student visa regulations. These include stricter English language requirements in all institutions.

Australian parliament records show that the international education sector had a total export revenue of more than A$48 billion in 2024. As policy analysts observe, there is a possibility that future trends of enrolment can be affected by the persistent rise in fees.

New Support Measures

In 2024, there were more than 700,000 international students enrolled in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), most of these international students arrive from India, China, Nepal, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The net overseas migration was 446,000 in 2023-24, which is lower than 536,000 a year earlier.

To offset the impact of rising costs, the Australian government has introduced several initiatives to support international students. This includes student support services, which allocate funding for mental health services, housing partnerships, and improved visa processing systems.

Aligning Visas with Workforce Needs

A new skilled worker visa in Australia is being initiated for students who are enrolling in sectors like health, engineering, and teaching. These pathways align with Australia’s long-term skill shortages.

In addition to that, the Study Australia Industry Experience Program (SAIEP) was launched to help international students gain practical work experience and improve post-study employment outcomes.

This program connects international students directly with employers in Australia and international locations. These co-curricular and online programs run for about 25 hours over two two-week periods. Through this program, students can apply for internships with various employers across Australia. These learning programs ensure that students gain valuable skills in their chosen sector.