Australia Visa Fees Increase – Here’s What’s Changed
Masters Application Webinar - NEXT WEDNESDAY | Register now Masters Application Webinar - NEXT WEDNESDAY | Register now
Eight hands placed on top of one another
Posted on 3 Jul '26

Australia Visa Fees Increase – Here’s What’s Changed

Australia has increased its student visa fees from AUS$2,000 to AUS$2,500 effective immediately.

This is the second visa fee hike since July 2025.

Graduate visa fees go up too

Alongside the student visa changes, the fees for the Temporary Graduate Route (Australia’s post-study work visa offering) is going up by 25% from AUD$4,600 to AUS$5,750.

This is the second increase in four months. This means that the cost of the graduate visa fees has more than doubled in under two years.

Further changes for short language courses

For the first time, students on short-term English language courses (ELICOS) have their own visa fees set at AUS$2,050. The change comes despite pushback from English language education bodies, who had been lobbying for fees to be reduced below $2,000, let alone be increased.

How this might affect you

International students have been hit by a visa fee increase for the third time in two years.

The total cost of the "study-to-work" pathway in Australia has increased from roughly AUD$2,600 pre-2024 to AUD$8,000 today.

This also means that Australia now has one of the highest student visa fees among major study destinations.  

We understand this news isn’t easy to hear if you’re considering studying in Australia. We’ll keep you posted with future updates so you can always plan ahead.

Smiling girl looks up from her phone

Do you want unbiased Masters information and advice? Sign up to our newsletter.

Do you want unbiased PhD information and advice? Sign up to our newsletter.

  • Learn about the latest funding opportunities and application tips
  • Weekly advice, student stories and the latest Masters news
  • Receive the latest Masters programmes straight to your inbox
  • Find out about upcoming postgraduate events including our study fairs
  • Learn about the latest funding opportunities and application tips
  • Weekly advice, student stories and the latest PhD news
  • Receive the latest PhD programmes straight to your inbox
  • Find out about upcoming postgraduate events including our study fairs
Continue with email

You may also like...

Changes to the Graduate Route Visa

All you need to know about the updates to the UK Graduate Route Visa in October 2025. Find out how they affect international Masters graduates.

Read more
UK ‘Visa Brake’: What This Means For You

The UK Government has announced that from Thursday, 26 March applicants from four countries will not be granted study visas. Here's everything you need to know about these changes.

Read more
UK Rejoins Erasmus Scheme: What We Know Right Now

It's just been announced that the UK will be rejoining the Erasmus + scheme for the 2027-28 academic year. This is everything we know so far.

Read more
Some Postgraduate Students Exempt From 2026 Canada Study Permit Caps

Here's the latest on the Canada study permit caps for 2026. Find out more about what you can expect if you're studying abroad in Canada soon.

Read more
Scotland: Postgraduate Social Work Bursary for 2025–26 Increases

The Scottish Government and SSSC have announced an increase to the postgraduate Social Work Bursary for student studying in 2025-26. Here's everything you need to know.

Read more
UK Visa Updates: What Does the Immigration White Paper Mean for You

The UK Government published an immigration white paper on 12 May proposing some significant changes to the student and graduate visas. Here's everything you need to know.

Read more


Last updated: 03 July 2026