New Delhi: Studying in Australia has become noticeably more expensive after the government raised visa fees again. From 1 July 2026, the application fee for the standard Student Visa (Subclass 500) is now AUD 2,500 (about ₹1.65 lakh), the Department of Home Affairs said. That is 25% higher than last year’s AUD 2,000; the fee had been AUD 1,600 before that increase.
Immediate Cost For Indian Applicants
For students from India, the higher visa fee adds a large upfront cost to an already costly process. Visa fees are usually non-refundable, so a rejected application will now cost much more.
The visa fee increase is only part of the total expense. Students who want to stay and work in Australia after finishing their studies face another big cost: the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) fee has been raised to AUD 5,750, which is an important route for post-study work.
Put together with mandatory Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), tuition fees, and a higher proof-of-funds requirement — students must now show AUD 29,710 in available living funds — the overall cost of studying in Australia has climbed to a record high, as reported by Mint.
Part Of A Global Pattern
Australia is not alone in tightening rules for international students. Popular study destinations are making it harder to migrate because of domestic concerns such as housing and population.
Canada recently capped new study permits, ended the fast-track Student Direct Stream (SDS), and raised the proof-of-funds requirement to CAD 22,895.
The United Kingdom increased its student visa fee in April 2026 to £558, raised the monthly maintenance funds students must show, and limited the ability of students to bring dependents.
The United States is changing rules for 2027 intakes by replacing an open-ended “Duration of Status” with fixed admission periods and adding a $250 Visa Integrity Fee on top of existing charges.
Why Australia Hiked Fees Again
Australian officials say the fee increases are part of wider migration reforms and steps to protect the international education sector. By raising costs and enforcing the Genuine Student requirement more strictly, they aim to discourage people who use student visas mainly to get work rather than to study.
For Indian students planning to start studies in 2026 and 2027, the takeaway is simple: plan finances earlier, prepare spotless paperwork, and budget for a much larger upfront cost if you hope to study in Australia.
