Hold onto your backpacks — the price of finding out in Australia simply bought a complete lot heavier. The Australian Government has formally elevated the Student Visa (Subclass 500) application payment to a whopping AUD 2,000, efficient 1 July 2025 — marking one more dramatic leap in prices for worldwide college students eyeing Australia as their educational vacation spot.
This 25% surge from the earlier AUD 1,600 payment has caught college students and training brokers off guard, sparking debates on affordability, entry, and equity in international training markets.
Why the Massive Increase?
The transfer is part of Australia’s broader reforms aimed toward reshaping worldwide training pathways, cracking down on “non-genuine students,” and, frankly, boosting price range income. It follows a jaw-dropping enhance in 2024, when the payment greater than doubled from AUD 710 to AUD 1,600. That’s a whole enhance of 247% in simply 5 years.
While different visa subclasses equivalent to expert and companion visas solely rose by 3% (CPI-aligned), the coed visa has been singled out with steeper hikes. Critics argue this dangers pricing out expertise from rising economies — whereas proponents declare it brings “integrity and sustainability” again into the worldwide pupil system.
Australian Student Visa Fee Over the Past 5 Years
| Year | Visa Fee (AUD) | Year-on-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–2020 | 575 → 620 | +7.8% |
| 2020–2021 | 620 → ~710 | +14.5% (est.) |
| 2021–2022 | ~710 | Stable |
| 2022–2023 | ~710 → 1,600 | +125% |
| 2023–2025 | 1,600 → 2,000 | +25% |
Global Comparison: How Does Australia Stack Up?
- Australia: AUD 2,000 (~USD 1,330)
- USA (F-1 visa): USD 185
- Canada (Study Permit): CAD 150 (~USD 110)
- UK (Student visa): GBP 490 (~USD 620)
With this enhance, Australia now holds the title of the costliest pupil visa on this planet.
Who’s Affected & What You Should Do?
If you’re planning to start research in Australia in late 2025 or early 2026, this payment applies to you. Here’s what you are able to do:
- Budget accordingly: Include the visa payment in your monetary planning
- Check for SCHOLARSHIPS: Some universities supply payment reimbursements or assist.
References
Australia Study Visa Fees Increased to 2000 Dollars Starting July 1, 2025 FULLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
