Australia hikes visa fees for international students, Indians to be hit

In a move that could impact prospective Indian students, Australia has announced the doubling of student visa fees for international students from $473 (AUD 710) to $1,068 (AUD 1,600) with effect from Monday and also barred various categories of temporary visa holders to apply for a student visa from within Australia.

“The changes will help restore integrity to our international education system, and create a migration system which is fairer, smaller and better able to deliver for Australia,” said Clare O’Neil, Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security of Australia on Monday.

The Australian



government has also made changes to the savings requirement for student visas, by increasing the minimum savings needed for a student visa from AUD 24,505 ($16,146) to AUD 29,710 ($19,576).

Those on Temporary Graduate, Visitor, and Maritime Crew visas, will no longer be eligible to apply for a student visa while they are in Australia, a decision which is expected to hit Indian students, the second-largest community among international students in the country.

Now, after the hike in fees, an Australian student visa has become more expensive than that of the US and Canada, which are currently under $200.