Studying in Australia gets costlier: Here’s a look at recent changes in the country’s visa application rules

The visa application fee in 2020-21 was 620 AUD, which increased to 630 AUD in 2021-22 and, further, to 650 AUD in 2022-23, followed by 710 AUD in 2023-24. But, in 2024-25, it has been increased to 1,600 AUD, a steepest hike in the past five years, said Gaurav Chaudhary.

Not only this, Australia’s visa application fee is the highest compared to countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the US and the UK. For Canada, the visa fee for students is 170 AUD, 290 AUD for the US, 345 AUD for Newzealand and 940 AUD for the UK, while for Australia, it’s whooping 1,600 AUD, he added.

“Australia made several changes in the study visas in the past 6-8 months which resulted in the reduction in the number of students’ visa applications,” Chaudhary said, adding that this change would further impact the students’ plan to study in Australia.

“If an application is rejected, 1,600 AUD will go to waste. Earlier, it was around 710 AUD. So, it matters a lot,” said Narain Dutt, a Barnala resident.

The Australian government has already lowered the age limit of the students applying for temporary graduate visas (TGV) from 50 to 35 years beginning from July 1.

Another important change the Australian government has made is the applicant needs to submit a visa application from abroad and not from Australia. Earlier, several visitor visas and TGV holders used to apply for student visas while residing in Australia but the new rule says onshore visa application will not be allowed. This change has also been made applicable from July 1.

However, people are aware of it as the Australian government made a public announcement much before. Several tourist visa holders used to do visa hopping after reaching Australia and used to apply for student visa applications.

Sources said the Australian government lowered the upper age limit to curb instances of ‘visa hopping’ as tourists used to visit Australia on a visitor visa for a holiday or visit a relative in Australia and get themselves enrolled in a diploma or a bachelor’s degree programme and would apply for an on-shore study visa.

Sources said as soon as the study visa file was submitted, the applicant used to get a bridging visa, a kind of security to stay in the country till the result of the study visa application came. However, now this visa hopping or onshore visa granting facility has been stopped, sources added.