Students Are Not a Cash Cow: Australia Must Cut Visa Fees

To the Australian House of Representatives, the Minister for Home Affairs, and the Minister for Education:

International students already contribute billions of dollars to Australia through tuition fees, rent, transport, food, health insurance, and everyday spending. They should not be treated as an endless source of government revenue simply because they are temporary residents and cannot vote.

We are calling on the Australian Government to reduce visa application fees for international students and graduates, stop further increases, and make the visa system fairer for people who come to Australia to study, work, and contribute.

Student visa fees have risen dramatically in just two years.

Before July 2024, a Student Visa (subclass 500) cost $710.

On 1 July 2024, it increased to $1,600.

On 1 July 2025, it increased again to $2,000.

On 1 July 2026, it increased again to $2,500.

This is a total increase of more than 250% in only two years.

Australia now has one of the most expensive student visas among major study destinations. A United States F-1 student visa costs roughly AUD $280, while Australia now charges almost nine times more.

The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) has also become extremely expensive.

Before 1 March 2026, the primary applicant fee was $2,300.

On 1 March 2026, the fee doubled overnight to $4,600.

On 1 July 2026, it increased again to $5,750.

This means the graduate visa fee rose by 150% in only four months.

Many students had already planned their future based on the previous visa costs. Some were close to finishing their studies, while others had visas about to expire. The sudden increase placed enormous financial pressure on graduates who were trying to continue their lives and careers in Australia.

The pressure does not stop after graduation.

Students who want to remain in Australia through skilled migration or employer sponsorship must pay even more.

A Skilled Independent Visa, subclass 189, now costs around $6,135.

A Skilled Nominated Visa, subclass 190, costs around $6,140.

A Skilled Work Regional Visa, subclass 491, also costs around $6,140.

An employer-sponsored Skills in Demand Visa, subclass 482, costs around $4,015.

A Partner Visa now costs around $11,710.

These fees are generally non-refundable. This means that if an application is refused, even because of a small mistake or technical issue, the applicant may lose thousands of dollars.

For a single international student, a common visa pathway may include:

Student Visa: $2,500

Temporary Graduate Visa: $5,750

Skilled Migration Visa: $6,135

That is already $14,385 in government visa application fees alone.

This does not include tuition fees, health insurance, English tests, skills assessments, police checks, medical checks, migration agent fees, or the savings students may need to show for visa requirements.

For couples and families, the cost can quickly rise above $25,000 in government visa charges alone.

International education is one of Australia’s largest export industries. International students support universities, colleges, local businesses, landlords, transport providers, and communities across the country.

Australia benefits from international students, but the current visa fee increases make many students feel that they are being treated as a source of revenue rather than as valued contributors.

High visa fees can also damage Australia’s reputation. Students may choose Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, or other countries where the cost of studying and applying for post-study visas is more reasonable.

We respectfully ask the Australian Government to:

Reduce Student Visa and Temporary Graduate Visa fees to fair and internationally competitive levels.

Freeze further student-related visa fee increases until there has been an independent review.

Consult students, education providers, and industry representatives before making major changes to visa fees.

Introduce partial refunds when visa applications are refused due to minor technical issues.

Make the visa system fairer for students and graduates who have already invested heavily in Australia.

Australia built a strong international education sector because students trusted that it was welcoming, fair, and full of opportunity.

That trust should not be damaged by visa fees that continue to rise every year.

International students are not a cash cow.

Sign and support fair visa fees for international students and graduates in Australia.

Petition created by Rizwan Ullah (International Student)