The australian student visa cost doubled when the federal government raised the non-refundable temporary graduate visa fee from $2, 300 to $4, 600, a change that international students and student bodies say was imposed without prior warning.
What is changing now?
The government increased the temporary graduate visa application fee to $4, 600. The rise does not apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens or to students who studied in regional areas. The Department of Home Affairs stated that information about the increase was provided on 1 March on its website and that Australia still offers post-study work rights and other migration pathways.
These fee changes follow a series of earlier measures: in mid-2024 the non-refundable visa fee for international students was raised from $710 to $1, 600; the age eligibility for temporary graduate visas was reduced to 35; and the maximum length of stay for holders of the visa was shortened to three years from six.
| Jurisdiction | Temporary graduate / post-study visa fee (as stated) |
|---|---|
| Australia | $4, 600 |
| New Zealand | A$1, 406 |
| Canada | $262 |
| United Kingdom | $1, 665 |
| United States | $661 |
What Happens When Australian Student Visa Cost Doubled?
Students, unions and official data indicate tangible consequences. A union described graduates as being blindsided by the change; one recent graduate who completed studies in December said he was “devastated” to discover the fee rise as his student visa approached expiry. The National Union of Students international officer, Ariya Masud, said the lack of consultation had left many graduating students uncertain whether they could afford to remain in the country and that the move sent a clear message about how international students are regarded.
Official figures show the clampdown on post-study arrangements has already had an effect on visa numbers: the number of temporary graduate visas granted fell by 33% in the year to 31 January, with 84, 354 offers compared with 126, 348 in 2024-2025. Policymakers point to exemptions for certain nationalities and regional-study applicants, but the immediate financial barrier is concentrated on those who do not qualify for exemptions.
What should students, institutions and policymakers do next?
Students facing the fee increase will need to assess eligibility for exemptions, alternative migration pathways, or financial options before lodgement. Institutions and student associations should expand targeted advice and legal-referral services for affected graduates. The Department of Home Affairs has indicated other pathways remain available; student representatives say greater transparency and transitional arrangements would reduce hardship.
Uncertainty remains about the broader reputational impact and the medium-term supply of international graduates who choose to remain onshore. The policy shift has already coincided with a marked drop in temporary graduate visa grants, and student groups warn that sudden, non-refundable increases undermine trust. For graduates, advocates and officials alike, the immediate task is to manage the practical implications of the change while pressing for clearer communication and support so that affected people can make informed choices about their next steps in light of the australian student visa cost doubled
