The Australian Government has imposed immediate and substantial increases to Visa Application Charges across key categories, including Subclass 500 (Student) visas, without consultation with the international education sector.
Effective immediately, the non-refundable student visa application fee has been increased to $2,500, ELICOS visa applications to $2,050, and Temporary Graduate visas to $5,750. Comparable increases have also been applied to Working Holiday Maker visas. These changes represent some of the highest visa costs globally and further escalate the financial barriers facing genuine students.
This decision, made without engagement with the sector, reinforces a deeply concerning pattern of policy development that excludes the very industry it directly affects. International education is Australia’s fourth-largest export, yet providers, employers, and partners continue to be sidelined in decisions that materially increase costs, risk, and uncertainty.
ITECA Chief Executive Mr Felix Pirie said the lack of consultation and the scale of the increases send a damaging signal to students as well as Australian businesses and our global partners.
“The increases to visa fees that have been implemented without notice as of today have come as a complete surprise to the international education sector. There has been no engagement with the businesses and education providers that underpin one of Australia’s most valuable exports. Instead, there is consultation paralysis at a time when clarity and collaboration are critical,” Mr Pirie said.
“These changes make Australia appear as a ‘cash for students’ destination, with by far the highest visa fees globally. This undermines decades of work to build a reputation based on quality, integrity, and student outcomes. It sends almost every wrong signal to prospective students and international partners.”
ITECA warns that these measures risk damaging Australia’s global competitiveness, deterring genuine students, and placing additional strain on education providers already navigating a volatile policy environment.
ITECA will continue to advocate strongly for its members and the broader sector, calling on the Government to immediately engage in genuine consultation and to adopt a more transparent, stable, and collaborative approach to policy development. The sector cannot continue to absorb sudden, unilateral decisions that erode confidence and compromise Australia’s long-term national interest.
Further Information —
If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact the ITECA team at [email protected].