Australia Increases Student Visa and Graduate Visa Fees
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Australia has increased the cost of some visas for international students.
The Student visa subclass 500 and the Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 are now more expensive for many people.
This means students need to plan their money carefully before they apply.
Student Visa Fee Increase
For many students, the Student visa fee is now:
Main student applicant: AUD $2,500
If you include family members, you need to pay extra.
Partner or adult family member: AUD $1,530
Child under 18: AUD $500
For example, if a student applies with a partner and one child, the visa fee may be:
Student: $2,500
Partner: $1,530
Child: $500
Total: AUD $4,530
This is only the visa fee. It does not include course fees, OSHC, flights, health checks, police checks, documents or English tests.
Lower Student Visa Fees for Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste
Some students pay a much lower Student visa fee.
For eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste students, the Student visa fees are:
Main student applicant: AUD $745
Partner or adult family member: AUD $555
Child under 18: AUD $185
The Pacific countries include: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Temporary Graduate Visa Fee Increase
The Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 has also become more expensive.
This visa is used by many international students after they finish their course in Australia.
For many applicants, the Temporary Graduate visa fee is now:
Main applicant: AUD $5,750
If you include family members, the extra costs are:
Partner or adult family member: AUD $2,875
Child under 18: AUD $1,450
For example, if a graduate applies with a partner and one child, the visa fee may be:
Graduate: $5,750
Partner: $2,875
Child: $1,450
Total: AUD $10,075
This is a very high cost for many international graduates.
Lower Graduate Visa Fees for Pacific Islands and East Timor
There are also cheaper Graduate visa fees for some eligible applicants from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste.
For some eligible applicants, the Temporary Graduate visa fee may be:
Main applicant: AUD $2,360
Partner or adult family member: AUD $1,180
Child under 18: AUD $595
Some second Graduate visa applications may have even lower fees, depending on the stream.
Because Graduate visa rules can be confusing, students should always check the exact fee before applying.
Why This Matters for Student & Graduate Visa Applicants
These visa fee increases make Australia more expensive for international students.
The visa fee is only one part of the cost.
Students may also need money for: course fees, OSHC, flights, living costs, English tests, documents, translations, health checks and police checks.
For students bringing a partner or children, the total cost can be much higher.
What Students Should Do About the Student Visa Fee Increase for Australia
Before applying, students should check the current visa fee.
Do not guess the cost.
The fee can depend on: your passport country, your visa type, your course, your family members and your visa stream.
Australia is still a popular study destination, but it is now more expensive. Students need to plan early and understand the full cost before they apply.
Visa fees can change, so always check the latest fee before you lodge your visa application.
