The Australia student visa fee hike has happened again. From 1 July 2026, the Subclass 500 Student visa application charge rose 25 percent, from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500, marking the second increase in two years after the fee was raised from AUD 1,600 to AUD 2,000 in mid-2025. At the same time, the Australian Government introduced a separate, lower AUD 2,050 fee for ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) applicants, giving partial relief to students who plan to study English before starting a degree.
Here is exactly what changed, why the Department of Home Affairs raised the fee, and what it means if you are an Indian student planning to study in Australia.
Table of Contents
What Changed in the Australia Student Visa Fee From 1 July 2026
The increase was introduced through the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026, which took effect on 1 July 2026 as part of the 2026-27 Federal Budget. The change affects nearly every visa category, not just student visas, with most subclasses rising by roughly 25 percent in a single step rather than the usual small annual indexation.
| Visa Category | Fee Before 1 July 2026 | Fee From 1 July 2026 |
| Student visa (Subclass 500), standard | AUD 2,000 | AUD 2,500 |
| Student visa (Subclass 500), ELICOS / non-award | AUD 2,000 | AUD 2,050 |
| Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) | AUD 4,600 | AUD 5,750 |
| Student Guardian visa (Subclass 590) | AUD 2,000 | AUD 2,500 |
(Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/fees-and-charges/current-visa-pricing)
The fee that applies to your application is set by the date the Department of Home Affairs receives it, not the date you finish preparing your documents. Applications lodged before 1 July 2026 were assessed under the old fee schedule regardless of when a decision is made.
A Second Increase in Two Years
This is not Australia’s first student visa fee hike in recent memory. The Subclass 500 charge was already raised from AUD 1,600 to AUD 2,000 in 2025. With the July 2026 revision, the fee has climbed to AUD 2,500, a jump of more than 50 percent across two consecutive years. Australia’s student visa was already among the costliest in the world before this round of increases, and the gap with competing destinations has widened further.
Who Gets the Lower ELICOS Rate
Not every applicant pays the new standard rate. Students enrolling in ELICOS programmes, along with applicants from ASEAN countries in some cases, qualify for the reduced AUD 2,050 fee. Citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste continue to receive an even lower concessional charge. Outside these specific categories, however, the standard AUD 2,500 fee applies to most degree, diploma, and vocational pathway applicants, including the large majority of Indian students.
Why Did Australia Raise the Student Visa Fee Again
The Department of Home Affairs has framed the increase as part of a broader push to keep the international education sector financially sustainable while tightening the integrity of the student visa system. Australia has introduced several measures in recent years aimed at verifying genuine student intent and managing overall migration numbers, and this fee increase sits within that same policy direction. The government has raised charges across other visa categories at the same time, including the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), which increased from AUD 4,600 to AUD 5,750 on 1 July 2026, its second increase within about a year.
On top of the visa fee increase, students should also budget for the Department’s existing minimum financial capacity requirement of roughly AUD 29,710 per year — a threshold that has been in place since 2024 and is unrelated to this fee change, but is often overlooked alongside it.
Comparing Australia With Other Study Destinations?
Career Launcher Study Abroad counsellors can help you compare updated visa costs, financial requirements, course options, and career opportunities across Australia and other countries—so you choose the destination that best fits your goals and budget.
What This Means for Indian Students Specifically
For Indian students planning to study in Australia, the upfront cost of applying has gone up again, on top of tuition, health insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover), and living expenses that must already be demonstrated at the time of application. The changes do not alter admission requirements, course eligibility, or academic entry criteria. They affect only how much you need to set aside before your visa is even lodged.
Students who plan to start with an English-language pathway course will pay the lower ELICOS visa fee if they qualify, which offsets some of the impact for that specific group. Everyone else should factor the full AUD 2,500 charge, plus the higher financial capacity threshold, into their overall study-abroad budget well before application season.
If you are still comparing Australia against other destinations, it is worth revisiting how to choose the right country for studying abroad with these updated figures in mind, since visa cost is only one part of the total cost comparison.
How to Plan Around the Higher Visa Cost
A few practical steps can help you absorb this increase without derailing your application timeline:
- Confirm whether you qualify for the ELICOS or concessional fee tier before assuming the standard AUD 2,500 charge applies to you
- Rebudget your total cost of study, including the higher AUD 29,710 annual financial capacity requirement, not just the visa fee itself
- Look into scholarships and funding options early; our guide to winning study abroad scholarships covers merit and need-based options that can offset rising visa and living costs
- Avoid lodging an incomplete application to beat a fee deadline; visa charges are non-refundable even if an application is refused or withdrawn
- Compare Australia’s total cost of study against other destinations before finalising your shortlist, since visa, tuition, and living costs now vary significantly by country
Key Takeaways
- The Subclass 500 Student visa fee rose 25 percent to AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026.
- A new AUD 2,050 tier applies to ELICOS and select non-award applicants.
- The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) fee also increased, to AUD 5,750.
- The minimum financial capacity requirement for student visas rose to roughly AUD 29,710 per year.
- Admission requirements and course eligibility remain unchanged; only the application cost has increased.
Planning Your Australia Study Abroad Journey?
Get personalised guidance from Career Launcher Study Abroad counsellors to build an accurate budget, understand the latest costs, and shortlist Australian universities that match your academic profile and career goals.
Recommended Reads
- How to Choose the Right Country for Studying Abroad
- Unlocking the Secrets of Winning Study Abroad Scholarships
- UK Student Visa Financial Requirements
- Study in Australia: Complete Guide
FAQs
How much is the Australia student visa fee in 2026?
The standard Subclass 500 Student visa application charge is AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 2,000. ELICOS and certain non-award applicants pay a lower AUD 2,050 fee.
When did the Australia student visa fee increase take effect?
The new fee applies to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Applications submitted before that date are assessed under the previous AUD 2,000 fee schedule regardless of when a decision is made.
Is the ELICOS student visa fee lower than the standard fee?
Yes. ELICOS applicants, along with some ASEAN-country applicants, pay AUD 2,050 instead of the standard AUD 2,500 charge. Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens receive a separate, lower concessional rate.
Did the Temporary Graduate visa fee also increase?
Yes. The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee rose from AUD 4,600 to AUD 5,750 on 1 July 2026, following an earlier increase earlier in the year. Students planning to work in Australia after graduation should budget for this separately.
Will the visa fee increase affect my chances of admission?
No. The fee change affects only the cost of applying for a visa. It does not change university admission requirements, course eligibility, or academic entry criteria.
Is an Australian student visa application fee refundable if I am refused?
No. Visa application charges in Australia are non-refundable, even if your application is refused or withdrawn, so it is worth confirming your eligibility and documentation are complete before you lodge.
