Student Visa Rules: The Australian government has made several changes in the visa rules for foreign students, which have come into effect from July 1. After these changes, Indian students dreaming of studying in Australia will have to spend more money. Australia has increased the visa fees substantially.
Student Visa Rules: Studying in Australia is now going to be expensive for foreign students. The Australian government has more than doubled the fees for international students, from 710 to 1600 Australian dollars. The Australian government has updated the information about the new fees on the country’s immigration and citizenship website. The government has increased this fee without any prior information. Ludhiana-based immigration consultant Gaurav Chaudhary told the Indian Express that no announcement was made in advance about this. We came to know about it at the end of this week. He told that this will increase the financial burden on the students and their parents.
Biggest increase in five years
This is the biggest increase in visa fee in the last five years. According to Gaurav Chaudhary, the visa application fee in the year 2020-21 was 620 Australian dollars (AUD), which increased to 630 AUD in 2021-22. In 2022-23, it was increased to 650 AUD and in 2023-24 it was increased to 710 AUD. In 2024-25, it has been increased drastically to 1600 Australian dollars. Not only this, Australia’s visa fee is the highest compared to countries like Canada, New Zealand, US and UK. Visa fee for students in Canada is 170 Australian dollars, 290 AUD in the US, 345 AUD in New Zealand and 940 AUD in the UK.
Decrease in study visa applications
Austria has made several changes in the study visa this year, due to which the number of student visa applications has decreased. He said that this change will affect the students’ plans to study in Australia. Due to such a large amount, students will be hesitant about applying, because once it is cancelled, their 1600 rupees will be wasted. Earlier it was 710 Australian dollars.
Changes in temporary graduate visa too
The Australian government has also reduced the age limit for applying for temporary graduate visa (TGV) from July 1. Earlier, students up to the age of 50 could apply but now it has been reduced to 35 years. An important change in the visa rules is that now the visa application will have to be done from abroad and not from Australia. Earlier, many visitor visa and temporary graduate visa holders used to apply for student visa while living in Australia, but according to the new rules, onshore visa application will not be allowed. This has been implemented from July 1.
Plan to stop visa hopping
Many people used to reach Australia on tourist visa and apply for student visa application from there. The Australian government has reduced the upper age limit to prevent incidents of ‘visa hopping’ as tourists used to come to Australia on visitor visa for holidays or visit a relative in Australia and enroll in diploma or bachelor degree program and apply for onshore study visa.
