Indian students planning to study in Australia will now have to spend more on their student visa.
The Australian government has increased the application fee for the Student Visa (Subclass 500) by 25%.
The revised fee came into effect on July 1, 2026, increasing the cost for most international students.
New Student Visa Fee Explained
Under the new rules, applicants must now pay 2,500 Australian Dollars (AUD) for a Student Visa (Subclass 500).
Earlier, the visa application fee was 2,000 AUD. This means the fee has increased by 500 AUD, which is around ₹27,000 to ₹30,000 more for Indian students, depending on the exchange rate.
Students planning to apply for higher education in Australia should keep this higher cost in mind while preparing their study budget.
Which Students Are Exempt?
The increased visa fee will not apply to every international student.
The Australian government has provided an exemption for students from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.
They will not have to pay the revised 2,500 AUD fee.
Relief for ELICOS Students
Students enrolling in ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) will also receive some relief.
Their visa application fee has been fixed at 2,050 AUD, meaning they will not be required to pay the new 2,500 AUD fee applicable to most Student Visa (Subclass 500) applicants.
