Latest News on the Increase in Australian Student Visa Fees

The Australian government’s student visa program is a key component of the foreign education sector. The primary purpose of this program is to provide international students with a high-quality education and academic excellence. According to estimates, in late February, Australia set an all-time high with 2.8 million temporary migrants and 713,144 international students. The large number of students can have an impact on the quality of education in Australia.

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As a result, the New Migration Strategy, issued on December 11, 2023, calls for efforts to improve the quality and integrity of Australian abroad education. The Department of Home Affairs has been working to lower the number of overseas students to 35%. However, it will take some time to reduce the overall number of students. A spokesperson for the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, stated:

“We’re considering all options as we work to restore integrity to international education.”

These steps will ensure that international students receive a high-quality education, reduce the likelihood of exploitation, and ensure that Australia continues to welcome talented and competent students. One key move under consideration is raising the Australian student immigration fee from $710 to $2,500. Tray Williams, Chief Executive of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, remarked that:

“A fee hike “would be” consistent with the Australian Government’s clear policy intent to reduce the size of the international education sector.”

The Australian Financial Review and The Guardian, among other mainstream media outlets, have reported that the government is considering hiking the student visa price from $710. In order to earn additional money for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the Grattan Institute proposed raising the student visa application price to $2,500 per visa.

However, the Australian Financial Review, published on April 12, claimed that the cost would not be as high as the Grattan Institute’s projected $2,500. Phil Honeywood, a member of the International Education Association of Australia, claimed that any increase in the Consumer Price Index would make Australia “globally uncompetitive.” Further, he stated that:

“As the fee is non-refundable, it will be hugely inequitable for the large number of students who are having their visas rejected.”

The existing visa payments are non-refundable, as stated by Simon Costain. Furthermore, due to the fact that rejection rates are “pushing 70-90% for some nationalities,” increasing the fees would be equivalent to stealing money from thousands of students. A proposal was made by Abul Rizvi, who had previously served as the deputy secretary of the Immigration Department.

“Increasing non-refundable Australian student visa fees for foreigners to pay for Australians’ rent is “extremely excellent politics,” but “bad long-term strategy.”

Increasing the application fee for international students pursuing visas will undoubtedly have an impact on career options. This approach threatens the jobs of thousands of Australians who work hard to provide overseas students with better academic achievements. However, Grattan’s CEO, Brendan Coates, and Deputy Director of Migration, Trent Wiltshire, believe

“The increase in Australian student visa fees would discourage the growing number of international students who compete for cheaper, low-value courses from coming to Australia.”

Article by Abul Rizvi

According to an article written by Abul Rizvi,

“The measure has the potential to “scare away the better students”—those who have options and can study in competing nations with lower fees.”

Due to the fact that the prices for student visas in Australia are already higher than those in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, this hike may discourage prospective students from selecting Australia as their destination of choice over other options that are more cost-effective. If this were to occur, it would ultimately hinder Australia’s capacity to attract students with high levels of expertise.

It is possible that increasing the prices for Australian student visas could deter exceptionally talented students from enrolling in Australian universities, which will have a negative impact on the skills and job sector. In accordance with the recommendations made by the Grattan Institute, the government must resist the temptation to increase the cost of student visas. On the contrary, it ought to strengthen its approach to attracting the most talented students and encourage study in regions that continue to have a shortage of skilled labour.

Final Thoughts

You are already familiar with the opinions expressed by the Grattan Institute, the Immigration Department, and many experts in relation to the rise in the expenses associated with obtaining an Australian student visa. Instead of concentrating on restoring the integrity of the educational system, the administration has shifted its attention to trying to reduce migration.

The policies that have been developed by the government are unsuccessful, since the increase in the costs for student visas in Australia would result in a decrease in the demand for students who are brilliant and skilled in the country. Having said that, it is important to keep in mind that this action is already being discussed, but it has not yet been confirmed.

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