Australia Hikes Visa Fees Again: How Will It Impact Indian Students?

Last Updated:July 10, 2026, 20:38 IST

The Australian government has introduced a lower fee for applicants enrolling in English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS).

Indian students planning to study in Australia will face higher upfront costs after the Australian government raised the application fee for its standard student visa from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500, effective July 2026.

The 25% increase marks the second fee hike in as many years. In 2025, Australia had already raised the cost of the Student Visa (subclass 500) from AUD 1,600 to AUD 2,000. With the latest revision, the visa fee has surged by more than 56% in just two years, making Australia one of the most expensive destinations for international students even before tuition fees and living expenses are taken into account.

Australia Student Visa Fee Hiked By AUD 500

For most Indian students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate or research programmes, the higher visa fee will add to the growing financial burden of studying abroad. Apart from visa charges, students are also required to cover tuition fees, health insurance, accommodation and other living costs.

However, the Australian government has introduced a lower fee for applicants enrolling in English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS). Eligible students taking these English-language programmes will now pay AUD 2,050 instead of the standard AUD 2,500 fee.

ELICOS courses are designed for international students seeking to improve their English skills before enrolling in universities or vocational programmes. Education providers had argued that charging such students the same visa fee as those pursuing multi-year degrees discouraged enrolments.

The revised fee structure does not affect admission criteria or eligibility requirements for Indian applicants. Instead, it changes the amount students must pay when submitting their visa applications.

According to the Australian government, the fee increase is part of broader efforts to strengthen the integrity of the student visa system and ensure the long-term sustainability of the country’s international education sector.

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Manisha Roy

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish...Read More

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