Visa fees for international student visas applying to study in Australia will increase from AUS$710 to AUS$1,600 from 1 July.
The price increase, which has been controversial but so far not officially announced, is another major blow to the crisis-hit sector.
Commentators in the field predicted the obvious: This would discourage some students from applying and instead consider other destinations.
Stakeholders working in language schools noted that students were particularly vulnerable to voting with their feet.
“This makes Australia the most expensive country to apply for a visa, which is likely to put off many potential students.” said Surya Pokhrel of Educable Consultancy Nepal.
Ian Pratt, of Lexis English, said the news was being seen as another factor making business impossible for many English schools.
“Students considering a two-year master’s program may be reluctant to pay these exorbitant visa fees, but it is difficult to imagine that a student taking a relatively short English course would be willing to do so,” he said.
“I've spoken to several English schools today who say the latest change is 'the final nail in the coffin'.”
Three ministers have announced fee increases, while Home Secretary Clare O'Neil made clear in a statement her plans to tighten the sector.
“The changes taking effect today will help restore integrity to our international education system and create an immigration system that is fairer, smaller and capable of delivering better outcomes for Australia.”
This is exploiting young people!
Phil Honeywood, CEO, Australian Council for International Education
Many of Australia's recent changes are aimed at “pinky operators”, but there is no further explanation as to how higher visa fees would help improve integrity issues.
Nevertheless, Brendan O'Connor, the Minister for Skills and Training, also said: “Australia has a world-class education sector that attracts international students from around the world. An education they pay for.”
“From $710 to the current $1600, the cost of applying for a student visa is significantly higher than in any other country,” AAERI’s Nishi Borra wrote on LinkedIn.
“This is an obvious fraud. It's not clear how it will restore the integrity of the international education system, but it's much more equitable.”
The reasoning behind this is completely wrong.
Ravi Lochan Singh, Global Reach
Melanie MarFarlane of MM Migration and Recruitment spoke to The PIE. “I fully support the migration strategy, but I think it could create an elite class of people, mostly from China,” she said.
“It’s an ideal proposition to be able to get quality students because they pay higher tuition.”
“The reasoning behind this is completely wrong,” says Ravi Lochan Singh of Global Reach.
He continued: “It will create more hardship and make Australia less welcoming to international students without actually reducing the NOM.”
Lochan Singh said that Indian and Nepali students studying abroad are currently facing severe visa refusals, which are as high as 40 per cent.
“I have seen even denied visas (if the agency allows them) get approved upon re-application,” he said.
“But those students will now think twice before reapplying. This is unfair, as international applicants, unlike domestic visa applicants, do not have the option to appeal the visa decision.”
![](https://thepienews.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Bluesky-300x250-1.png)
![](https://thepienews.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Bluesky-300x250-1.png)