Indian Students and Tourists to Pay 13% More Visa Fees for Australia, Universities Also Increase Tuition Fees

The admission process for Australian universities is currently underway through the July Intake. If you are also planning to go to Australia for studies, work, or travel, then this news is for you. The Anthony Albanese Government has significantly increased the visa fees for Australia. This comes as a shock to the Indian students, tourists, and working professionals since they will have to pay the increased prices of up to 13%.

Australia has been a popular destination for Indian students, workers, and tourists for a long time now. They will have to rethink their plans for Australia.

For a Student Visa (subclass 500), you will have to pay AUD 1,808. Earlier, the fee was only AUD 1,600. Similarly, a visitor visa, which was AUD 150 earlier, will cost approximately AUD 169.50. The cost for a work visa has also increased from AUD 1,000 to about AUD 1,130.

Will International Students Be Affected by the Tuition Fee Hike?

According to the Australian Government, a total of 122,391 Indian students were studying in the country in the January- September 2023 session. Although India remains the second-largest source of international student enrollments in Australia, the number declined to around 118,109 students in 2024. With the latest increments in the visa fees and tuition fees, the number of Indian students in Australia is predicted to decrease further.

Many Australian Universities have increased the international tuition fees. Students will have to pay up to 7% more in tuition fees to live their Australian education dream. 
Several Australian universities have also increased their international tuition fees from 2025, with some courses jumping by over 7 percent. Indian students will have to pay AUD 56,480 per year for engineering and AUD 112,832 for clinical medicine at the University of Melbourne. Similarly, studying at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) for most courses will cost AUD 58,560 per year.

The universities have cited the rising operational costs as the reason for the tuition fee hike. They said that the recent hike is to ensure that quality education is delivered to the students. On the other hand, the Department of Home Affairs credited the visa fee increase to rising processing costs and inflation. 

The hike is going to affect the long-term diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries. The issue will likely be raised and discussed on appropriate platforms.

Prospective students and education consultants are critical of the hike. Ved Prakash Beniwal, a prominent education consultant and director of Jagvimal Consultants, said, "This sudden hike in visa and tuition fees is a major setback for Indian students and families who dream of studying in Australia. Many will now reconsider their plans or explore alternative destinations where the return on investment is more feasible. It’s crucial that such decisions are made with greater transparency and in consultation with stakeholders, as they directly impact the aspirations of thousands of students each year."