Australia has more than doubled the cost of student visa fees for international students from 710 dollars to 1,600 dollars. The move will impact lakhs of Indian students planning to study in the country. The decision has triggered outrage among the student community.
Another significant change is that onshore visa applications will no longer be permitted. It means applicants now have to submit a visa application from abroad and not from Australia. Because of this those on Temporary Graduate, Visitor, and Maritime Crew visas, will no longer be eligible to apply for a student visa while they are in Australia.
The Australian government has already lowered the age limit of the students applying for temporary graduate visas from 50 to 35 years from the 1st of July. Australia’s visa application fee is the highest compared to countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the US and the UK.
The fee hike is expected to impact Indian students significantly, constituting the second-largest group of international students in Australia. Additionally, temporary visa holders, including those on Temporary Graduate, Visitor, and Maritime Crew visas, will no longer be eligible to apply for a student visa while residing in Australia, affecting numerous Indian students currently in the country.
“The changes coming into force today will help restore integrity to our international education system and create a migration system that is fairer, smaller, and better able to deliver for Australia,” said Clare O’Neil, Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security of Australia.
The Australian government’s measures are aimed at ensuring that only genuine students are granted visas, thereby supporting the country’s economic growth.