Australia Doubles Visa Fees for International Students to Curb ImmigrationAustralia Doubles Visa Fees for International Students to Curb Immigration Canberra, Australia The Australian government has significantly increased the cost of student visas, a move that has met with criticism from international student representatives. Effective Monday, the cost of a student visa application has surged from approximately $472 to $1,064. The government claims that this increase is necessary to fund initiatives such as financial support for apprenticeships and efforts to reduce graduate debt. Additionally, the visa price hike is seen as part of Australia’s broader effort to control immigration, which reached a record 528,000 in the 2022-2023 academic year following the COVID-19 pandemic. Phil Honeywood, head of the International Education Association of Australia, expressed concern that the increases would disproportionately affect students from the Indo-Pacific region, who have traditionally chosen Australia for their studies. “We are really at risk of losing an industry that is a $48 billion a year industry,” Honeywood said, predicting a decline in international student enrollment. Critics argue that the increased visa fees will only drive students away to other countries like the United States, rather than deterring them from coming to Australia. “Rather than restoring integrity to the international education sector, this measure will act as a deterrent to international students,” said Vicki Thompson, CEO of the Group of Eight, an education organization representing Australia’s leading research institutions. “Once again, our international students are being used as cash cows to support the economy and national research efforts.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during a press conference in Canberra, Australia, on April 13. His government on Monday more than doubled the cost of international student visas. File photo by Lukas Coch/EPA-EFE
July 1 (UPI) — Australia on Monday doubled the cost of student visas in a bid to slow immigration. This angered international student representatives.
The Australian federal government has increased the cost of a student visa application from about $472 to about $1,064.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government said the increase would fund several initiatives, including financial support for apprenticeships and efforts to reduce graduate debt.
The visa increase is also seen as part of Australia’s efforts to slow migration, which peaked at 528,000 in the 2022-2023 academic year following the COVID-19 crisis.
Phil Honeywood, head of the International Education Association of Australia, said the increases would particularly hurt students from the Indo-Pacific region, who had traditionally become dependent on Australia and the country of choice for education abroad.
“We are really at risk of losing an industry that is a $48 billion a year industry,” Honeywood told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. about the loss of students.
Opponents of the fee said the change will simply cause Australia to lose students to the United States and other competitors, rather than them staying and paying the increase.
“Rather than restoring integrity to the international education sector, this measure will act as a deterrent to international students,” said Vicki Thompson, CEO of the Group of Eight, an education organization made up of the country’s leading research institutions, according to The Guardian . .
“The recent crackdown on visa approvals has already sent a strong message that we are not open for business. Once again, our international students are being used as cash cows to support the economy and national research efforts and now to fund other government initiatives. .”
