Australia Student Visa Fee Hike 2026: Subclass 500 & 485 Visas Up by 25%, ELICOS Cost Rises!

Australia has raised its student visa fee by AUD 500. It has also introduced a separate charge for English-language (ELICOS) applicants. The post-study work visa fee has also jumped by 25%. The changes add fresh costs for Indian students planning to study, work, or settle in Australia in 2026 or later.

Australia's student visa costs have increased again, effective July 1, 2026. This time the increase comes with a twist. Overnight, the government raised the Subclass 500 student visa and TGV fee. For the first time, Australia's DHS has created a separate rate for students applying under the ELICOS category. For Indian students already budgeting for tuition, accommodation and a weakening Rupee, it's one more cost to plan around.

Australia Visa Fee Changes w.e.f. from July 1, 2026

The following fee changes proposed for different visas in Australia are as follows:

The pattern is clear: Australia is leaning on visa fees as a steady revenue source, even as applications in some sectors, like ELICOS, have been declining.

Why Have Australia Visa Fees Gone Up Mid-Year?

The mid-year hike shows the government isn’t waiting for a new admission cycle to revise visa costs. Instead, it is continuing to increase charges as part of its broader migration policy, despite concerns from education providers and slowing enrolment growth in some sectors.

This reform reinforces one clear message: studying in Australia is becoming progressively more expensive for international students.

Australia Visa Fee Changes' Impact on Indian Students

Impact on Indian students will be stronger. Here is how the changes in different visa fees in Australia alter the decision to study, live and work in Australia:

• Higher upfront cost: Australia already has one of the world's most expensive student visa systems; this pushes it further.
• Non-refundable risk: A rejected application still costs the full fee, a bigger loss now than before.
• Harder hit for ELICOS students: On short English-language courses, the visa fee now eats up a large share of total cost.
• Costlier post-study path: Students planning to work in Australia after graduating also face a steeper Temporary Graduate visa fee.

For Indian students and families planning an Australia application, the practical move is to budget for the visa fee early, alongside tuition and living costs, and keep a buffer in case a second fee, whether for a graduate visa or a reapplication, comes up later.