What are the new costs for the Australian Visa Application in 2024?

Want to know about the IMMEDIATE DOUBLING OF VISA APPLICATION FEES IN AUSTRALIA

Here are the highlights of the following

●       What are the new costs for Australian Visa in 2024?

●       Why the increase?

A notable change in the student visa application process may impact those who are looking for higher studies in Australia.

From July 1, 2024, onwards, the Australian Government applied an immediate doubling in the fees of student visa applications. This means that the cost of applying for an Australian student visa has risen from AUD 710 to AUD 1,600.

An official government release states“This increase reflects the increasing value of education in Australia and reflects the Government commitment to restoring integrity in the international education sector.”

●      What are the new costs for the Australian Visa Application in 2024?

The cost of applying for a student visa to Australia has doubled effectively in an immediate manner. The previous fee was around 630 AUD and because of the new changes, prospective students from now onwards will have to pay 1,260 AUD as per the changesets. The sustainable increase has happened to ensure the sustainability of the immigration system and is part of a border strategy.

Moreover, with the increase in fees for the main applicant, the charges have also been hiked for accompanying applicants. For 18-year-olds and above, the charges are AUD 1,445, and for minor applicants, it is AUD 90.

It must be noted that along with upheaval in the fees, the rejection rate has also reached historically higher in at least the first four months of this year.

●      Why there is an increase?

The Minister of Home Affairs Clare O’Neil said “The changes coming today in the force will restore the integrity of our education system and create a migration system which is fairer, smaller, and better able to deliver for Australia.”

The Australian government has cited some potential explanations for this surprising increase:

A.   Cost Recovery:similar to other countries, Australia is also coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased fees can be seen as an attempt to bolster the revenues.

B.   Quality Assurance:one of the reasons for raising fees is that the Government wanted to ensure that students who are visionary and committed to their future apply, in doing so the integrity and quality of the Australian Education system will be maintained.

C.   Promoting Specific Sectors:it is possible that the increased fees could be used for resources such as maintaining databases, conducting compliance checks, and processing applications. The fee hike aims to cover these escalating costs.

As a response to the Group of Eight leading research-intensive universities, Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said: “Far from ‘restoring the integrity in the international education sector’ this measure will be a deterrent to the international students. The recent crackdown on visa approvals has already sent a strong signal that we are not open for business.”\

●      Advice for prospective students.

Here are some pieces of advice for prospectivestudents to tackle the increased visa application fee:

1.    Plan ahead

Start saving early and explore scholarship opportunities that can reduce your burden of the increased costs.

2.    Seek financial assistance

Explore scholarships and financial aid options provided by private organizations, governments, and universities. Many institutes provide financial support for students willing to study internationally. Try to seek more and more financial assistance. You can Contact Aptech Study Abroad for the following assistance.

3.    Stay Informed

As policies can change, stay updated about the changes to visa regulations and fees. Staying informed will help you make the best decision in your education journey. For information, you can visit the website of Home and Affairs of Australia or hire the best consultant from a trusted consultancy firm Aptech Study Abroad.

If you want to know more about the fee structure and the options to reduce the costs then you can consult our consultation experts. We (Aptech Study Abroad) are one of the best consultancy firms in India. Our experienced consultants have a proper vision to guide you in a successful and desired direction. We will help you to create a budget-friendly chart where you can reduce your expenses other than application fees.