Australia’s student visa fees are now the world’s highest. Here’s why S-E Asia got a pass
Australia has increased international student visa fees to record highs, though it has exempted students from ASEAN nations to strengthen regional diplomatic ties. The move is part of a broader government strategy to manage migration levels post-pandemic.
Why it matters
This policy shift balances domestic migration control with the strategic importance of international education and regional diplomacy.
SYDNEY: Australia has imposed a dramatic 25 per cent hike on international student visa fees but exempted students from South-east Asia from the increase as it seeks to boost ties with its regional neighbours.
The federal government on July 3 raised the non-refundable fee for students applying for visas in Australia from A$2,000 (S$1,810) to A$2,500.
But, for the first time, students from ASEAN countries were excluded from the hike and were subject only to an inflation-adjusted increase of A$50, bringing the fee to A$2,050.
Australia’s international student visa fees are the highest in the world.
Fees in the United States and Britain, for instance, are US$535 (S$690) and £558 (S$959) respectively.
The fee hike comes as the government attempts to address a surge in migration since the Covid-19 pandemic. The fee increased from A$710 to A$1,600 in July 2024 and to A$2,000 in July 2025.
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