Subclass 500 fee up 25% from 1 July 2026; here's what changed and how to plan around it

Australia's Department of Home Affairs has increased application fees across its student and post-study work visa categories, effective 1 July 2026. For Indian students planning to apply, this changes the upfront budget for an Australian application — here's what's different and what to check before you apply.

Key Facts at a Glance

• New Student visa fee (Subclass 500): AUD 2,500, up from AUD 2,000 (+25%)
• ELICOS (English-language study) visa fee: AUD 2,050, up from AUD 2,000
• Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485, post-study work): AUD 5,750, up from AUD 4,600
• Effective date: Applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026
• Refundable if rejected? No — the fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome
• Who isn't affected? Applications already lodged before 1 July 2026 follow the earlier fee structure; concessions continue for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste applicants

Why this matters for your planning

The visa application fee is paid upfront, before a decision is made — so it's part of your budget regardless of whether the visa is approved. At AUD 2,500 (roughly ₹1.6–1.65 lakh at current exchange rates), it's now one of the highest fixed costs in an Australian application, alongside tuition deposits and proof-of-funds requirements.

For students who've already been offered admission and are preparing to lodge their visa application, the practical takeaway is straightforward: budget for the new figure, and confirm your lodgement date, since fees are locked in at the point of application, not offer.

For students still comparing destinations, it's worth knowing that Australia's visa fee is now higher than the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand equivalents — a genuine factor to weigh alongside course quality, post-study work rights, and living costs when deciding where to apply. This is especially relevant for Kerala applicants budgeting tightly against education loans, where an unplanned fee increase at the application stage can affect cash flow if it isn't accounted for early.

What you can do

• If you're applying for the 2027 intake, factor the new fee into your budget now rather than at lodgement.
• If you're currently on a student visa nearing graduation, note that the Subclass 485 fee has also risen — plan for this if a post-study work visa is part of your pathway.
• If cost is a growing concern, it's worth discussing alternative destinations or scholarship options with a counsellor before ruling anything out — a higher visa fee doesn't necessarily change the overall value of a course or university.

IRS Study Abroad, Kottayam, tracks visa and policy changes like this across all major study destinations and helps students build a realistic, destination-specific budget — from application fees to living costs — before they commit to a country.