Australia has more than doubled the visa fee for international students in a bid to deter growing migration into the country that is putting a strain on the housing market.
The visa fee for foreign students has jumped to A$1,600 (€661) from A$710 (€440), while visitor visa holders and students with temporary graduate visas are barred from applying onshore for a student visa.
The decision comes as net immigration had climbed to 60 per cent to a record 548,800 people in the year to 30 September 2023, according to official data released in March.
Commenting on the move, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil stated that the changes “will help restore integrity to our international education system, and create a migration system which is fairer, smaller and better able to deliver for Australia.”
The government also stated that it would also close loopholes in visa rules that allowed foreign students to continuously extend their stay in Australia.
Australia remains one of the most sought-after study abroad destinations for foreign students, with international education bringing billions of dollars to the economy in the 2022-2023 financial year.