Australia’s Post-Study Visa Fee Just Doubled to AUD 4,600
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The Overnight Change
From AUD 2,300 to AUD 4,600 with one day’s notice. Here’s what changed, what it costs, and whether Australia is still worth it.
What This Means for You
In a single move, Australia became the most expensive post-study work visa in the English-speaking world. Here’s exactly what Indian students should know before committing in 2026.
What just changed with the Australia post-study visa fee
On 1 March 2026, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs announced, without prior notice, that the application fee for the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) post-study work visa would more than double overnight. From AUD 2,300, the fee jumped to AUD 4,600 (approximately ₹2.6 lakh). The change took effect the same day.
Dependent fees rose alongside. Adult partners or dependants now pay AUD 2,300 (up from AUD 1,115). Children under 18 pay AUD 1,150 (up from AUD 560).
For perspective, the new Australia post-study visa fee is now:
- Roughly 10x Canada’s post-graduation work permit fee
- 3x New Zealand’s post-study work visa fee
- 2x the UK’s Graduate Route fee
- Higher than the US F-1 visa fee
In a single move, Australia became the most expensive post-study work visa in the English-speaking world.
Why Australia raised the visa fee
The government framed it as a “cost-recovery” measure. In reality, however, it’s part of a broader package of changes that began in 2024 to slow international student migration. For example, earlier moves included raising the Subclass 500 student visa fee to AUD 2,000, lifting English-language thresholds to IELTS 6.0, and raising mandatory living-cost evidence to AUD 29,710 per year.
Indian student enrolments in Australia are still strong. However, new applications dropped roughly 20% in late 2025 versus the previous year. As a result, the 485 hike is unlikely to reverse that trend.
What the new fee means for your wallet
If you were already planning Australia, here’s how the math shifts.
A Sydney or Melbourne 2-year MS now costs roughly ₹52-65 lakh total. That includes around ₹35-45 lakh in tuition, ₹14-17 lakh in living costs, plus ₹1.13 lakh for the Subclass 500 visa and ₹2.6 lakh for the Subclass 485 at the end. Compared to a year ago, that’s roughly ₹1.5 lakh higher just from the 485 fee. For families travelling together, meanwhile, the dependent fee hike adds another ₹65,000-1.3 lakh per dependant.
The change won’t break a serious budget. However, it does narrow the gap between Australia and the UK (one-year master’s), Canada (cheaper PGWP) and Germany (near-zero tuition).
Is Australia still worth it?
Honestly, yes, for the right candidates. Australia still offers:
- 8 universities in the QS top 200, including Melbourne, Sydney, ANU and UNSW
- 2-3 years of post-study work rights under Subclass 485
- Strong demand in mining, healthcare, IT, construction and renewable energy
- A clearly defined skilled migration pathway through Subclass 189/190/491
- An extra year of post-study work for graduates from regional areas
What it isn’t anymore: the cheapest option in the English-speaking world. If you’re cost-sensitive, for instance, Germany and Ireland now offer better ROI on similar 2-year horizons.
What Indian students should do about the new post-study visa fee
- Already lodged a 485 before 1 March? The old fee applies. Confirm the acknowledgement.
- Graduating in 2026 or 2027? Build the new AUD 4,600 into your loan budget. Most students forget post-study visa fees when planning finances.
- Regional stream applicants. The second post-study work stream (1-2 extra years for regional graduates) is now even more valuable. Factor it in.
- Still deciding? Compare Australia honestly against UK 1-year masters, Germany’s near-zero tuition, and Canada’s clearer PR pathway. Australia is still strong, but no longer obviously dominant.
The bottom line
Australia raised the cost of access without warning, which is unusual policy practice. For students with the budget and the right course alignment, however, it’s still a great destination. But the easy “obviously cheaper than the US” argument no longer holds. As a result, run the numbers carefully before you commit.
If you want a side-by-side comparison of Australia versus your other destination shortlist with the new fees built in, that’s exactly what a Learner Aid counselling session is for. Book free at learneraid.com/contact-us.
Sources: Australian Department of Home Affairs (1 March 2026), ICEF Monitor, The PIE News, SBS News.
