Australia Visa Fees Rise From 1 July 2026: New Costs for Subclass 500 and 485 Visas

On 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs updated its visa pricing table, applying some of the largest single-round visa fee increases in recent years. The changes are set out in the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 and apply to applications made on or after 1 July 2026.

For prospective students and graduates, the two changes that matter most are to the Student visa, Subclass 500, and the Temporary Graduate visa, Subclass 485.

The table below sets out the full list of fee changes taking effect from this date.

Where The Fees Are Rising

The fee increases apply across almost every visa category, from student and graduate visas through to partner, skilled and family visas. For the education and migration sector, the Student visa and the Temporary Graduate visa carry the greatest weight, since together they form the core pathway that brings international students to Australia and then allows graduates to remain and gain work experience afterward.

Fees shown relate to the primary applicant unless stated otherwise. Additional applicant charges, payment surcharges and second instalments may apply on top of these figures, and applicants should confirm the exact amount payable using the Visa Pricing Estimator on the day of lodgement.

Subclass 500 : The Student Visa

The general base application charge for the Student visa rose from $2,000 to $2,500, an increase of $500, or 25 percent. This is the entry point for almost every international student coming to study in Australia, whether at a university, vocational college or English language school.

A new concessional base application charge of $2,050 has also been introduced for passport holders from a specified list of Southeast Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This concessional category did not exist before 1 July 2026. Applicants from these countries, including Malaysia, previously paid the same general rate as all other passport holders, which was $2,000.

For Southeast Asian countries applicants, the real increase is $50, or approximately 2.5 percent, rather than the $500 increase applying to most other passport holders. This is a materially smaller increase and a useful point of reassurance for prospective students weighing up the cost of studying in Australia.

Subclass 485 : The Temporary Graduate Visa

The Temporary Graduate visa allows international students who have completed an eligible course in Australia to remain temporarily and gain skilled work experience after graduation. It is a key step on the pathway from study to longer term migration outcomes, including skilled visa options such as the Skilled Independent visa, Subclass 189, and employer sponsored pathways.

From 1 July 2026, the base application charge for primary applicants rose from $4,600 to $5,750, an increase of $1,150, or 25 percent. This follows an earlier increase to $4,600 within the same program year, meaning the Temporary Graduate visa has now been increased twice in a relatively short period.

For students weighing up the full cost of the study to graduate work pathway, this increase adds a meaningful amount to the overall migration budget, on top of course fees, living costs and the Student visa charge already paid at the start of their studies.

Budgeting For A Student Or Graduate Visa

Rising visa fees do not change the underlying opportunity, but they do make planning ahead more important. The practical priorities are straightforward.

• Confirm the exact fee payable for the relevant passport country and visa subclass using the official Visa Pricing Estimator, since concessional rates such as the one now available to Malaysian applicants are not always widely advertised.

• Budget for the full study to graduate pathway, including the Student visa charge, course fees, living costs and the Temporary Graduate visa charge, rather than the Student visa fee alone.

• Factor in additional applicant charges and payment surcharges for any family members included in the application.

• Lodge applications with enough lead time, since visa fees are payable at the time of lodgement and are non refundable if the application is later withdrawn.

Where the cost of a Student or Temporary Graduate visa raises questions about the wider pathway to permanent residency, skilled visa options such as the Subclass 189, Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 may offer a stronger long term route, depending on individual circumstances.

Getting Ready For The New Migration Year

With the new program year beginning on 1 July 2026, these fee changes mark the starting point for planning study and migration budgets for the year ahead. Course selection, visa lodgement timing and points strategy all take on added weight when application costs rise, and preparation takes time. Skills assessment, English testing, Expression of Interest lodgement and points accumulation can take months, and in some cases longer. The time to plan is now.

To understand exactly what a Student or Temporary Graduate visa will cost under the new fee structure, and how to plan a study and migration pathway around it, book a free consultation with the Newsted Global team today.

To start a conversation, just say "Hi" (sms/Whatsapp): +61410478759

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