Australia has increased the international student visa application fee by 25%, taking it from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500, while the Temporary Graduate Visa fee has also risen to AUD 5,750.
The fee increase comes despite growing concerns over higher student visa refusal rates. As visa application fees are non-refundable, many prospective Nepali students could face significant financial losses if their applications are rejected.
Education bodies across Australia have criticised the move, warning that rising costs and frequent policy changes could make Australia less attractive than destinations such as Canada, the UK and New Zealand.
Student representatives have urged prospective international students to carefully consider the increasing financial risks and policy uncertainty before choosing Australia for higher education.
International education remains one of Australia's largest export industries, contributing more than AUD 53 billion to the economy last year. However, the Australian Government says visa charges represent only a small part of the overall cost of studying in Australia and maintains that the changes support its migration management objectives.
