International students accuse Australia of treating them like ATMs after fees for one visa double without warning

Union says students blindsided after non-refundable visa fee rose from $2,300 to $4,600Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastInternational students say they feel like “ATMs” after the federal government quietly doubled...

<p>Union says students blindsided after non-refundable visa fee rose from $2,300 to $4,600</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/mar/03/australia-politics-live-anthony-albanese-mark-carney-iran-parliament-question-time-angus-taylor-pauline-hanson-jim-chalmers-rba-interest-rates-cost-of-living-inflation-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>International students say they feel like “ATMs” after the federal government quietly doubled application fees for <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485">temporary graduate visas</a>, making Australia’s costs the most expensive in the world for graduates hoping to stay onshore after completing their studies.</p><p>The non-refundable visa fee rose from $2,300 to $4,600 without prior warning on Sunday, placing Australia well in excess of competitors including New Zealand (A$1,406), Canada (A$262), the UK (A$1,665) and the US (A$661).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/03/international-student-fees-australia-visa-cost-double">Continue reading...</a>
Read the full article at: The Guardian World →
📧 Email 🐦 Twitter 💼 LinkedIn