Since March 8, foreign students graduating from an Australian university who wish to stay in the country have had to pay temporary visa fees twice as high as the day before: 4,600 Australian dollars (2,800 euros) instead of 2,300 dollars (1,400 euros). An increase imposed without notice, underlines The Guardianwhich makes Australia the most expensive country in the world for students looking for their first professional experience.
When it comes to visa fees, Australia now ranks well above its direct competitors, including New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“At the last minute, we are treated like common ATMs, regrets engineering graduate student whose visa expires March 15. This measure will significantly damage Australia’s international reputation.â€
The image is taken by Ariya Masud, of the National Union of Students (NUS), the main representative organization of higher education students. He deplores that foreign students “are seen as ATMs supporting a multi-billion dollar industry, when these are human beings who are at risk of being forced to abandon the lives and careers they have built here.â€
This is the third time since February 2025 that the federal government has increased temporary visa fees for graduates – they had already more than doubled in 2024. At the same time, Canberra also lowered the age to 35 of eligibility for graduate student visa holders and reduced the maximum period of stay authorized in Australia to three years (compared to six years previously).
“Double the price of the entrance ticket […] means that those who are already integrated into Australian society and wish to contribute to the growth of our economy will not be able to participate…laments Jesse Gardner-Russell, president of the Council of Australian Alumni Associations (Capa).
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