Students feel like cash cows after government quietly hikes fees by thousands

Sunday, 15 March 2026 07:28

The cost of the visa doubled overnight this month.

Weihong Liang is one of many international students left feeling like a cash cow after the price of a visa he was on quietly doubled to $4600 overnight.

"It feels like a scam," he said.

Originally from China, Liang moved to Australia to pursue a better education in 2022.

Weihong Liang, President of the International Students Representative Council of Australia.

He successfully applied for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) and studied politics and social science.

The visa allows international students who have gained qualifications in Australia to stay for another three years to live, work or pursue post-graduate study.

The Home Affairs Department raised the visa application fee from $2300 to $4600 on March 1.

It applies to all international students, except for those from the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

"This exception is in recognition of the importance of Australia's special ties with the Pacific," a spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs said.

"Excluding Pacific and Timor-Leste applicants from this VAC increase supports the Australian government's commitment to deepening engagement with countries in the Pacific region by fostering global education, workforce development, and skills exchange."

Students at the University of Technolgy, Sydney, which has ranked in the top 200 universities in the world. 2nd September 2020 Photo: Janie Barrett

Australia's fourth-largest export is education, behind coal, iron ore and natural gas.

More than 843,500 international students study in Australia annually and contribute $53.6 billion to the economy.

Most of the international student intake comes from China, India, Nepal, Vietnam and Colombia.

Weihong, who is also the president of the International Students Representative Council of Australia, said international students are already taking out loans, asking their family for help and working more hours to make ends meet.

He said he's been left feeling like a cash cow.

"The tuition fee and all costs of the application, including the visa fee, insurance fee and travel fee, is quite high," he said.

"We are really unhappy that the government looks like they just want to get more money from us."

Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Minister for Cyber Security, Minister for the Arts and Leader of the House Tony Burke during the presentation and motion for second reading of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026, in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 20 January 2026. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Weihong said the temporary graduate visa price hike could also deter some students from studying in Australia.

But the Home Affairs Department does not expect international students to avoid studying in Australia.

"Australia has a well-earned reputation for its world-class education offerings and the attractiveness of the Australian lifestyle," a department spokesperson said.

"The VAC increase will unlikely be a barrier to those wishing to remain in Australia after graduation."

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