Student Visa Fees Doubled—International Kids Now Funding the Budget
Author by
Phor
Tuesday, 2025 Jul 01|
11:15 AM
Starting today, international students coming to Australia will need to fork out $1,600 more just to get through the front door.
Student visa fees have jumped from $710 to $1,600, making us officially the most expensive country in the world to study in — before you even hit orientation.
Why? Because the government wants to raise $760 million to fund election promises.
So naturally, they looked around the budget and thought: “What if we mugged international kids instead of taxing billionaires?” Easy pickings.
They don’t vote, they don’t complain (publicly), and they usually just suck it up to chase a better future.
Labor’s spinning this as “bringing us in line with other countries.” That’s rich, considering the UK’s visa is around £490 and Canada’s sits under CA$200.
But sure, “alignment.” They’re also saying it’ll improve the “integrity” of the migration system.
Translation: we let way too many people in during COVID recovery to plug job gaps and boost the housing market, and now we’re quietly locking the doors while pretending it’s about quality.
The Greens are furious. Universities are panicking. And international students?
They’re rechecking their Google Maps for literally anywhere else.
Because it’s not just the fee — it’s the cost of living, housing shortage, and two-year wait times for residency applications that make this country feel like a trap with nice beaches.
Let’s be clear: these students don’t just study.
They work in cafes, fill health care jobs, pay rent (premium rent), and still get treated like a burden every time the budget runs thin.
They bring in billions annually.
But now they’re being squeezed to fund promises for people who probably think “student visa” is a reality show.
And the timing? Perfect.
Just as Australia’s trying to rebuild its education sector post-pandemic, we send out a massive “not welcome” sign with a dollar amount stapled to it.
The cherry on top?
Most of these students don’t get refunds if things go sideways.
They get ghosted by Home Affairs, or dumped mid-degree when course requirements change.
And now they’ll pay double for the privilege.
But hey — at least your degree comes with a free lesson in how neoliberalism works.
First semester: Cash Extraction 101.
🧨 You made it to the end. now what?
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