Australia has raised the cost of student visas by a surprising 125%, leaving Indian students and the government in a panic. Effective July 1, 2024, the new cost has gone up from AUD 710 (about Rs 38,930) to AUD 1,600 (roughly Rs 87,731). The Indian government is worried about how this significant spike will affect people. The issue has been brought up with Australian authorities, according to Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs. “The Australian government raised the cost of overseas student visas… In his response to the Rajya Sabha, he said, “The matter has been taken up with relevant authorities along with other issues related to students.”
Australia remains a top destination for Indian students, with over 1.22 lakh enrolled in Australian institutions between January and September 2023. However, stricter visa policies, including the increased fee, have contributed to a sharp 56% decline in visas issued to Indian students between October 2023 and August 2024.
Along with the cost increase, Australia has made it more difficult for students to enter the country by imposing a number of new visa restrictions. Higher financial duties are one of these requirements, students must now exhibit AUD 29,710 in living expenditures, up from AUD 24,505. With the minimum IELTS score rising from 5.5 to 6.0, the requirements for English competence have also been increased. Additionally, post-study job rights have been curtailed, allowing only two years of employment for bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates. In order to evaluate candidates’ intentions and academic ambitions, a new “Genuine Student Rule” has also been applied.
It is expected that the Indian government will keep interacting with Australia in order to resolve these issues. With programs like youth mobility and post-study job opportunities, the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) keeps nurturing cooperation.
