Australia's student visa fees doubled to slow record migration, ease housing market

International students hoping to study in Australia must now pay a higher price to qualify for a visa. The revised fee comes after immigration reached a record high last year, sparking calls for stricter migration laws. Starting from Jul 1, applying for a student visa in Australia will become far more expensive than in any other country. At a price tag of $1,067, Australia ranks the highest in terms of student fees, beating both the United States and Canada. Roger Maynard reports.

[@randomterror7]

It’s useless to double the visa fees. Put a hard quota on the number of visas issued if you are genuinely interested in reducing migration.

[@Mr_Squiggle]

Experience shows it deters students, long experience. Genuine students will not have many issues. Those seeking other visas, need to leave first, so reduces demand for housing. Unless you are planning to live in a tent?

[@jejudo3000]

No wonder Canada has so much foreign students crisis, because their fees are among the lowest

[@huhujojo1968]

Canada is over ran by Indian students. It is more a human smuggling industry than education.

[@nityanidha3526]

If you can just regulate the number of Visa being offered,that would be far Visa expenses is not the answer

[@Mr_Squiggle]

Unless you are enrolling in a cheap dodgy course, the visa fee is not expensive. Do you want a job when you get here? If so, you had better hope those who have been working here on Student Visas are already are gone, or no job for you! People staying longer means less jobs for new student arrivals, and wage theft and exploitation.

[@jillybeanjillybean2322]

They should triple it

[@spotlight7743]

CNA, how did you get the figure for US visa fee at 0:30 as below $500 ? It currentity costs 535 for a student visa.

[@barnaadhikari5157]

This was quite harsh desion in sudden and those students who have already in Australia got afffected but this will lead to serious consequences for Australia in future. Lets see.

[@tropicalsun5817]

But they know that they have to go back to their own countries after their study. That's what this is all about

[@devildevil2271]

From PRC and India, in other word they will become Australia citizens. What happened to the song " go West", from the pet shop boys

[@Truthseeker371]

Build more affordable houses. Encourage the home owning elderies to offer rooms to the overseas students. The shortage of housing is the chronically negative problem in Australia.

[@Mr_Squiggle]

Why should an elderly person be forced to live with you? Too much risk.

[@josenwushangkehan]

Is Australia the only option for education???? Go to other countries lah....why so difficult?? Now certain part of Asia also offers competitive tertiary education as well...

[@peterking6931]

Better they stop it 100% They can study online...why come to Aust. Or is it a defacto permanent residence visa.

[@thurston905]

Meaningless. It’s the University fees that should be doubled.

[@MrKar18]

Not really. Some students drop off in mid and results in illegal immigration or keep swapping visas for one or the other between work or education.

[@45641560456405640563]

Something tells me you have no idea how much these degrees are in the first place.

[@catherinethemba]

Selling your souls Oz

[@ben0nib0y]

A step in the right direction to reduce immigration but not enough. Increase university fees substantially and remove all post grad work rights. That will really make a difference. Australia is full and non-skilled migration should be stopped completely.

[@rajaabubakar4104]

Yes please do it problem is after 3,4 years they are gonna beg to students please come we need you when they will come then exploit it . Its happening for 20 years your memory is short just

[@ben0nib0y]

@@rajaabubakar4104 our international student setup is a joke - all it's done is reduce standards because many international students are not capable and also driven up housing costs and put strain on our infrastructure and society. We should only have skilled migration. End of. Come and study here by all means but you must leave as soon as you've finished your degree.

[@skullcrusher8981]

​@@ben0nib0yPutting a strain? There are 26 million Australians and only 700,000 international students, do you seriously believe that?, Why not put a cap on the number of visas issued instead of robbing students?, Increasing the fees isn't going to guarantee the quality of immigrants, you just want the money🤷

[@ben0nib0y]

@@skullcrusher8981 agree about reducing all migration, apart from skilled migration, which should be limited to 100k visas a year. Students are having a huge impact on housing - because they compete with young people and low income earners and are concentrated in major cities. Our international student program has not benefited Australia as a whole, only universities. Remove post-grad work rights and the number of students would plummet. Sometimes you have to get smaller to get better. This is going to be a huge issue at next year's election. Cut student numbers drastically and double fees. Win win for Australia.

[@skullcrusher8981]

@@ben0nib0y You still don't get it international students already have to pay higher tuition fees and they also have a work restriction and most of them have student loans, so they are already at a competitive disadvantage with the Australians. The government is basically trying to cover up their own incompetence that has caused this crisis. Well, if you're only going to talk about increasing the cost, then you should also stop talking about quality migration 🤷. Without post grad work rights how are you going to know their eligibility for being an skilled migrant?

[@rjclue2630]

It’s good for stralia.

[@247TravelYT]

They should invest the money 💰 in students and other accomodations and see it as an opportunity 🏢 The world including UK is facing a shortage of student enrollment from foreign countries. Australia 🦘 is only gaining money 🤑💰

[@charmaine8512]

India should invest in universities as we see youngsters coming to using student visa as a LOOP HOLE but believe me the quality of students passing out seem questionable. Are the teachers full time or are is it for the government coffer attraction. This will crash in a few years. Learn from the Arab countries where education is taken seriuously. Here it is a quick way to solve the ageing crisis. Dont fool potential immigrants. Are they aware that everything is unaffordable, are they willing to gamble their future.

[@rjclue2630]

Indian education is very bad. 90% of graduates are not skilled or fit to work. 😮 in their own country. Pls don’t come to Australia for settle down. Stay where you are and come for travel and a laugh. 😊 stay put handouts and beggars