Student Visa and Temporary Graduate Visa Fee Update: 1 July 2026
Last updated: July 2026 If you’re planning to study in Australia or apply for post-study work rights, the start of the new program year has brought a real jump in costs. As of 1 July 2026, the Subclass 500 Student visa application fee has risen to AUD2,500, and the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa fee now sits at AUD5,750, according to the Department of Home Affairs current visa pricing table. The good news, if there is any, is that the financial proof requirements you need to meet for a student visa have not moved. Living costs, tuition evidence, and travel funds are unchanged from the previous program year. This article breaks down exactly what changed, what didn’t, and what it means for your total application budget. What Changed in the 1 July 2026 Program Year Update Every year on 1 July, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) reviews and adjusts visa application charges as part of its standard program year update. This year’s adjustment is larger than usual for two visa categories that matter most to Indonesian students: the Subclass 500 Student visa and the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa. Both fees increased on the same day, 1 July 2026, while the financial capacity requirements that sit alongside them stayed exactly where they were. New Student Visa Fee: AUD2,500 The Subclass 500 Student visa application charge is now AUD2,500 for the primary applicant, per DHA’s current visa pricing table. This is the third increase in three years: the fee moved from AUD1,600 to AUD2,000 on 1 July 2025, and now to AUD2,500 on 1 July 2026, an increase of AUD500 in a single year. This charge applies at the point DHA receives your application, not your decision date. Budget for AUD2,500 as a fixed, non-refundable cost, separate from your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and any biometrics fees. New Temporary Graduate Visa Fee: AUD5,750 The steeper change is on the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa, the post-study work visa most international graduates rely on after finishing their degree. The application charge is now AUD5,750, effective 1 July 2026. This is the second hike in four months. DHA doubled the fee from AUD2,300 to AUD4,600 on 1 March 2026, then added a further 25 percent on 1 July 2026 to reach AUD5,750, a cumulative rise of roughly 150 percent since the start of the year, according to the Temporary Graduate visa page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. If you’re a current student expecting to transition to a Subclass 485 visa after graduation, this cost now needs a much bigger line item in your post-study planning. Our 485 visa checklist covers the documents you’ll need alongside this fee. Not sure which pathway still makes sense for you at these new prices? Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia and we’ll walk through the numbers for your specific situation. Financial Proof Requirements: Unchanged While the application fees jumped, the underlying financial capacity requirement for student visa applicants has not changed. You still need to demonstrate access to funds covering three components: 12 months of living costs, your first year of tuition, and travel costs. Requirement Amount (unchanged) Living costs, student AUD29,710 per year Living costs, accompanying partner AUD10,394 per year Living costs, accompanying child AUD4,449 per year Tuition fees First 12 months of your course, or full course cost if under a year Travel costs AUD2,000 (varies by home country) These figures come from DHA’s financial capacity requirement for student visa applicants and sit separately from the visa application charge itself. A student applying alone, for example, still needs to show roughly AUD29,710 in living costs on top of tuition and travel, exactly as before. Our detailed breakdown of financial proof requirements walks through acceptable evidence, including bank statements and loan documentation, if you want the full picture. What This Means for Your Application Budget The new fees don’t change how much you need to prove you have, but they raise how much you’ll actually spend to get the visa in hand. A student applying for a course costing AUD20,000 a year now needs roughly AUD52,000 total once the AUD2,500 visa fee is added to living costs, tuition, and travel, about AUD500 more than under the 2025-26 fees. Graduates planning to move onto a Subclass 485 visa should factor in AUD5,750 for that second application on top of what they’ve already paid. None of this changes your eligibility. It changes your cash flow, and applicants who budget around the old fee amounts are the ones most likely to be caught short. How RACC Indonesia Can Help You Fee changes like this one land without much warning and tend to catch applicants mid-preparation. Our team at RACC Indonesia tracks every DHA program year update as it happens, so our clients are never quoting outdated numbers when preparing financial evidence or planning a post-study pathway. If you’re budgeting for a student visa application or weighing your Subclass 485 options after graduation, a consultation with our team confirms exactly what you’ll need to pay and prove under the current rules. RACC Indonesia is a Registered Migration and Education Consulting Company (MARN1572961), with 20 years of experience helping Indonesian students and graduates through the Australian visa system. Disclaimer: This content is general information about studying, working, and migrating to Australia and is not personal migration advice. Immigration rules change and every situation is different. For advice tailored to your circumstances, book a consultation with RACC Indonesia’s MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 1572961). BOOK CONSULTATION Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) How much is the Australian student visa fee from 1 July 2026? From 1 July 2026, the Subclass 500 Student visa application charge is AUD2,500 for the primary applicant, according to the Department of Home Affairs current visa pricing table. This is up from AUD2,000, the fee that applied through the 2025-26 financial year. How much does the Temporary Graduate visa cost now? The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa now costs AUD5,750, effective 1 July 2026. This follows an
