Australia Visa Fee Hike: Does it Affect International Students?

By Neerav July 16, 2024
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International students who are planning to choose Australia as their study-abroad destination may face some challenges. Two major changes are there grom the government that are sure to affect all international students may become a challenging thing for acquiring visa.
First, the fee for a student visa has been increased, and second, the TSMIT (temporary skilled migration income threshold) rate has been upscaled.

International students intending to pursue education in Australian universities will be required to pay a higher fee for international student visas. The fees for the international student visa have been raised from $710 to $1,600 starting July 1, 2024, with a 125% increase. Students must contribute an extra $890 to cover the $1,600 visa charges.
This increase is evidence of the evolving quality of education in Australia and aligns with the Albanese Government’s platform to rein in corruption in the international education market.

It will also support numerous new initiatives in education and migration systems, such as:

  • Measures endorsed by the Universities Accord, including making HECS (Heritage Education and Communication Service) fairer, paid practical more effective, and fee-free university ready courses
  • Aspects of vocational education and training, such as funding for apprentices and their employers
  • The continuing process of the Migration Strategy

Several previously announced elements of the Migration Strategy will also come into effect, including:

  • Raising the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) from $70,000 to $73,150 by providing yearly indexation. This is the second hike by this government after the “rate of indexation was put on ice” at $53,900.
  • Simplifying temporary graduate visas by reducing the duration of visas and restricting the age of visa applicants.
  • Discontinuing ‘visa hopping’ by closing loopholes that allow students and other temporary visa holders to repeatedly renew their visas in Australia indefinitely.
  • Strengthening on-hire mobility to improve the quality of temporary workers, avoid abuses, and increase effectiveness by extending the time for temporary skilled migrants that can stay in Australia with stay duration for employers from 60 days to 180 days.
  • Enacting the Strengthening Employer Compliance Bill 2023, which introduces new criminal penalties for employers who violate the rights of migrants.
  • Introducing the Workplace Justice Visa Pilot, allowing temporary visa holders to stay in Australia for a short time to pursue workplace justice.

Source: BUSINESS STANDARD

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