Australia’s ELICOS Sector Slams Dutton’s Student Visa Fee Hike Proposal
2 Min Read
Australia’s ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) sector has fiercely criticised Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s pledge to significantly raise student visa fees if the Coalition wins the federal election, calling the move “fatal” for the industry.
Under the proposed reforms, visa fees would soar to AUD $2,500 for standard applicants and AUD $5,000 for those applying to Group of Eight universities. The plan also includes capping new international student arrivals at 240,000 annually — a stricter limit than Labor’s scrapped ESOS Amendment Bill.
The announcement comes less than a year after the Labor government increased visa fees by 125%, making Australia the most expensive country for student visas worldwide. Ian Pratt, managing director of Lexis English, said the 2024 hike had an “immediate and crushing” impact, leading to a 50% drop in English language enrolments.
“A second increase would be a major disincentive,” Pratt stated. “For short-course English students, it would effectively remove Australia as an option.”
Adding to the concern is the non-refundable nature of the visa fee, even in the case of application refusal — a growing issue with rejection rates over 50% in some key source markets. Pratt likened the current system to “gambling at the Department of Home Affairs Casino.”
English Australia, the peak body for English language education, warned that a AUD $2,500 fee is “utterly disproportionate” for the average short-term student, whose course lasts less than 20 weeks. It argued that such a fee sends a message that “Australia does not welcome international students.”
Langports CEO Anna Bell also appealed to Dutton in a public letter, urging a maximum visa fee of AUD $800 for sub-one-year courses.
With the sector still recovering from COVID-19 disruptions, stakeholders say Dutton’s proposal risks long-term damage to Australia’s global education standing — and challenges the perception of the country as a welcoming, student-friendly destination.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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