International students across Australia face deep uncertainty following sudden federal visa changes taking effect in October 2026. The Albanese government implemented restrictions barring new applicants from bringing dependents and requiring offshore lodgments for visa hops, prompting widespread anxiety among students balancing rising fees and rigorous financial thresholds.
Students Confront Personal Toll of Visa Overhauls
Fatima Bonna meticulously mapped out her student visa conditions when she arrived in Adelaide to study, tracking expiration dates and rules surrounding dependents. Changing degrees and institutions after her first semester, however, altered her course timeline so that her visa expiration no longer aligned with graduation.
Under the federal rules introduced this month, she must travel offshore to apply for an extension.
I can’t sleep at night.
Fatima Bonna, student via The Guardian
The 27-year-old student from Bangladesh expressed frustration over being linked to economic pressures. I don’t want to be humiliated, I don’t want to be told that ‘you are the reason for our housing crisis’, because I am paying for it … and I am happy to go back to my country after getting the experience,
she said.
Tony Burke Enforces Federal Crackdown on Dependent Visas
Federal Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on September 17 that most international students are barred from bringing partners or children to Australia. Speaking at the National Press Club, Burke stated that the ban applies to new student visa applicants and the Temporary Graduate visa, which allows graduates to work locally after completing their studies. The measures aim to curb permanently temporary
migration and protect system integrity.
The policy exempts applicants from ASEAN and Pacific member countries, along with PhD students. Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill noted that the government is not in the business of separating families already onshore in Australia
and added that sympathetic consideration would be given to visitor visas where required to keep families together while a student completes their stay in Australia.
Applicants Face Escalating Visa Costs and Financial Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate access to at least $29,710 for annual living expenses, alongside tuition and travel costs. The primary student visa application fee, set at $710 in 2023, climbed to $1,600 in 2024, $2,000 in 2025, and reached $2,500 in July 2026. Applicants forfeit the fee if refused.
| Visa Type | 2023 Fee | 2024 Fee | 2025/2026 Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Visa (Subclass 500) | $710 | $1,600 | $2,500 (July 2026) |
| Temporary Graduate Visa | $2,300 (early 2024) | $4,600 (March) | $5,750 (July) |
Temporary Graduate visa fees climbed from $2,300 at the start of the year to $4,600 in March and $5,750 in July.
South Asian Recruitment Suffers Migration Agent Warnings
Education agents report that prospective students across South Asia are increasingly reconsidering Australia as a study destination. Gurpreet Dhawan, a Melbourne-based migration agent, warned that forcing students offshore to apply for new visas creates severe risks.
It’s a huge risk.
Gurpreet Dhawan, migration agent via The Guardian
Dhawan noted that students affected by the October 2 policy implementation have done everything correctly as per the law until 1 October
and woke up on 2 October and their life is upside down.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows international students contributed $24.4 billion in tuition fees during 2024, with universities receiving $12.33 billion—accounting for 27.3% of university revenue. Tighter Genuine Student requirements and arrival control laws under the Migration Amendment Act 2026 apply.