A wave of new student-visa rules unveiled on 8 February 2026 puts Australia in the same ‘high-scrutiny’ club as the United States, Canada and the UK. The headline changes include a hike in the Subclass 500 application fee to AUD 2,000, a fresh Genuine Student (GS) test that replaces the long-standing Genuine Temporary Entrant statement, and India’s re-classification to the highest risk tier—triggering tougher document checks and longer processing times.
Education agents say the GS test is the biggest procedural shift in a decade. Applicants must now provide granular evidence of study intent, career plans and ties to their home country. “Cut-and-paste statements are dead,” warns Sydney-based agent Neha Kumar. Universities are scrambling to update offer letters so they spell out course relevance to satisfy case officers.
For applicants navigating these tighter rules, VisaHQ can simplify the process by offering step-by-step guidance on compiling GS documentation, real-time updates on risk-tier requirements, and streamlined Subclass 500 filing tools. Explore resources and live support at https://www.visahq.com/australia/
![Australia Tightens Student-Visa Gateways With Higher Fees and New ‘Genuine Student’ Test]()
The government has also lifted the 2026 visa cap to 295,000 places—up from 270,000 last year—but insists the quality bar is rising in parallel. Home Affairs argues that steep fees and risk-tiering will deter non-genuine applicants and protect Australia’s education brand after several high-profile visa-fraud scandals in 2025.
For employers, the new regime reshapes graduate-talent pipelines. Fewer non-STEM students may qualify for post-study work, while STEM and healthcare graduates remain in high demand. Mobility managers should review scholarship budgets—the higher application fee alone adds roughly AUD 300,000 in costs for a cohort of 150 interns.
Students already in the system escape the new fee but must pass the GS test for any subsequent visa. Immigration lawyers advise lodging well-documented applications at least eight weeks before course start dates as embassies adjust to the rules.
Education agents say the GS test is the biggest procedural shift in a decade. Applicants must now provide granular evidence of study intent, career plans and ties to their home country. “Cut-and-paste statements are dead,” warns Sydney-based agent Neha Kumar. Universities are scrambling to update offer letters so they spell out course relevance to satisfy case officers.
For applicants navigating these tighter rules, VisaHQ can simplify the process by offering step-by-step guidance on compiling GS documentation, real-time updates on risk-tier requirements, and streamlined Subclass 500 filing tools. Explore resources and live support at https://www.visahq.com/australia/
The government has also lifted the 2026 visa cap to 295,000 places—up from 270,000 last year—but insists the quality bar is rising in parallel. Home Affairs argues that steep fees and risk-tiering will deter non-genuine applicants and protect Australia’s education brand after several high-profile visa-fraud scandals in 2025.
For employers, the new regime reshapes graduate-talent pipelines. Fewer non-STEM students may qualify for post-study work, while STEM and healthcare graduates remain in high demand. Mobility managers should review scholarship budgets—the higher application fee alone adds roughly AUD 300,000 in costs for a cohort of 150 interns.
Students already in the system escape the new fee but must pass the GS test for any subsequent visa. Immigration lawyers advise lodging well-documented applications at least eight weeks before course start dates as embassies adjust to the rules.
