International graduates hoping to stay and work in Australia now face the steepest post-study visa fee on the planet after Canberra quietly doubled the main applicant charge for the Temporary Graduate visa from AU$2,300 to AU$4,600 on 1 March. Partner and over-18 dependent fees have also doubled, while under-18 dependants now pay AU$1,150.
The fee hike completes a dramatic three-year escalation that has seen the total cost of a 485 visa more than quadruple since 2023. According to Times of India calculations, the new price is ten times higher than Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit and more than double the UK Graduate Route. Education recruiters warn the move risks denting Australia’s competitiveness at a time when tuition fees and proof-of-funds thresholds are also rising.
![Australia doubles Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa fee to AU$4,600—world’s costliest post-study permit]()
For employers the change could narrow the pipeline of fresh talent available under the Graduate route, a key on-ramp into employer-sponsored skilled visas. Mobility leaders in technology and healthcare—sectors reliant on recent graduates—say they may have to shoulder more of the visa cost or accelerate pathways to permanent residency to remain attractive.
If navigating these shifting requirements feels daunting, VisaHQ can help. Through its Australia hub (https://www.visahq.com/australia/), the company offers real-time visa updates, tailored document checklists and end-to-end application support—resources that can save both graduates and the employers who hire them time, money and uncertainty.
Home Affairs has argued that higher charges will fund integrity measures and ensure only “genuine” students apply, but industry groups counter that the decision, announced with no prior consultation, undermines the government’s stated goal of attracting global talent to support a soft-landing economy.
The fee hike completes a dramatic three-year escalation that has seen the total cost of a 485 visa more than quadruple since 2023. According to Times of India calculations, the new price is ten times higher than Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit and more than double the UK Graduate Route. Education recruiters warn the move risks denting Australia’s competitiveness at a time when tuition fees and proof-of-funds thresholds are also rising.
For employers the change could narrow the pipeline of fresh talent available under the Graduate route, a key on-ramp into employer-sponsored skilled visas. Mobility leaders in technology and healthcare—sectors reliant on recent graduates—say they may have to shoulder more of the visa cost or accelerate pathways to permanent residency to remain attractive.
If navigating these shifting requirements feels daunting, VisaHQ can help. Through its Australia hub (https://www.visahq.com/australia/), the company offers real-time visa updates, tailored document checklists and end-to-end application support—resources that can save both graduates and the employers who hire them time, money and uncertainty.
Home Affairs has argued that higher charges will fund integrity measures and ensure only “genuine” students apply, but industry groups counter that the decision, announced with no prior consultation, undermines the government’s stated goal of attracting global talent to support a soft-landing economy.
