Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has **raised the application fee for the Temporary Graduate Visa (sub-class 485) from AUD 2,300 to AUD 4,600**, effective 8 March 2026. Travel and Tour World notes that the 100 % hike makes Australia the most expensive destination for post-study work visas, overtaking Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Swiss, German and Italian graduates—all among the top European cohorts in Australian universities—now face a combined price tag of more than CHF 2,700 once mandatory health cover and biometrics are added.
For Swiss applicants looking to navigate the new cost landscape, VisaHQ offers step-by-step assistance with visa requirements, document preparation and deadline management; the Zürich-based portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) can also compare alternative work-permit options in countries such as Canada and the UK, helping graduates select the most cost-effective post-study pathway.
Education consultants in Zurich warn that the sudden increase lands in the middle of the southern-hemisphere academic year, disrupting budgeting for thousands of Swiss students who were counting on the 485 visa to gain skilled-employment points. Families that had budgeted in Swiss francs must now find an extra AUD 2,300 per primary applicant; dependants’ fees have also soared to AUD 2,300 for adults and AUD 1,150 for children.
![Australia doubles post-study work-visa fee to AUD 4,600—Swiss graduates face record costs]()
Swiss employers that sponsor graduate trainees through Australia-based rotations will likewise absorb higher mobility costs. Some multinationals are reassessing whether to continue using the 485 route or to shift graduates to Canada’s Post-Graduate Work Permit or the UK Graduate Route, both of which are 40–60 % cheaper. Immigration lawyers caution that exchange-rate volatility could push total outlays even higher if the Australian dollar strengthens.
From a policy perspective, Canberra argues the fee reflects processing costs and demand management, yet universities fear a decline in European enrolments. Swiss Student Union representatives say they will lobby both Bern and Canberra for transitional concessions for 2026 graduates.
In the meantime, Swiss candidates are advised to **submit applications before scheduled tuition-fee instalments fall due** to ensure sufficient liquidity and to explore institutional scholarships that can offset the higher government charge.
For Swiss applicants looking to navigate the new cost landscape, VisaHQ offers step-by-step assistance with visa requirements, document preparation and deadline management; the Zürich-based portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) can also compare alternative work-permit options in countries such as Canada and the UK, helping graduates select the most cost-effective post-study pathway.
Education consultants in Zurich warn that the sudden increase lands in the middle of the southern-hemisphere academic year, disrupting budgeting for thousands of Swiss students who were counting on the 485 visa to gain skilled-employment points. Families that had budgeted in Swiss francs must now find an extra AUD 2,300 per primary applicant; dependants’ fees have also soared to AUD 2,300 for adults and AUD 1,150 for children.
Swiss employers that sponsor graduate trainees through Australia-based rotations will likewise absorb higher mobility costs. Some multinationals are reassessing whether to continue using the 485 route or to shift graduates to Canada’s Post-Graduate Work Permit or the UK Graduate Route, both of which are 40–60 % cheaper. Immigration lawyers caution that exchange-rate volatility could push total outlays even higher if the Australian dollar strengthens.
From a policy perspective, Canberra argues the fee reflects processing costs and demand management, yet universities fear a decline in European enrolments. Swiss Student Union representatives say they will lobby both Bern and Canberra for transitional concessions for 2026 graduates.
In the meantime, Swiss candidates are advised to **submit applications before scheduled tuition-fee instalments fall due** to ensure sufficient liquidity and to explore institutional scholarships that can offset the higher government charge.
