Australia’s Department of Home Affairs recently announced a sudden, substantial increase in the application fee for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). The fee has doubled from the previous $2,300 AUD to $4,600 AUD. This adjustment came unexpectedly, neither following the customary July announcement at the start of the new fiscal year nor offering any transitional arrangements, drawing significant attention from international students.
According to the latest updates from the Department of Home Affairs, both the official fee calculator page and the final submission page of the ImmiAccount application system now display the new charges. This confirms the new fee structure is officially in effect, meaning applicants can no longer submit applications at the old rate. The era of relatively low application costs has come to an end.
The implementation timeline for the new fees is clear. All applications submitted before March 1st will still be processed at the original fee of AUD 2,300. However, applications submitted on or after March 1st will automatically be charged the new fee of AUD 4,600. Some applicants logging into the system this morning initially suspected display errors or system malfunctions. However, as official websites and system data were fully updated, it became clear this fee increase has been formally implemented.
Given this policy environment, immigration advisors universally caution that prospective applicants should closely monitor policy changes and plan their application timelines well in advance to avoid future sudden policy or fee adjustments.
Commentary:
The Australian government’s sudden, substantial hike in the 485 visa application fee deals a heavy blow to international students who have just completed their studies and are preparing to develop their careers in Australia. The policy took effect abruptly, with no transition period or advance notice, leaving many unprepared. For students already burdened by high tuition and living costs, this additional expense of several thousand Australian dollars undoubtedly intensifies financial pressure and may force some to reconsider staying in Australia.
However, a more pressing question arises: what is the purpose of this exorbitant application fee? The visa merely permits temporary stay in Australia for job-seeking purposes. Is it truly necessary for the government to impose such steep fees to restrict student applications? For many young people, this feels more like a financial burden than a reasonable immigration management measure. If the government genuinely aims to enhance the quality of immigration, it should prioritize policy support, employment opportunities, and livelihood security over using high fees as a screening tool. Otherwise, Australia risks losing more promising young talent in the long run.