Nigerian students to pay over N2m visa fee as Australia considers hike

Nigerians planning to study in Australia may need to brace for a major hike in visa application fees, as the Australian government considers raising the student visa cost from AUD$1,600 to AUD$2,000 approximately N2,054,480 at current exchange rates.

This proposed increase comes less than a year after the last fee hike in July 2024, which saw student visa charges soar by 125% from AUD$710 to AUD$1,600. Now, both major political parties in Australia are reportedly backing another increase, as the country gears up for its federal election on May 3.

The potential rise is expected to further impact international students, particularly from developing countries like Nigeria, where foreign exchange rates and economic challenges already pose significant hurdles.

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Opposition leader Peter Dutton has floated a plan that would push the fee even higher, proposing AUD$5,000 for international students applying to Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, and AUD$2,500 for applicants to other institutions.

If implemented, these new visa fees could make Australia the most expensive destination globally for student visa applicants.

The policy is projected to generate AUD$760 million over four years from international students worldwide.

Industry groups and education stakeholders have sharply criticized the proposals. English Australia, the peak body representing English language colleges for international students, noted that Australia’s current AUD$1,600 fee is already twice the rate charged in the UK, four times the US, and almost ten times higher than Canada.

Critics warn that the proposed increases will financially burden international students, potentially damaging Australia’s standing in the competitive global education market.

Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), has also voiced concern, saying short-term courses have been particularly hard-hit. He supports a discounted visa fee structure for such courses to help revive enrolments.

However, Education Minister Kay Gallagher defended the increase, calling it a “sensible measure” that reflects the premium value of an Australian education.

With the federal election looming, student visa policy has become a hot-button issue. While the Labour Party promises a balanced approach that includes stakeholder dialogue and fiscal responsibility, the Coalition’s more aggressive fee hike proposals may reshape the future of international education in Australia.

(Vanguard)