Last updated: 22 May 2026. Primary sources: DHA — Subclass 500 fees · DHA Study Visa Statistics · VisaHQ, 4–5 May 2026.
Australia's student visa application fee — AUD $2,000 — is non-refundable from the moment your application is lodged. Regardless of whether you are granted or refused, the money is gone.
As of 1 July 2025, the fee increased from AUD $1,600 to AUD $2,000 per application. That increase landed at exactly the time offshore refusal rates were reaching record highs.
Data scope: All refusal rates and approval rates cited in this article are offshore only — they apply to applicants applying from outside Australia. Onshore applicants (already in Australia on a valid visa) face a separate assessment environment with substantially higher approval rates, and are not represented in the refusal figures below.
What you're paying into in 2026
The offshore Higher Education grant rate in March 2026 was 59% — meaning 4 in 10 offshore Higher Education applicants were refused. That figure is the lowest recorded in roughly 20 years.
| Month | Offshore HE grant rate | Offshore HE refusal rate | Non-refundable fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | 67.5% | 32.5% | AUD $2,000 |
| March 2026 | 59% | 41% | AUD $2,000 |
Source: February data — SBS News / DHA, 3 May 2026. March data — VisaHQ, 4 May 2026.
At approximately 4,800 offshore HE refusals in March 2026, with a $2,000 non-refundable fee per application, the government collected close to AUD $9.6 million (est.) in a single month from applications it rejected. Source: VisaHQ, 4 May 2026.
Offshore refusal rates by country — know where you stand
The refusal rate you face as an individual depends significantly on your source country. DHA's February 2026 figures (the most recent country-level breakdown available at publication) show substantial variation.
All figures below are offshore only. Country-level onshore breakdowns are not separately published by DHA.
| Country | Offshore HE refusal rate (Feb 2026) | Evidence Level | Data scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 65% | Level 3 | Offshore only |
| Bangladesh | 51% | Level 3 | Offshore only |
| India | 40% | Level 3 | Offshore only |
| Sri Lanka | 38% | Level 3 | Offshore only |
| Bhutan | 36% | Level 3 | Offshore only |
| China | ~3.5% | Level 1 | Offshore only |
Source: SBS News / DHA, 3 May 2026 · VisaHQ, 4 May 2026.
Update for India specifically: by March 2026, India's offshore approval rate fell to 49% — meaning more than half of Indian offshore Higher Education applicants were refused that month. Source: VisaHQ, 4 May 2026.
The $2,000 question: what to check before you pay
The non-refundable fee creates a straightforward decision framework. Before you pay AUD $2,000, work through this checklist:
Financial readiness check
- Full course duration funds confirmed — not just first year. For Level 3 countries, this means AUD $29,710/year living expenses + full tuition for every year of the course. For a 3-year degree at AUD $35,000/year tuition, this commonly exceeds AUD $150,000.
- 3–6 months of bank statements ready (Level 3 countries) — no unexplained large deposits in the statement period.
- Funds are traceable — salary slips, business records, property documents, or scholarship letters on hand to explain the source.
- Sponsor documentation complete — if a parent or relative is funding you, their income evidence and a signed sponsorship declaration are ready.
Application readiness check
- Offer letter from a CRICOS-registered provider — verify registration at CRICOS Register.
- English test results meet the course requirement — at or above the minimum IELTS/PTE/TOEFL threshold for your specific course.
- Academic transcripts complete and authenticated — no missing pages, no unexplained gaps.
- GS statement drafted and reviewed — study choice is consistent with your academic and employment background. See our Genuine Student test guide for what DHA assesses.
- Provider's MD115 priority status checked — a Priority 2 or 3 provider means significantly longer wait time. Check at DHA Visa Prioritisation Status. See our MD115 processing guide.
Decision gate
If you cannot tick every box above, the question is not whether to lodge — it is what to fix first. Lodging with a weak financial case or a misaligned GS statement costs AUD $2,000 and returns a refusal. Addressing the weakness first, even if it means a 3–6 month delay, changes the outcome.
Onshore applicants: a different equation
If you are already in Australia on a valid visa and are eligible to apply onshore, the offshore refusal rates above do not apply to your situation. Onshore approval rates remain above 90% across all source countries, including those at Evidence Level 3 (SBS News / DHA, 3 May 2026).
The AUD $2,000 fee is the same — but the risk profile is substantially different. Eligibility to apply onshore is restricted; not everyone can do it. Confirm eligibility with a registered migration agent before deciding where to lodge.
Where the fee sits by sector
The AUD $2,000 fee applies to all three sectors — ELICOS, VET, and Higher Education — for the primary applicant. Where a package covers multiple sectors under a single visa application, the fee is paid once (per applicant, per application, not per course in the package).
| Sector | Typical tuition range | Visa fee | Fee as % of first-year tuition (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELICOS (12 months) | AUD $10,000–$18,000 | AUD $2,000 | 11%–20% (est.) |
| VET (1–2 years) | AUD $8,000–$22,000/year | AUD $2,000 | 9%–25% (est.) |
| Higher Education (3–4 years) | AUD $25,000–$45,000/year | AUD $2,000 | 4%–8% (est.) |
Tuition ranges are estimates based on published provider fee schedules. Your actual tuition fee will differ — check directly with your provider.
This article provides general information only. It is not migration advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, consult a MARA-registered migration agent.
Data sources: DHA Study Visa Statistics · DHA Subclass 500 — fees · SBS News, 3 May 2026 · VisaHQ — refusal fees, 4 May 2026 · VisaHQ — India rate, 4 May 2026 · CRICOS Register