Australia has significantly increased visa fees for dependants attached to the Temporary Graduate visa, a move that is expected to raise the financial burden for many international graduates and their families.

The changes, which took effect on 1 March 2026, affect the Temporary Graduate visa, formally known as the Temporary #GraduateVisa (subclass 485). The visa allows international students who have completed eligible qualifications in Australia to live and work in the country temporarily after graduation.

Under the new fee structure, adult dependants aged 18 and above now pay approximately AUD $2,300 to be included in an application, nearly double the previous range of roughly AUD $1,115 to $1,150. Fees for child dependants under the age of 18 have also increased, rising to around AUD $1,150–$1,160 from the earlier range of about AUD $560 to $580.

The fee hike has also affected the primary applicants themselves. The base application charge for the main visa holder has doubled from AUD $2,300 to AUD $4,600. With these combined increases, Australia’s post-study work visa is now regarded by many observers as one of the most expensive in the world.

For families applying together, the cost implications are substantial. A typical application consisting of a graduate, their partner, and one child could now attract government charges of about AUD $8,060 before additional expenses such as health insurance, medical checks, or agent fees are considered.

The latest increase follows a broader trend of rising immigration costs affecting international students in Australia. In 2024, the fee for the Student visa (subclass 500) rose sharply to AUD $1,600. Analysts expect it could climb further to around AUD $2,000 by July 2025.

Education sector groups and student advocacy organisations have criticised the latest adjustments, arguing that the March 2026 fee changes were introduced with limited notice to universities and the international education sector.

Australia remains one of the most popular destinations for international students globally, but rising #visa costs have increasingly become a point of debate among students considering post-study work pathways in the country.