From 1 July 2026, Australia's Student visa (subclass 500) application charge rose from AUD $2,000 to AUD $2,500 for most applicants. The increase is already in force, and its exemptions depend on nationality rather than residence — a distinction that matters for the UAE's multinational families planning study in Australia.
What Happened?
Study Australia has confirmed that the visa application charges for studying in Australia increased from 1 July 2026. The base charge for a Student visa (subclass 500) primary applicant rose from AUD $2,000 to AUD $2,500, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — the post-study work visa — rose from AUD $4,600 to AUD $5,750. The charges are set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and are now live for new applications.
Some applicants are exempt from the increase and continue to pay the previous charge with an annual inflation (CPI) adjustment. Study Australia lists the exempt groups as primary applicants who are nationals of the ten ASEAN nations (including the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam), primary applicants who are nationals of thirteen Pacific nations, and students enrolled in independent ELICOS (English-language) and Non-Award courses.
The rise continues a recent upward trend: on 1 July 2025 the same subclass 500 charge had increased from AUD $1,600 to AUD $2,000. The visa application charge is separate from tuition fees and living costs, and is paid per application.
What This Means for UAE Families
Australia is a well-established destination for students leaving UAE schools — alongside the UK, US and Canada, it draws a steady stream of Dubai's A-Level, IB and IGCSE graduates each year, helped by its universities' global standing and its post-study work pathway. Students aiming for its more competitive courses typically build their case over the final school years, whether through A-Levels or the IB Diploma. For families in that decision, the higher charge is a real but modest addition to an already significant budget, and it is now the standing cost of applying.
The most important detail for the UAE is a subtle one: the exemption is tied to the applicant's nationality, not to where they live. The UAE is one of the most nationally diverse populations on earth, and its residents hold passports on both sides of Australia's exemption list. The Philippines, for instance, is among the exempted ASEAN nations, while India, Pakistan and the United Kingdom — three of the largest communities in Dubai — are not. In practice this means two neighbouring families in the same Dubai building, both sending a child to the same Australian university, can face different charges depending solely on the child's passport. Because that turns on individual nationality, every family should confirm its own position directly on the Department of Home Affairs website rather than assume the headline figure applies.
It is also worth being clear about what has not changed. The charge is a visa application fee; it does not alter the degree, the entry requirements, or which qualifications Australian universities accept — A-Levels and the IB Diploma remain fully recognised, and this is no reason to reconsider a child's curriculum in Dubai. For destination-comparison conversations, note that the UK recently moved in the opposite direction on post-study work, shortening its Graduate Route, as we covered in our guide to the UK's 18-month post-study work change — so families weighing several countries should compare current, official figures for each rather than older summaries. And for families whose children are already partway through an Australian degree, the subclass 485 increase is the one to note, as it lands when they apply to stay and work after graduating.
What Should You Do?
If Australia is on your shortlist, treat AUD $2,500 as the working figure for a Student visa application from July 2026 onwards, and check the exact charge for your family's nationality and course type on the official Study Australia and Department of Home Affairs pages linked below — the Home Affairs visa pricing estimator gives an applicant-specific total. Remember the charge is per application and is separate from tuition and living costs.
Academically, competitive Australian courses and scholarships still reward a strong school-leaving profile, whether your child follows A-Levels or the IB Diploma in Dubai — targeted, in-home support through the final school years is where GetYourTutors helps most.