Last year, the Australian Government raised the student visa fee to $1600. The highest amongst competitor nations. It relates to all visas, no matter the duration. This has now changed, and it has been a live issue, further changes are now being formally sought.
The change? The Home Affairs Department last week put into effect a reduction of the visa fee for all students from Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands back to the original $710 amount. This is the first ‘carve off’ from the increased fee.
On the back of this, the IEAA has written to the Treasurer, The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers requesting a 50% reduction in the current non-refundable student visa application fee (from $1,600 down to $800) for all international students who come to Australia for less than 12 months study programs including schools, semester-based study abroad, non-Award certificate and short term English language programs.
In the letter, which has been seen exclusively by the Koala, Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) states the case in three points:
- The latest Home Affairs Department data indicates that Australia has experienced a 38% decline in offshore student visa applications compared to the same period last year (1st July to 28th February). From their marketing and recruitment visits to offshore education agents, our members have passed on that the increase to the non-refundable visa application fee is having a detrimental effect on their ability to persuade students to apply to study in Australia. Comments such as “Australia is clearly no longer welcoming students from our country” are all too often now being voiced.
- A particular concern is the unintended consequences the new visa fee is having on short term study abroad students. Our affiliated overseas associations, such as the European Association for International Education (EAIE) and North American Association of International Educators (NAFSA), have recently made representations to Australia’s Ambassador to the European Community and Ambassador to the USA highlighting the inequity and disparity in their short term (usually one semester) students having to pay the full student visa impost compared to the fractional amount that their nations are charging our Australian domestic students (who embark on similar short term study programs overseas).
- The above points highlight that, particularly in our own region, this massive and unexplained student visa fee increase is negatively impacting on our nation’s soft power diplomacy initiatives. Coming as it did after the launch by Nicholas Moore AM and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Senator Penny Wong, of Australia’s South-East Asia Strategy the 100% plus increase in the student visa application fee has sent all the wrong messages about our support for ASEAN member nations’ young people and their future leaders.
With the government anticipated to go into caretaker mode following the calling of the election in coming days/weeks. It will be interesting to see the government’s response to the request.
One suspects it will be kicked down the road. But this Koala would be very happy to be wrong!
