Australia cuts student visa cost for citizens of 23 Countries: See full list
Australia student visa
Australia has introduced a reduced application charge for citizens of 23 countries applying for the Student visa (subclass 500), giving eligible students access to a lower cost than the standard fee.
The concession applies to citizens of selected Pacific Island nations, Timor-Leste and ASEAN member states. The reduced charge is applied automatically when eligible applicants submit their applications online through ImmiAccount.
The standard Student visa application charge for the main applicant is AUD 2,500, but eligible passport holders from the listed countries can access the lower rate.
Which countries qualify for the cheaper Australia student visa?
Citizens of the following Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste qualify for the reduced student visa application charge:
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Citizens of the following ASEAN countries are also eligible:
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
Timor-Leste appears in both groups, with its applicants assessed under the Pacific Island rate rather than the ASEAN rate.
How Australia applies the reduced visa charge
Eligible applicants do not need to make a separate request for the concession.
The lower application charge is applied during the online application process through ImmiAccount. Australia’s system identifies eligibility based on the passport used for the application.
Family members included in an eligible applicant’s application also qualify for the lower cost.
The concession also applies to applications in the Independent ELICOS and Non-Awards sectors.
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Australia changes student visa rules from October 2026
The reduced fee comes alongside major changes to Australia’s Student visa rules.
From October 2, 2026, most Student visa holders can no longer lodge another Student visa application from inside Australia. They will generally have to apply from outside Australia unless they fall within a specified exemption category.
Australia has also changed the rules around family members.
Most Student visa applicants can no longer include their partners or dependent children under 18 in their Student visa application. Family members also cannot apply separately as subsequent entrants under the new arrangements.
Applications lodged before October 2, 2026, continue to be assessed under the rules that applied when they were submitted.
How long can students stay in Australia?
The Student visa allows eligible students to study in Australia for up to six years, depending on the circumstances and validity of the visa.
Visa holders can also travel in and out of Australia while their visa remains valid.
Students are generally allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods.
Students enrolled in a master’s by research or doctoral programme have no work-hour limit, and the same applies to their families under the stated rules.
Does the cheaper Australia visa apply to Nigerians?
Nigeria is not included among the 23 countries listed for the reduced Student visa application charge.
Nigerian students therefore should not assume they qualify for the concession based solely on applying for an Australian Student visa. Eligibility for the lower fee is tied to the specified countries and the passport used in the application.
Nigerian applicants should check the applicable Student visa charge and current requirements before submitting an application.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Australian Student visa?
The standard Student visa application charge for the main applicant is AUD 2,500, according to the supplied information. Eligible citizens of the listed countries can access a reduced charge.
Which countries get cheaper Australian Student visas?
The concession covers selected Pacific Island countries, Timor-Leste and ASEAN countries listed by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs.
Is Nigeria eligible for the reduced Australian student visa fee?
No. Nigeria does not appear among the countries listed for the reduced application charge.
Do family members also get the reduced visa charge?
Family members included in an eligible applicant’s application also benefit from the lower cost.
Can students apply for another Australian Student visa while in Australia?
From October 2, 2026, most Student visa holders can no longer lodge another Student visa application from within Australia unless they fall under a specified exemption.
Can students take their family to Australia on a Student visa?
The rules changed from October 2, 2026. Most applicants can no longer include partners or dependent children under 18 in their Student visa application, while family members also cannot apply separately as subsequent entrants.