Australia's Subclass 500 Student visa charge rose to AU$2,500 (standard rate) from 1 July 2026. But because Singapore is an ASEAN member, eligible Singapore passport holders pay the ASEAN concession rate of AU$2,050instead — and this applies to an ordinary Singaporean heading to an Australian university, not only to English-language or non-award courses. Separately, the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa now costs AU$5,750for the main applicant. These are fee changes — distinct from Australia's separate student-number arrangements.
Sources: Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 ; Home Affairs — Subclass 500 Student visa ; Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate 485 (Post-Higher Education Work)
Source: Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026
Fees From 1 July 2026
The table below sets out the new charges alongside the previous fees reported in industry commentary. Only the new charges and the 1 July 2026 effective date are confirmed directly against the regulation text.
| Visa | Reported previous fee | New fee | Effective | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 500 Student — standard | AU$2,000* | AU$2,500 | 1 Jul 2026 | Standard rate |
| Subclass 500 Student — eligible ASEAN passport holder | AU$2,000* | AU$2,050 | 1 Jul 2026 | Singapore is on the ASEAN list covered by the regulation |
| Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate — main applicant | AU$4,600* | AU$5,750 | 1 Jul 2026 | Limited concessions apply |
*Reported previous fees come from industry and law-firm commentary, not from current Home Affairs pages, which do not display historical charges. Labelled as such rather than confirmed regulation figures.
Sources: Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 ; Home Affairs — Current visa pricing
The 2026 Regulation
The Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 commenced on 1 July 2026 (registered 30 June 2026), amending visa application charges including the Student and Temporary Graduate visas. The visa cost that applies depends on the date Home Affairs receives the application— always check the applicable charge at the point of lodgement.
Sources: Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 ; Home Affairs — Fees and charges
Does Singapore Qualify for AU$2,050?
Yes. Singapore is explicitly listed among the ASEAN countries in the 2026 regulations (subitem 5A: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam). For an eligible Singapore passport holder satisfying the primary criteria for a Subclass 500 visa, the base charge is AU$2,050, not AU$2,500— and the regulation text confirms this applies to the ordinary higher-education stream too (e.g. a Singaporean going to an Australian university), not only to ELICOS/Non-Award courses. It is a passport-based concession — not a general discount for everyone in Singapore, and not a tuition reduction.
Two separate gateways, same amount
The AU$2,050 figure is reached via two separate routes in the regulation: (a) ASEAN-list passport holders for any Subclass 500 stream, including university study, and (b) non-ASEAN applicantsspecifically in the ELICOS/Non-Award stream. They are different eligibility gateways that happen to share the same amount — don't confuse them. Always check the exact charge in ImmiAccount or the Visa Pricing Estimator before paying.
Sources: Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 ; Home Affairs — Subclass 500 Student visa ; Home Affairs — Visa Pricing Estimator
Subclass 485 Rises to AU$5,750
The Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485, Post-Higher Education Work stream) now costs AU$5,750for the main applicant (limited concessions available). It's separate from the Subclass 500 — generally relevant after completing eligible study, for temporary post-study work rights. So this increase affects a later stage of the pathway, not the initial student visa.
Source: Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate 485 (Post-Higher Education Work)
Fee Change, Not a Student-Number Cap
The 1 July 2026 measure changes visa application charges. It is separate from Australia's student-number and provider-prioritisation arrangements (including measures from the 2025–26 period). The fee change does not itself introduce or change a student-number cap. For the number-cap policy specifically, see our separate explainer on Australia's 295,000 student-visa cap.
Sources: Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 ; Home Affairs — Ministerial Direction No. 115
Other Costs to Budget For
The visa charge is only one line item
- Tuition and provider charges
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Accommodation and living expenses
- Travel and relocation
- Health examinations, where required
This article doesn't state specific OSHC, tuition or living-cost figures — they vary by provider, course, location and circumstances, and weren't needed to establish the fee change.
Sources: Home Affairs — Visa Pricing Estimator ; Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate 485 (Post-Higher Education Work)
Key Dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 30 Jun 2026 | 2026 regulations registered |
| 1 Jul 2026 | New visa application charges commenced |
| From 1 Jul 2026 | Subclass 500 standard AU$2,500; ASEAN rate AU$2,050; Subclass 485 main applicant AU$5,750 |
| At lodgement | Home Affairs applies the charge for the application and applicant circumstances |
Sources: Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 ; Home Affairs — Fees and charges
What This Means for Singapore Families
For a Singaporean planning to study in Australia, the headline is nuanced good news: the student visa fee rose to AU$2,500, but Singapore's ASEAN status means eligible applicants pay AU$2,050. Budget the AU$5,750 Subclass 485 only later, if applying for post-study work.
The student visa fee rose — but Singapore's ASEAN status means eligible applicants still pay AU$2,050, not AU$2,500.
Source: Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Australia Student visa for a Singaporean?
An eligible Singapore passport holder pays AU$2,050 under the ASEAN concession for the relevant Subclass 500 application, instead of the standard AU$2,500 rate. The final amount still depends on the applicant’s category and circumstances, so always confirm the exact charge before paying.
When did the fee increase take effect?
From 1 July 2026, when the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 commenced (registered 30 June 2026).
Is the standard Subclass 500 fee AU$2,500 or AU$2,050?
Standard applicants pay AU$2,500. Eligible Singapore (and other ASEAN-list) passport holders pay AU$2,050 instead. Confirm the amount shown during the online application before paying.
How much is the Subclass 485 visa?
AU$5,750 for the main applicant under the Post-Higher Education Work stream, from 1 July 2026, with limited concessions available.
Does the visa fee include OSHC and tuition?
No. The visa application charge is separate from tuition and provider fees, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), accommodation and living expenses.
Is this the same as Australia’s student-number cap?
No. This is a fee change. It is separate from Australia’s student-number and provider-prioritisation arrangements, which are a different policy affecting how many student visas are processed, not how much they cost.
Related Resources
Australia's 295,000 Student-Visa Cap
The separate student-NUMBER cap policy — how it differs from this fee change.
New Zealand Post-Study Work Visa 2026
Comparing post-study work pathways if you're weighing Australia against New Zealand.
The bottom line
Australia's Subclass 500 Student visa charge rose to AU$2,500 from 1 July 2026 — but Singapore's ASEAN status means eligible applicants pay AU$2,050 instead, whether applying for university study or an ELICOS/Non-Award course. Budget the separate AU$5,750 Subclass 485only later, if applying for post-study work — and always confirm the exact charge in ImmiAccount before paying.
Note on completeness: The AU$2,500 / AU$2,050 / AU$5,750 charges, the 1 Jul 2026 date and Singapore's ASEAN inclusion were verified directly against the regulation text (Federal Register F2026L00874, Schedule 3). The AU$2,050 ASEAN rate is confirmed to apply to the ordinary higher-education Subclass 500 stream (not only ELICOS/Non-Award). The previous AU$2,000 / AU$4,600 “up from” figures come from industry/law-firm commentary (not shown as historical on current Home Affairs pages) and are labelled “reported previous fees”. Always confirm the exact charge in ImmiAccount / the Visa Pricing Estimator before paying.
Sources
- 1.Federal Register — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026. legislation.gov.au
- 2.Home Affairs — Fees and charges for visa. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- 3.Home Affairs — Current visa pricing table. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- 4.Home Affairs — Visa Pricing Estimator. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- 5.Home Affairs — Subclass 500 Student visa. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- 6.Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate 485 (Post-Higher Education Work). immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- 7.Home Affairs — Ministerial Direction No. 115. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Cite this page: SGSchoolKaki Education Team, “Australia Student Visa Fee Increase 2026: What Singaporeans Actually Pay,” SGSchoolKaki, 23 Sept 2026, https://sgschoolkaki.com/blog/australia-student-visa-fee-increase-2026.