India’s student visa grant rate fell to 49% in March 2026 , while the Subclass 500 Australia visa fee now stands at AUD 2,000 — a charge the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) says is usually non‑refundable.
The DHA data analysed by Times Higher Education shows roughly 4,800 offshore higher‑education refusals in March 2026 , generating nearly A$10 million from refused applications. That month the government collected about A$65 million from all student visa applicants processed. Analysis by Keri Ramirez of Studymove, cited in Times Higher Education, reports total student visa fee receipts of A$735 million in 2025 , with A$469 million paid by higher education applicants.
Why the Australia visa fee is now a bigger risk for Indian students
India was reclassified to Evidence Level 3 (EL3) from 8 January 2026 , which requires stricter documents, longer processing and deeper financial scrutiny for every applicant. At the same time Ministerial Direction MD106 expanded officers’ ability to assess an applicant’s broader economic circumstances and funding for the full course duration rather than just the first year.
Under EL3 and MD106, common documentary expectations include an education loan sanction letter that covers tuition and living costs for the entire course and bank statements showing 12–18 months of consistent balances. DHA has flagged that large recent deposits without source‑of‑funds documentation are a primary red flag.
How much you could lose: Australia visa fee breakdown
The Subclass 500 charge has risen sharply since 2024: AUD 710 (pre‑July 2024), AUD 1,600 (July 2024), and AUD 2,000 (current). The Temporary Graduate (485) visa fee doubled to AUD 4,600 on 1 March 2026 . If a student is refused once, reapplies and later applies for the 485, the cumulative non‑refundable government fee exposure is AUD 8,600 .
DHA states visa application charges are usually non‑refundable even if the application is refused or withdrawn. The increase in fees, combined with a March refusal rate above 50% for Indian applicants, means each refusal represents a sizeable, irrecoverable cost for families.
EL3 processing commonly takes 8+ weeks , creating immediate timing risks for upcoming intakes. For example, the University of Melbourne’s July 2026 intake application deadline is 31 May 2026 ; applications lodged after mid‑May risk missing the July start date under EL3 timelines.
DHA’s published position and the Times Higher Education analysis are the bases for these figures. Students and families must account for the higher, non‑refundable fee exposure and the tightened financial assessment under MD106 when planning applications in 2026.