Nigerian Students May Pay Over ₦2 Million as Australia Plans to Increase Visa Fees

Nigerians who want to study in Australia may soon have to pay more than ₦2 million for their student visa. The Australian government is planning to increase the visa fee from AUD$1,600 to AUD$2,000, which is about ₦2,054,480 with today’s exchange rate.

This is not the first increase. In July 2024, the visa fee went up from AUD$710 to AUD$1,600, which was already more than double the old price.

Now, both political parties in Australia are talking about raising the fees again as the May 3 federal election approaches.

Visa Could Become the Most Expensive in the WorldPeter Dutton, the leader of the opposition, wants to increase the fee even more. He has suggested that international students who want to study at top universities (called the Group of Eight) should pay AUD$5,000, while others should pay AUD$2,500.

If this happens, Australia would have the highest student visa fees in the world.

The government believes this plan could bring in AUD$760 million over four years from foreign students.

What This Means for Nigerian StudentsIf these changes happen, it will be much more expensive for Nigerian students to apply to study in Australia. As the elections draw closer, visa fees have become a big topic.

The Labour Party says it will listen to education experts and take a more balanced approach. But the opposition party wants tougher changes that could make studying in Australia harder for international students.

For many young Nigerians hoping to study abroad, the high cost of the visa might become a major problem.