New Student Visa Fees for ELICOS Applicants from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, Australia introduced a separate lower Student visa application charge for applicants in the Independent ELICOS and Non-Award sectors.

The standard Subclass 500 base application charge for most primary applicants increased from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500.

Eligible applicants in the Independent ELICOS and Non-Award sectors instead pay a base application charge of AUD 2,050.

Who Pays Which Fee?

The following base application charges generally apply to primary applicants from 1 July 2026:

Main applicant categoryBase application chargeStandard Subclass 500 applicantAUD 2,500Independent ELICOS or Non-Award sector applicantAUD 2,050Eligible passport holders from specified ASEAN countriesAUD 2,050Eligible Pacific Island or Timor-Leste passport holdersFrom AUD 745

These figures are base application charges for the primary applicant. Additional applicant charges and payment surcharges may apply.

Applicants should confirm the exact amount through the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging.

What Is Independent ELICOS?

ELICOS stands for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students.

The AUD 2,050 charge generally applies where the Student visa application is made in the Independent ELICOS sector, meaning the English course is not packaged as a pathway into a subsequent VET or higher education qualification within the same application.

It is not a separate fee paid on top of the Student visa charge. It is the applicable Subclass 500 base application charge for eligible Independent ELICOS applicants.

What About Packaged English Courses?

Where an English course is packaged with a subsequent university, vocational or other qualification, the application may be classified according to the principal course rather than the Independent ELICOS sector.

The applicable charge may depend on:

• the principal course
• the education sector selected in the application
• the applicant’s Confirmation of Enrolment arrangements
• the applicant’s passport country
• the result shown by the Visa Pricing Estimator

Students with packaged courses should confirm the applicable category before lodging rather than assuming the AUD 2,050 charge will apply.

How Does This Compare with the Previous Fee?

Before 1 July 2026, the standard Subclass 500 base application charge was AUD 2,000.

From 1 July 2026:

• most primary applicants pay AUD 2,500
• eligible Independent ELICOS and Non-Award applicants pay AUD 2,050

This means the Independent ELICOS and Non-Award charge increased by AUD 50, while the standard charge increased by AUD 500.

Subclass 485 Fees Have Also Increased

The base application charge for the main Temporary Graduate visa streams increased from AUD 4,600 to AUD 5,750 on 1 July 2026.

The AUD 5,750 charge generally applies to the:

• Post-Higher Education Work stream
• Post-Vocational Education Work stream

This is an increase of AUD 1,150, or 25%.

It followed an earlier increase on 1 March 2026, when the charge rose from AUD 2,300 to AUD 4,600.

Different charges may apply to other Subclass 485 streams, including the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. Applicants should therefore confirm the exact charge for their selected stream.

When Does the New Fee Apply?

The revised charges generally apply to valid visa applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026.

Applicants who validly lodged before that date under the previous fee structure are not required to pay the later increase for the same application.

However, anyone who withdraws, receives a refusal and later reapplies, or otherwise lodges a new application will generally need to pay the fee applicable at the time of the new lodgement.

Key Takeaways

The standard Subclass 500 base application charge increased to AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026.

Eligible Independent ELICOS and Non-Award applicants pay a lower base charge of AUD 2,050.

The AUD 2,050 amount is not an additional ELICOS levy. It replaces the standard base charge for eligible applications.

Packaged ELICOS applications may be classified according to the principal VET or higher education course.

Eligible applicants from specified ASEAN, Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport groups may qualify for concessional charges.

The main Subclass 485 application charge increased to AUD 5,750, but different fees may apply to particular streams.

Applicants should use the official Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodging.

The content of this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and subject to change. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a registered Australian migration lawyer. For full terms governing use of this website and its content, please refer to our Website Terms and Conditions.

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