TEMPORARY GRADUATE VISA (SUBCLASS 485) APPLICATION FEE INCREASE
A 100% fee increase without consultation or notice!
The Australian Government has doubled the application fee for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) from $2,300 to $4,600 effective 1 March 2026.
This is the visa that allows international graduates to remain in Australia and work after completing their degree. For many of Monash's 18,000 international graduate students, it is a critical step in their career and migration pathway.
A 100% fee increase - without consultation or notice - places an enormous financial burden on graduates who are already navigating high tuition fees, cost of living pressures, and an uncertain job market.
The MGA is deeply concerned about the impact this will have on our international graduate community and have since taken action to address this issue.
CAMPAIGN UPDATES
March - April 2026
Since the Australian Government doubled the cost of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa in March, we have heard from many international students about the significant financial pressure this has created and the impact on future plans to remain in Australia.
In response, the MGA has been actively advocating for a reversal of the fee increase for all international students. This has included direct lobbying of Members of the Parliament. We have highlighted concerns that the change was introduced without consultation and with little notice, leaving soon-to-graduate students with limited time to prepare for the increased cost.
We subsequently received an official response from the Hon Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for International Education. This Minister acknowledged our concerns, particularly regarding the timing of the change, and confirmed that feedback has been forwraded to the Department of Home Affairs, which is responsible for setting visa application fees.
While this response does not change the current fee, the MGA will continue to advocate strongly on behalf of international students and ensure your voices are represented. We have also arranged face-to-face meetings with local representatives so student advocates can raise these concerns directly with decision-makers.
Read full response letter from Hon Julian Hill, MP here.
The MGA also offers visa support through our Migration Support Hub for students who need assistance with visa-related matters.
Have questions, contributions, or ideas for lobbying? Get in touch with our Campaigns Officer, Jack Kennedy (jack.kennedy@monash.edu) to get involved in our advocacy efforts.