The Indian government has raised concerns over a significant hike in visa fees for international students by Australia.
This was informed by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
MoS Singh informed that the Australian government had increased the visa fee for international students from AUD 710 to AUD 1,600, effective July 1, 2024.
Acknowledging the impact of the steep rise, the Minister expressed concern that the fee hike would create financial hardships for Indian students aspiring to study in Australia.
In his reply, Singh said, “The fee for international student visas was increased by the Government of Australia… The matter has been taken up with relevant authorities in the Australian government along with other issues related to students.”
He also reiterated the importance of the education partnership between India and Australia, describing it as a key element of their economic and people-to-people ties.
“The India-Australia partnership in education is an important pillar of our bilateral relationship, encompassing economic, academic, and people-to-people ties. The Ministry continues to raise and follow up on matters related to Indian students studying in Australia,” MoS Singh added.
