Australia's New Student Visa Rules 2026: Harder to Enter, Longer to Stay

Jaspreet almost shut her laptop for good. She had just seen that Australia had raised the student visa fee, lifted the funds bar, and toughened the English score — and she thought, that is it, Australia is out of reach now. Then she scrolled down to the second half of the new rules. What she read there made her start a fresh application that very night.

Australia spent 2026 doing two opposite things at once. With one hand it made the student visa harder and costlier to get. With the other, it handed graduates one of the most generous post-study work deals in the world. The real question is not "did it get harder?" It is "is the bigger prize worth the heavier price?"

What got harder

• Student visa fee rose about 25%
• A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is now mandatory before you apply
• Higher funds to prove (around 75% of the national minimum wage)
• Higher English score requirements

What got better

• Post-study work (subclass 485) of up to 6 years
• STEM grads may get extended work via the India–Australia trade deal
• Strong demand for skilled workers means real job pathways
• A clearer route from study toward longer-term stay

The heavier door, explained

Getting in now asks more of you. From July 2025, the student visa fee jumped about 25%. A CoE from your institution is required before you even apply — so a genuine, confirmed admission is non-negotiable. The money you must show went up (to roughly 75% of the national minimum wage), and the English score bar rose too. Casual, half-ready applications do not make it through anymore.

"Harder to enter is not the same as not worth entering."

The bigger prize, explained

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets graduates stay and work for up to six years, depending on your qualification and where you studied. Under the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, STEM graduates may get even longer work periods. Six years of work experience in a high-wage economy can change a career — and a life.

Why the trade-off can favour you. A higher fee and tougher entry thin out the crowd — fewer weak applications, more genuine students. If you are serious and well-prepared, you are competing against a smaller, more committed pool, with a bigger reward waiting on the other side.

What you need to get in now

1. A genuine, confirmed admission (CoE). Choose a real course at a real institution that fits your background.
2. Strong, clean financial proof. Meet the higher funds bar with money that is clearly yours and well documented.
3. The required English score. Prepare for the higher language requirement before you apply.
4. A believable study and career story. Show how this course leads somewhere real — for you, and back home if you choose.

One thing not to do — do not pick a random cheap course just to "get in." Australia, like Canada, now checks whether your study choice makes sense. A course that does not fit your profile is a fast way to a refusal — and a wasted, non-refundable fee.

By the time Jaspreet hit submit, she did not see a higher fee at all. She saw a longer runway.

Quick answers

What changed for Australia student visas in 2026? About a 25% higher fee, a mandatory CoE, higher funds (around 75% of minimum wage), and higher English requirements.

How long can I work in Australia after studying? The 485 visa allows up to six years depending on qualification and location, with possible extensions for STEM grads under the India–Australia trade deal.

Is a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) mandatory now? Yes. A CoE is required for all student visa applications.

Is Australia still worth it for Indian students? For serious applicants, often yes — entry is costlier, but the long post-study work rights make the pathway strong.

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"Jaspreet" is an illustrative example, not a specific client. Australian immigration rules change often; figures are based on 2025–2026 information and are for general help only — always check the latest official Department of Home Affairs guidance for your case. Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited is a Government-licensed visa consultancy in Patiala, Punjab (Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024, valid till 22 July 2029). We do not guarantee visa approval, and we do not handle work permits.