Important Updates for International Students in Australia Starting July 1st!

Starting July 1, 2024, the fee for international student visas will rise from $710 to $1,600. This increase reflects the growing importance of education in Australia and underscores the Albanese Government's efforts to uphold integrity in the international education sector.

In this article, we'll discuss upcoming changes starting July 1, 2024, that will affect international students in Australia.

Changes in the Minimum Wages in Australia

The minimum wage in Australia will rise to $24.10 per hour starting July 1, 2024. This is good news for international students because many of them work at this minimum wage rate. International students can work up to 48 hours every two weeks while classes are in session and can work unlimited hours during official school breaks.

Increase in Student Visa and other Visa fees in Australia

There's a big change coming for student visa fees in Australia. Starting July 1, 2024, the government will raise the fee from $710 to $1600. This means students will need to pay 125% more for their non-refundable visa applications. Additionally, the fee for Temporary Graduate Visas will increase to $1920, and the visitor visa fee will go up from $475 to $490.

 Changes in Tax Cuts in Australia

Tax rates are changing for the new financial year. There's good news for working international students in Australia, as tax rates are decreasing for middle and low-income earners. Here are the new tax rates for the 2024-25 financial year:

•  There's a 3% reduction in tax rates for people earning between $18,201 and $45,000.
• For those earning between $45,000 and $135,000 (previously $120,000), the tax rate has been lowered by 2.5% starting this financial year.

 Changes to Temporary Graduate Visas in Australia

Starting July 1st, there are some changes for temporary graduate visa holders.

• The duration of the temporary graduate visa will be shorter for some holders.
• A program that allowed a 2-year extension for certain degrees is ending from July 1st, 2024.
• Most temporary graduate visa applicants after July 1st, 2024, must be under 35 years old, except for those pursuing masters by research or PhD programs, who can apply until age 50. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders can also apply up to age 50.

End to visa hopping in Australia

The Australian Government is cracking down on 'Visa Hopping,' where people switch visas to extend their stay. Starting July 1, visitor visa holders can no longer apply for an Australian student visa while in Australia. This change aims to prevent misuse of the visa system. Over 36,000 such applications were made from July 2023 to May 2024, prompting this decision. It affects several visa types, including Temporary Graduate, Visitor, and others listed.