Starting from 22 March 2025, Australia will reduce visa application charges (VAC) for Student (Subclass 500) and Student Guardian (Subclass 590) visas for applicants holding valid passports from specific Pacific nations and Timor-Leste. This change eliminates the previous partial refund system, allowing eligible applicants to pay a lower fee upfront.

Key Changes:

• Immediate Fee Reduction: Eligible applicants will now benefit from a reduced VAC at the time of application, removing the need for subsequent refunds.

• Eligibility: The reduced VAC applies to primary applicants and their family members who hold valid passports from the specified countries.

• Transition Period: Applicants who applied between 1 July 2024 and 21 March 2025 can still request a partial refund until 22 June 2025.

Eligible Countries:

Applicants from the following countries are eligible for the reduced VAC:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Visa Application Charges for Eligible Countries:

This initiative aims to strengthen educational ties and support students from these neighbouring regions by making Australian education more accessible.