Key takeaways
- The student visa application charge is from AUD 2,500 for applications lodged from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 2,000.
- Dependant charges vary by age; the official source is the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator.
- The median processing time for student visas was 21 days in July 2026; the Department advises lodging early with a complete file.
- Foreign government scholarship students are Priority 1 for offshore applications lodged from 14 November 2025.
- Biometrics are given at VFS centres in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar; health examinations at a Home Affairs panel clinic.
- The most common delays are missing documents, incomplete translations and slow replies to requests for information.
In this article
The Australian student visa (subclass 500) application charge starts at AUD 2,500 for applications lodged from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 2,000 (Study Australia, 3 July 2026). On timing, the median processing time for student visas was 21 days in July 2026 (Department of Home Affairs, updated 8 September 2026), and foreign government scholarship students are in the first priority group. Here are the current figures with their sources, the biometrics and health steps in Saudi Arabia, and what slows an application down.
How much is the Australian student visa fee now?
The Australian Government increased the Student Visa Application Charge from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026 (Study Australia – Student visa application charge increase, 3 July 2026). The charge is paid when you lodge through ImmiAccount and applies to the primary applicant; dependants attract additional charges that vary by age, and the official way to price your family’s application is the Department’s Visa Pricing Estimator (Department of Home Affairs – Student visa subclass 500, updated 1 July 2026).
| Item | Amount | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa application charge (primary applicant), applications from 1 July 2026 | From AUD 2,500 | Study Australia, 3 July 2026 |
| Charge before 1 July 2026 | AUD 2,000 | Study Australia, 3 July 2026 |
| Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) charge from 1 July 2026 | AUD 5,750, up from AUD 4,600 | Study Australia, 3 July 2026 |
| Dependants (18 and over / under 18) | Varies; use the official estimator | Department of Home Affairs, as at September 2026 |
Are there reduced fees?
Yes, but they do not cover Saudi passport holders. A lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island, Timor-Leste and ASEAN citizens, and to applicants in the standalone ELICOS and Non-Award sectors (Department of Home Affairs – Student visa subclass 500, updated 1 July 2026). A Saudi student applying for an English course only may fall into the ELICOS sector, so check your course category in the estimator before paying.
Has the student visa fee ever been waived?
Once, in a well-known case: on 19 January 2022 the Australian Government announced it would rebate the student visa application charge, then AUD 630, for students arriving within eight weeks of that date, to ease post-pandemic workforce shortages (SBS News, 19 January 2022). KD International relayed the news that day (KD International on X, 19 January 2022). The rebate ended with its window, and no comparable waiver is in force now.
How long does the Australian student visa take to process?
The Department of Home Affairs publishes a monthly median processing time for key visa categories; for the Student category it was 21 days in July 2026 (Department of Home Affairs – Visa processing times, updated 8 September 2026). A median means half of applications were finalised within that time and half took longer, which is why the Department recommends lodging well in advance of course commencement and with all supporting documentation (Department of Home Affairs – Visa processing times, updated 8 September 2026). For the current figure for your specific sector (Higher Education, Postgraduate Research, ELICOS), use the visa processing times guide tool, which is updated monthly.
Do Saudi scholarship students get priority?
Yes. Student visa applications lodged outside Australia from 14 November 2025 are processed under Ministerial Direction 115 in three priority levels, and Priority 1 includes foreign and Australian government scholarship students, PhD students, school students and standalone ELICOS students; your priority level is set when you lodge and does not affect whether the visa is granted (Department of Home Affairs – Student visa processing priorities, as at September 2026). A holder of a Saudi Ministry of Education scholarship decision is therefore well placed in the queue, provided the file is complete. See our guide to Saudi scholarship tracks if you are still choosing a track.
What changes the processing time?
The Department lists completeness of supporting documents, how quickly you respond to requests, the time external agencies take on health, character and security checks, and the volume of applications received (Department of Home Affairs – Visa processing times, updated 8 September 2026).
Where do you give biometrics in Saudi Arabia?
Biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph) are collected at Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs) operated by VFS Global, and the Department of Home Affairs notifies you in writing if they are required (Australian Embassy Riyadh – FAQ, as at September 2026). There are three centres in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Sulemaniya Commercial Centre, Prince Mamdouh Bin Abdul Aziz Street), Jeddah (Medina Road, opposite the Consulate General of India) and Al Khobar (Prince Turki Street, Gulf Centre), open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday to Wednesday (Australian Embassy Riyadh – VFS, as at September 2026). The centre’s service fee is paid to VFS separately from the visa charge; check the current amount on the VFS Global website before your appointment.
One important note: the Australian Embassy in Riyadh does not process visa applications, and enquiries go to the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196 (Australian Embassy Riyadh – Visas and citizenship, as at September 2026).
How does the health examination work?
If a health examination is required, you receive a list of the examinations and a HAP ID used to book the appointment; outside Australia the examination must be done by one of the Department’s approved panel physicians or clinics (Department of Home Affairs – Arrange your health examinations, updated 15 December 2025). The approved clinics in Saudi Arabia are listed on the offices and locations page by selecting the country. You can also complete the examination before lodging through the My Health Declarations service to save time (Department of Home Affairs – Arrange your health examinations, updated 15 December 2025).
What delays your application, and how do you speed it up?
The Department’s recommendations for a "decision ready" application (Department of Home Affairs – Check twice, submit once, updated 22 January 2025), applied to students:
- Lodge every document from the start: the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is mandatory at lodgement, and evidence of financial capacity and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) are required (Study Australia – Visa application process, as at September 2026).
- Translate every non-English document, and include the translator’s name, address, phone number and qualifications if translated outside Australia.
- Match your name to your passport and list all previous names.
- Answer the Genuine Student questions inside the form, with a limit of 150 words per response and documents that support what you say (Department of Home Affairs – Genuine Student requirement, as at September 2026).
- Do the health examination early through My Health Declarations where possible.
- Give biometrics as soon as requested, check your ImmiAccount inbox regularly and respond quickly.
- Do not book flights before the visa is granted; the Department advises booking after the grant.
How KD International helps with the visa
KD International is a Saudi-Australian education consultancy and university admissions company with offices in Riyadh and Sydney, offering visa guidance for all countries, NAATI-certified translation and document attestation. We help you prepare a decision-ready file: the CoE, the financial guarantee, the Genuine Student responses, and the biometrics and health appointments. See our step-by-step process or start from the application form.
Summary
The charge is from AUD 2,500 for the primary applicant since 1 July 2026, the median processing time was 21 days in July 2026, and scholarship students sit in Priority 1. What remains in your hands is a complete file and fast replies. Your next step: price your family’s application in the Department’s estimator, book biometrics and the health examination in your city, then contact us to review your application before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
From AUD 2,500 for the primary applicant on applications lodged from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 2,000. Dependant charges are calculated in the official Visa Pricing Estimator.
The median processing time for the Student category was 21 days in July 2026 according to the Department of Home Affairs, and half of applications take longer. The current figure for your sector appears in the monthly-updated processing times tool.
Yes. Under Ministerial Direction 115, which applies to offshore applications lodged from 14 November 2025, foreign government scholarship students fall into Priority 1, and the priority is set at lodgement.
At the Australian Visa Application Centres run by VFS Global in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, open 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday to Wednesday. The Department of Home Affairs notifies you in writing if biometrics are required.
It may be. You then receive a list of examinations and a HAP ID, and complete the examination at a clinic approved by the Department of Home Affairs. You can do it before lodging through the My Health Declarations service.
Yes: eligible Pacific Island, Timor-Leste and ASEAN citizens, and applicants in the standalone ELICOS and Non-Award sectors. Saudi applicants for a degree course pay the full charge.
A complete file from day one: the CoE, evidence of financial capacity, OSHC, certified translations and Genuine Student answers inside the form. Then quick replies to any request and prompt biometrics.
Official sources
- Student Visa Application Charge increase — Study Australia (Australian Government)
- Student visa (subclass 500) — Study Australia (Australian Government)
- How to apply for your student visa — Study Australia (Australian Government)
- Student visa (subclass 500) – cost and processing — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Pricing Estimator — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Visa processing times – median processing times for key programs — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Student visa processing priorities (Ministerial Direction 115) — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Check twice, submit once — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Arrange your health examinations — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Genuine Student requirement — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- VFS Australian Visa Application Centres in Saudi Arabia — Australian Embassy, Saudi Arabia
- Visa charges to be waived for international students and working holiday makers — SBS News
Ready to start?
KD International helps you choose a university, prepare your admission and visa file, and answers your questions about Saudi scholarships and studying in Australia. Apply now or message us on WhatsApp.
Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.
