Update 2022: Student Visa and WHV Holders Will Get Their Visa Fee Refunded

On 20 January 2022, the Australian government introduced a new instrument that regulates Visa fee refund for Student Visa and WHV (Working Holiday Visa) holders who arrive in Australia on certain dates. The instrument commences on 19 January 2022. The instrument is applicable for certain visa subclasses.

Find the details below.

Visa Fee Refund for Student Visa Australia

The Australian government will refund the Visa Fee for eligible Student Visa holders who arrive in Australia between 19 January 2022 and 19 March 2022. The Australian government will reimburse the Student Visa holders’ visa fee. Currently, the visa fee for a Student Visa is AUD 630. The visa fee for the dependent or secondary applicant of Student Visa Australia will also be refunded.

This regulation is applicable for the following Student visa Australia subclasses:

• Student Visa (subclass 500);
• Student Temporary Visa (560);
• Student Schools Sector Visa (subclass 571);
• Vocational Education and Training Sector Visa (subclass 572);
• Higher Education Sector Visa (subclass 573);
• Postgraduate Research Sector Visa (subclass 574);
• Non-Award Sector Visa (subclass 575).

Read more: Australian Government Lifts the Limitation of Working Hours for Student Visa Holders

Visa fee Refund for WHV (Working Holiday Visa) Australia

The Australian government will also refund the visa fee that WHV holders paid when they lodged their Working Holiday Maker program visa. The visa fee for the Working Holiday Maker program visa is AUD 495. The visa fee is refundable for those WHV Australia holders who arrive in Australia between 19 January 2022 and 19 April 2022.

This regulation is applicable for both WHV Australia subclasses:

• Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417);
• Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462).

Find more about Working Holiday Maker program here.

Why does the Government refund the visa fee?

The Australian government decided to refund the visa fee for those visa subclasses to encourage the Student Visa Australia and WHV Australia holders to travel to Australia and participate in the Australian economy.

Currently, around 150,000 international students and 23,500 WHV holders offshore may be eligible for the refundable visa fee. It is also applicable for those new visa applicants who are granted a new visa and plan to travel to Australia during the specified period.

The visa holders may apply for a refund for their visa fee until 31 December 2022.

Read more: Two New DAMA Programs Will Be Opened: Business can Access the Program in 2022!

What does it mean to you?

It’s great news for you!

If you are holding one of those visa subclasses and planning to travel to Australia within the time frame, you might be eligible to get a refund for your visa fee! Is it not great to work and study in Australia without paying a visa fee?

If you wish to check your eligibility, please get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or via phone at 1300 827 159.

Are you interested in working and studying in Australia?

If you’re interested in working and studying in Australia with a Student Visa or WHV, ONE derland Consulting is ready to assist you!

We fully understand that applying for a visa to Australia is certainly very complicated. It is even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our visa specialists at ONEderland Consulting will help you assess your visa options. We have a 98% success rate and are one of Australia’s most highly recommended migration agents. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.

We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

Take the first step and get in touch with us. Our team members are professional, honest and speak various languages such as Mandarin/ Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and Thai. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone on 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.