Australia doubles international student visa fees, Indians likely to be hit

"International education plays a vital role in the Australian economy. The hike could significantly impact the number of Indian students choosing Australia as their study destination. It may even prompt many to consider alternatives, given that the US charges $185 (Rs 15,433), Canada around $110 (Rs 9,178), and the UK approximately $620 (Rs 51,732)," Aritra Ghosal, founder and director of OneStep Global, told Business Standard.

"While we acknowledge Australia's efforts toward sustainable management of educational expansion and quality, this policy change may pose financial challenges for many potential students. It underscores the need for nuanced policies that balance affordability with Australia's commitment to maintaining educational excellence and diversity," Manisha Zaveri, Joint Managing Director, Career Mosaic added.

Other migration-related measures also came into effect on Monday. Key changes include:

— Raising the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold to A$73,150 (Rs 40,73,847) from A$70,000 based on annual indexation.