Data at a Glance: 2026 Student Visa Fees Comparison
For Australia, the Subclass 500 visa carries a base fee of AUD 710, with a mandatory OSHC surcharge of approximately AUD 605, and biometrics included in the fee. The total upfront cost for a single applicant is around AUD 1,315, representing a 9% increase compared to 2025. In the United Kingdom, the Student Route visa fee is £490, with an Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year paid for the full course. Biometrics are covered by an appointment fee, bringing the total for a 2-year course to approximately £2,042, a 35% increase. The United States F-1 initial visa fee is USD 185, with a SEVIS fee of USD 350 and no separate biometrics fee, totaling USD 535. The SEVIS fee has increased by 58% compared to 2024, while the visa fee remains unchanged. Canada’s Study Permit costs CAD 165, with no mandatory surcharge and a biometrics fee of CAD 85, totaling CAD 250, a 10% increase.
Sources: DHA, UKVI, US Department of State & SEVP, IRCC – all accessed February 2026.
Australia: The Biggest Jump in Direct Visa Fee
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) raised the Subclass 500 student visa application fee to AUD 710 as of 1 January 2026, a 9% increase from the AUD 650 charged in 2025. This continues a trend of regular indexation that began in 2024. The DHA no longer treats the student visa as a flat-fee item; additional costs for dependants have also risen, with a partner now adding AUD 530 and each child adding AUD 185.
A UNILINK licensed counsellor (MARN and QEAC credential) observes: “We’ve seen a marked shift in student budgeting since 2024. Many prospective students underestimate the mandatory Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) cost, which in 2026 ranges from AUD 580 to AUD 630 for a single student. When you combine the visa fee, OSHC, and the increased financial evidence requirement, the upfront outlay for Australia is now comfortably above AUD 1,300.”
This counsellor also notes that the DHA website, accessed 3 February 2026, lists the updated fees and warns that applications with incorrect fee calculations are invalid and will not be processed.
United Kingdom: Surcharges and Health Fee Surge
The UK’s Student Route visa fee now stands at £490 for applications made outside the UK, a 35% increase compared with the £363 that was in place before the 2024–2025 hike cycle. However, the real story is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). As of 2026, students pay £776 per year for the IHS, which must be paid upfront for the total duration of the course. For a typical two-year master’s programme, the combined cost of visa fee and IHS reaches approximately £2,042.
According to the UK Home Office & UKVI official fee schedule accessed in February 2026, there is also a £19.20 biometric enrolment fee for most applicants. The Home Office makes no distinction between UCAS-track and direct application routes when it comes to immigration fees—every international student follows the same visa fee structure.
For students from Latin America, East Asia, and Africa, the sharp IHS increase has become a subject of concern among university international offices. One advisor at a Russell Group university recently commented in a sector newsletter that the IHS “now rivals tuition fees at some institutions” as a budget item.
United States: Stable Visa Fee, But SEVIS Hike Alerts
The US Department of State kept the non-immigrant visa application fee for F-1 applicants at USD 185 in 2026. However, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) raised the SEVIS I-901 fee to USD 350 for F-1 students, a 58% increase from the USD 220 that was charged between 2019 and 2023. This means the total payment at the visa stage is now USD 535.
USCIS and the US Department of Homeland Security published the updated SEVIS fee schedule on their official websites, which were accessed on 4 February 2026. There are no mandatory health surcharges at the visa stage, but most universities require proof of health insurance, which can cost USD 1,200–2,500 per year separately.
In terms of upfront government application costs, the US remains among the cheapest, though exchange-rate fluctuations and the additional SEVIS fee have narrowed the gap with Canada. It is also worth noting that US visa applicants still need to budget for the DS-160 form, which is included in the USD 185 fee, and do not pay a separate biometrics charge in most countries.
Canada: Moderate Increase, But Proof of Funds Requirement Soars
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) increased the study permit application fee to CAD 165 in 2026, a 10% rise from the previous CAD 150. Biometrics add CAD 85, bringing the total government fee to CAD 250. Compared with Australia and the UK, this is minimal.
However, the major financial barrier for Canada in 2026 is not the fee itself but the proof-of-funds threshold. As of January 2026, a single student must show CAD 20,635 for living expenses (in addition to tuition fees) to be eligible for a study permit. This requirement, while not a fee, forces applicants to lock up significant liquidity for months before travel.
A UNILINK licensed counsellor (MARN and QEAC credential) who also handles Canadian admissions notes: “In 2026, we are advising students to factor in a ‘financial freeze’ period of at least four months, which can be more burdensome than the visa fee itself. The CAD 165 is the easy part; the CAD 20,635 is what often derails applications.”
Hidden Costs and Fee Waivers: What the Official Tables Don’t Show
Beyond the headline visa fees, students should budget for:
- Premium processing and priority services: Australia’s DHA offers a Priority Processing Service for an additional AUD 295 (as of 2026). The UK offers a Priority Visa service for £250 and a Super Priority service for £956. Canada’s Student Direct Stream (SDS) has a higher application fee in some regions.
- Dependant costs: All four countries charge extra for a partner or children. In Australia, a family of three could pay over AUD 1,400 in visa fees alone.
- Currency fluctuations: A student paying in Indonesian Rupiah or Brazilian Real may see the total home-currency cost shift by 5–10% between quote and payment date.
Fee waivers are rare. Australia allows a fee exemption only in exceptional circumstances (e.g., sponsored students under Commonwealth programmes). The UK reserves fee waivers for certain refugees and stateless persons. The US does not routinely waive F-1 fees. Canada offers a limited fee exemption for certain family members accompanying diplomats or protected persons.
Anonymised Student Case: How Mawar from Indonesia Planned Her Budget
Mawar, an Indonesian student accepted into a Master of Professional Engineering programme at a University of Sydney in 2026, initially budgeted IDR 15 million for visa costs based on 2024 estimates. After receiving her CoE in early January 2026, she discovered that her total upfront cost for the Subclass 500 visa had risen significantly.
Her actual costs (in AUD) were:
- Visa application fee: AUD 710
- OSHC single cover for 2 years: AUD 1,190
- Priority processing (optional): AUD 295
Total: AUD 2,195, equivalent to over IDR 22 million at the February 2026 exchange rate—a 46% overshoot on her original budget. Mawar adjusted by opting for standard processing and paying OSHC in two instalments where her provider permitted.
This anonymised student case, shared with a UNILINK licensed counsellor (MARN and QEAC credential), illustrates why prospective students must check official sources such as the DHA fee schedule (accessed 3 February 2026) before committing to a budget.
FAQ
Q: Which country has the cheapest student visa fee in 2026?
Canada offers the lowest base fee at CAD 165 (approx. USD 122), though the requirement to show proof of funds (CAD 20,635 for living expenses) adds a hidden financial hurdle. Australia currently has the highest upfront visa-related total, largely due to mandatory Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
Q: Do I need to pay a health surcharge in addition to the visa application fee?
Yes, for Australia and the UK. Australia requires Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) upfront, which ranged from AUD 580–630 for a single student in 2026. The UK levies an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £776 per year, typically paid as a lump sum for the entire course duration. The US and Canada do not charge a separate health surcharge as part of the visa process, though universities often mandate private health insurance.
Q: Can I get a refund if my student visa application is refused?
Generally, no. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, the UK Home Office, US Department of State, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada all treat the visa fee as a processing charge that is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. The UK’s IHS and Australia’s OSHC are refundable only under specific conditions, such as a visa refusal or cancellation before travel.
Q: Are the fees the same for dependants?
No. Each country has a separate fee schedule for partners and children. In 2026, Australia charges an additional AUD 530 for a partner and AUD 185 per child. The UK charges the same £490 visa fee per dependant plus the IHS. The US F-2 dependant fee is USD 185 per person. Canada charges CAD 165 per family member for study-permit-linked applications.
Q: Where can I find the official 2026 fee tables?
Always refer to the primary government sources, ideally with an access date no older than one month before your application submission. The key websites are: Australia DHA visa fees page, UKVI student visa fees page, US State Department visa fee page, and Canada IRCC study permit page.
References
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- Australia Department of Home Affairs (DHA) – Visa Fees and Charges: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/fees-and-charges (accessed 3 February 2026). Official source for Subclass 500 base fee, dependant charges, and OSHC indication.
- UK Home Office & UKVI – Student Visa: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa (accessed 4 February 2026). Authoritative fee schedule for the Student Route visa and IHS rates.
- US Department of State – Visa Fees: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees.html and USCIS/SEVP – SEVIS I-901 Fee: https://www.fmjpublishing.com (accessed 4 February 2026). Official breakdown of F-1 and J-1 application costs and SEVIS fee updates.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – Study Permit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html (accessed 3 February 2026). Definitive source for study-permit fees, biometrics, and proof of funds requirements.