Australia has tightened checks for student visa applicants from India by moving the country to the highest risk assessment category, alongside Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, according to Australian and Indian media reports. The Times of India reported that the re-rating occurred out of cycle, citing Australian media, while officials said the decision followed emerging integrity risks. However, authorities did not specify a formal trigger for India’s new classification.
The report added that the move followed international coverage of alleged fake degree busts in India. India currently contributes nearly 140,000 of Australia’s 650,000 international students, while the four affected countries together account for almost one-third of the projected 2025 enrolments. Consequently, education providers and students expect the decision to have wide-reaching effects on planning and recruitment.
Impact on students and visa processing
Assessment levels directly influence the volume of documentation required and how easily students can plan studies in Australia, according to The Australia Today newspaper. Higher risk levels require stronger proof of finances, English proficiency and genuine temporary entrant intent. As a result, applicants may face longer processing times, higher costs and increased uncertainty.
Stakeholder groups have stressed that clarity and predictability remain essential, particularly for countries that contribute significant student numbers and economic value. Experts have said the new settings will likely bring closer scrutiny to applications from South Asia. However, they also emphasised that genuine students still retain clear pathways to study in Australia.
The Department of Education and Home Affairs is expected to issue detailed guidance for institutions and agents. Therefore, the sector continues to watch for official documents that clarify whether the changes represent a short-term adjustment or a longer-term shift in risk management.
Fraud concerns and sector unease grow
Authorities have reported increased detection of suspected fraudulent academic and financial documents during recent South Asia visits. Minister for International Education Julian Hill has said Australia must protect visa integrity as demand shifts from the US, UK and Canada.
Meanwhile, the IEAA chief executive Phil Honeywood and others have appreciated tough filtering for student visa applicants from India. They, however, warned that frequent changes in the visa regime often create confusion.
