Australia tightens student visa rules for Indians, moves India to highest-risk category.
Australia has elevated India to its highest-risk category for student visas, implementing stricter scrutiny for Indian applicants effective January 8, 2026. This move, impacting nearly 140,000 Indian students, aims to manage emerging integrity concerns and ensure genuine students receive quality education amidst global shifts in student migration.
The new classification took effect on January 8, 2026, after India was shifted from Evidence Level 2 to Evidence Level 3 under Australia’s Simplified Student Visa Framework.
Stricter Visa Checks For Indian Applicants
The re-rating means Indian students will face tighter checks during the visa process. Applications will undergo detailed screening, with authorities seeking more documents and conducting deeper background verification.
Bank statements will be manually checked, applicants may be asked for additional English language evidence, and visa officers will have the authority to contact institutions and referees. Processing time is also expected to increase, from around three weeks to up to eight weeks.
Why India Was Moved To The Highest-Risk Category
Australian officials did not cite a specific reason for placing India in the highest-risk category. As reported by TOI, the move follows reports of fake degree cases in India that drew international attention. India accounts for nearly 140,000 of Australia’s 650,000 international students, while India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan together represent close to one-third of enrolments in 2025.
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