Australia has tightened scrutiny of student visa applications from India after moving the country into the highest-risk category under its student visa assessment framework, citing concerns over “emerging integrity risks”. Reported by TOI.
From January 8, 2026, India has been reclassified from Evidence Level 2 to Evidence Level 3 under Australia’s Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF).
Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan have also been placed in the same category. Australian media reported that the re-rating was carried out out of cycle, with authorities saying the decision was prompted by integrity-related concerns.
Announcing the change, the administration said:
“This change will assist with the effective management of emerging integrity issues, while continuing to facilitate genuine students seeking a quality education in Australia.”
It added:
“The Australian government wants all students to have a positive study experience during their stay in Australia and receive a high-quality education.
It is important that Australia’s international education system and Student Visa Program has the right settings to provide international students with confidence they are investing in the best possible education.”
What this means for Indian students
The new classification is expected to significantly impact Indian students applying for Australian visas. Applications will now undergo stricter screening, with authorities likely to request additional documentation and conduct more rigorous background checks.
Bank statements may be manually verified, extra proof of English language proficiency could be demanded, and visa officers may directly contact educational institutions and referees. Processing times are also expected to increase, potentially extending from around three weeks to as long as eight weeks.
Why India was moved to the highest-risk category
While Australian authorities did not specify a single reason for India’s reclassification, the move follows reports of fake degree rackets in India that attracted international attention.
India currently accounts for nearly 140,000 of Australia’s approximately 650,000 international students. Together, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan make up almost one-third of total international student enrolments in 2025.
Experts note that Australia has become the most accessible option among the world’s major study destinations as the US, UK and Canada tighten their own visa regimes.
“It recently became obvious that student applicants who couldn’t get into those other three countries are increasingly applying to come to Australia, and in many cases we’ve seen an increase in fraudulent financial and academic documents,” said Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia.
He added:
“By placing a number of these countries into the highest risk rating level then it automatically enhances any filtering of the student visa applicants to ensure bona fide study motivation.”
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