Australia classifies Indian students ‘high-risk’, tightens visa scrutiny

Effective January 8, 2026, Australia’s Home Affairs has flagged an alert for student visa applicants from India. Like those from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, Indian students have been moved from evidence level 2 to evidence level 3 or the ‘highest risk’ category.

This, under its Simplified Student Visa Framework, means requiring detailed financial proof, full traceability of source of funds, a strict ‘Genuine Student’ assessment, which may include interviews, and slower and manual checks of documentation.

In comparison, the level 2 privileges had been moderate scrutiny, basic explanation of funds or sometimes, waiver of proofs, and faster processing.

The methodology for calculating evidence level, according to the Home Affairs, is based on rates of visa cancellations, fraudulent reasons, refusals, student visa holders becoming unlawful non-citizens, and the number of people who applied for a protection visa where the last visa they held was a student visa.

According to i20fever, a Hyderabad-based global education consultancy, the revised risk assessment for Indian students was possibly driven by reports of fraudulent applications and their consequences in recent times.

“Through these revisions, Australia is clearly prioritising quality over quantity in its international education ecosystem. Unfortunately, the actions of a few fraudulent applicants have negatively affected India’s image,” an official, who conducts ‘Genuine Student’ assessment at this agency, observed.

At IDP Education, a Melbourne-headquartered private consultant, south Asia’s regional director Piyush Kumar said that the revisions indicate shift toward enhanced scrutiny, but this does not imply reduced opportunities for genuine students, who are thoroughly prepared and have a clear intent to study in Australia.

“More importance should be given to early planning and carefully documented applications. From a financial viewpoint, clarity and transparency are now of utmost importance, and students should avoid having last-minute fund transfers for unexplained reasons. India continues to be one of Australia’s key markets,” he said.

However, despite Australia’s strictest scrutiny and measures, experts note that India will continue to choose Australia as a study destination, and the number of students may even increase. A drop in enrollment in United States, traditionally the top destination, and Canada, and usually not so high enrollments in the UK, is a possible reason. Australia is the next safe and reliable option.

And, to manage a sustainable international education sector in 2026, Australia has also set the National Planning Level of 2,95,000 international students, 25,000 more than in 2025.