Australia Places India in Highest-Risk Tier; Student Visa

Australia has significantly tightened student visa scrutiny for Indian applicants, moving India into the highest-risk category under its international education framework. The reclassification, which came into effect on January 8, 2026, places India alongside Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan under Evidence Level 3 of the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF).

The move marks a sharp escalation in oversight and represents an out-of-cycle decision, according to Australian media reports. Authorities stated that the change was prompted by “emerging integrity risks” within the student visa program.

Australian officials emphasized that the decision was aimed at protecting the credibility of the country’s international education system while ensuring genuine students continue to benefit from high-quality academic opportunities.

“This change will assist with the effective management of emerging integrity issues, while continuing to facilitate genuine students seeking a quality education in Australia,” the administration said in a statement.

Australia: What the New Classification Means for Indian Students

With India now placed in the highest-risk tier, Australia’s student visa checks for Indian students will become notably more stringent. Applicants can expect deeper document scrutiny, extended processing timelines, and enhanced background verification.

Visa officers will now have broader powers to:

• Manually verify bank statements

• Request additional proof of English-language proficiency

• Conduct direct checks with educational institutions

• Contact referees or sponsors

• Examine academic credentials more closely

Why Australia Re-Rated India as ‘Highest Risk’

While Australian authorities have not cited a single official trigger, the re-rating follows high-profile reports of fake degrees and documentation scams originating in India, which gained widespread international attention.

India is Australia’s largest source of international students, accounting for nearly 140,000 of the country’s 650,000 foreign enrolments. Collectively, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan represented almost one-third of all international student enrolments in 2025, making integrity issues in these markets particularly significant for policymakers.

Australia Becomes the Last Open Door Among Major Destinations

According to industry leaders, Australia has increasingly become the default destination for international students unable to secure visas in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada, all of which have introduced tighter restrictions on foreign student intake.

Phil Honeywood, Chief Executive of the International Education Association of Australia, said the shift has led to an uptick in fraudulent applications.

“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,” he said.

He added that placing certain countries into the highest risk category allows authorities to automatically strengthen filtering mechanisms to ensure students demonstrate genuine study intent.

Balancing Integrity and Opportunity

Despite the tougher stance, Australian officials reiterated that the government remains committed to welcoming legitimate international students and safeguarding their educational investment.

“Australia wants all students to have a positive study experience and receive a high-quality education. It is important that the Student Visa Program has the right settings to maintain confidence in Australia’s international education system,” the statement said.