New Delhi: Foreign applicants seeking to pursue Australian degrees are facing record visa refusals, with nearly 40% of Indian applicants facing rejection as authorities step up scrutiny to ensure students genuinely intend to study.
In February, around one-third of overseas higher education visa applications were turned down, as per the latest Department of Home Affairs data updated in April.
The overall approval rate was 67.6%, marking the lowest monthly grant rate in at least 21 years. In September 2023, the earlier low of 68.1 per cent was recorded. This is when applications went up after Australia reopened its borders post-Covid.
Rejections more evident across South Asian nations
The rejection is more evident and pronounced across main South Asian countries. In February, Australian authorities rejected around: 36 per cent of applications from Bhutan; 38 per cent from Sri Lanka; 40 per cent from India; 51 per cent from Bangladesh; and 65 per cent from Nepal.
Applications from China lowest in 12 years
The composition of applicants has also started changing. The visa caseload is shifting away from China, which has historically witnessed high approval rates. Applications from China plunged to their lowest level in 12 years in February, down 39 per cent compared with the same month in 2025.
While applications from China went down, those from South Asian nations rose sharply. Applications from India went up by 36 per cent year-on-year, while Bangladesh and Nepal saw steeper rises of 51 per cent and 91 per cent, respectively.
India in ‘high-risk’ category
Last week, the Indian government pointed out that Australia had put India in the “highest-risk” category under its visa risk framework in January 2026. This means that applications from Indian students will now face more detailed scrutiny and may need to furnish additional supporting documents.
The Centre reportedly apprised the Rajya Sabha that Indian applicants have been moved from Evidence Level 2 (EL2) to Evidence Level 3 (EL3) under Australia’s Simplified Student Visa Framework and this increases the compliance requirements for the students.
Despite this, India continues to be a key source country. Last year, students from India, along with those from Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, comprised nearly one-third of Australia’s international student population, and around 140,000 were Indians among approximately 650,000 students.
What does the reclassification mean
The reclassification does not mean that Indian students applying for the visa won’t get it. It is only that the process will be lengthier. Those having legitimate academic profiles and clean financial documentation will eventually get visa, but only have to wait a little more than before.