Australia has tightened checks for student visa applicants from India as it moved India into the ‘highest-risk’ category along with Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. 

The new categorization came into effect from January 8 2026, as these four South-Asian countries have been moved from Evidence Level 2 to Evidence Level 3 under the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF).

The re-rating of the countries was out of cycle, the Australian media reported, while the administration said this was triggered by “emerging integrity risks”.

“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. 

“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,” they said.

What does this re-rating mean for Indian students?

Indian students applying for a visa in Australia will be screened meticulously. They may be asked for more documents, and there might be rigorous background checks. Bank statements will be manually verified, additional English language evidence may be requested and the officers will have the authority to call institutions, referees.

The process time of applications will lengthen from three to eight weeks.

Why India moved to ‘highest- risk’ category?

Though the administration did not cite any specific reason for which India had been assigned to a new category, the move came after reports of fake degree busts in India, which created a ripple in the international media. India alone accounts for almost 140,000 of Australia’s 650,000 international students, and the four nations represent nearly one-third of 2025 enrolments.

According to experts, Australia remains the only option now among the ‘big four’ student destinations, as the US, UK and Canada are shutting their doors to foreign students. 

“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,” Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, said.

“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.”