Australia has revised its student visa risk assessment framework, placing India in the highest-risk category (Assessment Level 3), a move that has sparked concern among aspiring students and education consultants. The decision comes despite India being Australia’s second-largest source of international students, highlighting a shift toward stricter immigration oversight rather than student volume.

Effective January 8, Indian students applying to Australian institutions will be subject to more rigorous background checks, including detailed scrutiny of financial records, English language proficiency, academic credentials, and institutional references. Authorities have indicated that visa processing timelines may also increase due to the enhanced verification process.

Australian officials maintain that the changes are designed to protect the integrity of the student visa system while ensuring genuine students continue to receive a high-quality education experience. Although no official explanation has been issued, the move follows reports of large-scale fake degree and documentation rackets in India, which have raised red flags within Australia’s education and immigration sectors.

Currently, around 1.4 lakh Indian students are enrolled in Australian institutions, second only to China’s 1.9 lakh students, underlining India’s crucial role in Australia’s international education landscape. The development reflects a broader global trend of tightening student visa norms as countries balance welcoming international students with preventing misuse of education visas.