Australia moves India into highest-risk category for student visas; know why?

Australia has tightened checks for Indian student visa applications as it moved India into the ‘highest-risk’ category along with Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, according to reports.

As of January 8, 2026, four South Asian countries have reportedly been reclassified from Evidence Level 2 to Evidence Level 3 under the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF).

The Australian administration wishes that the changes seek to address integrity issues while enabling genuine students to pursue studies in the country, as per reports.

This adjustment will help manage emerging integrity risks while ensuring genuine students can access high-quality education in Australia. 

The Australian government reportedly aims to deliver a positive study experience for all international students, emphasizing that the international education system and Student Visa Program must maintain robust settings to instill confidence in the superior quality of Australian education.

The Indian students will face a process of ‘re-rating’, which means they will face tighter checks during the visa process. They may be asked for more documents, and there might be background checks.

Manual verification of bank statements will be done, additional English language evidence may be requested and the officers will have the authority to call institutions or referees. Processing time is also expected to increase, from around three weeks to up to eight weeks.

Although the administration has not specified why India was placed in the highest-risk category, the decision follows high-profile cases of fake degrees in India that garnered global scrutiny.

The move also mirrors shifts in global student mobility. As the US, UK, and Canada impose stricter entry rules for foreign students, Australia has become a prime alternative and in many cases , the increase of fraudulent financial and academic documents has also been seen.