The journey for Indian students planning to study in Australia has become more difficult. The Australian government has changed its student visa policy and placed India in the highest risk category, known as Assessment Level 3 (AL3).
Earlier, India was in Assessment Level 2 (AL2), but it has now been moved to AL3. This change means that student visa applications from India will face stricter checks and tougher documentation requirements.
Why Australia Moved India to the High-Risk Category
India is one of Australia’s biggest sources of international students. Around 140,000 Indian students are currently enrolled, out of Australia’s total international student population of about 650,000.
Despite this large contribution, Australia has placed India in the highest risk category.
This decision comes after the exposure of large-scale fake degree scams and visa fraud cases in India, which raised concerns among Australian authorities.
New Rules Effective From January 8, 2026
The updated visa rules came into force on January 8, 2026. Under the new guidelines, Indian students must now submit stronger proof of their financial stability and educational background.
Australian officials have confirmed that bank statements and academic degrees will be directly verified with banks and educational institutions, making the application process more rigorous than before.
Other South Asian Countries Also Affected
India is not the only country affected by this change. Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan have also been placed in the high-risk (AL3) category.
As a result, students from these South Asian countries will face stricter entry requirements and additional documentation when applying to study in Australia.
At present, it is unclear whether these measures are temporary or part of a long-term shift in Australia’s international education policy.
Australia Losing Popularity Among International Students
According to a report by Australia Today, International Education Minister Julian Hill stated that Australia has now become the least preferred destination for international students among the “Big Four” study destinations.
The other three preferred countries in this group are the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
