Australia tightens student visa rules for Indians, moves India to 'highest-risk' category

• Australia reclassified India to 'highest-risk' (Evidence Level 3) for student visas, effective January 8, 2026.
• The move, part of an out-of-cycle re-rating, cites "emerging integrity risks" and impacts India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
• Indian students will face more rigorous checks, including additional documentation, background checks, and manual bank statement verification.
• Processing times for student visas are expected to increase significantly, from three weeks to potentially eight weeks.
• The reclassification follows reports of fake degree rackets in India and a surge in applications from students unable to enter other major study destinations.

Why It Matters: Australia has increased scrutiny on Indian student visa applicants due to integrity concerns and rising applications.