Canberra (TDI): Australia has stepped up checks on student visa applications from several South Asian countries after placing India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan in its highest immigration risk category.
According to Australian media reports, the Department of Home Affairs reclassified the four countries on January 8, 2026, moving them from Evidence Level 2 to Evidence Level 3 under Australia’s Simplified Student Visa Framework. The decision followed what officials described as emerging concerns related to visa integrity.
The move is considered unusual, as Evidence Levels are typically reviewed once a year rather than through an out-of-cycle assessment. Collectively, the four countries made up almost one-third of Australia’s international student intake last year.
A spokesperson for the Home Affairs Department said the revised classification was intended to strengthen oversight while still allowing genuine students to access Australia’s education system.
“The change is designed to better manage emerging integrity risks, while continuing to support students who are seeking a high-quality education in Australia,” the spokesperson said, adding that maintaining confidence in the country’s education sector remained a priority.
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Former deputy secretary of the Immigration Department, Dr Abul Rizvi, described the decision as highly uncommon. He explained that the assessment framework considers factors such as visa fraud rates, cancellations, unlawful overstays and the number of students who later apply for refugee status.
Under Evidence Level 3, both applicants and education providers are required to submit more detailed proof of financial capacity and academic background. Dr Rizvi said this would result in increased manual scrutiny, including verification of academic transcripts and financial documents, and would likely slow down visa processing times.
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The development comes after Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill visited India last month, where he held discussions with local Home Affairs officials. Dr Rizvi suggested authorities may have conducted targeted data checks after noticing a rise in problematic cases.
Although Australia has maintained its overall student intake cap at 295,000 places for 2026, Dr Rizvi noted that higher refusal rates from the affected countries could force the government to attract more students from other regions.
