Over 40% Indian student visa applications rejected by Australia: Report

Australia's tightening of student visa checks has pushed refusals to a decade high, hitting Indian applicants hard. The tougher screening is raising concern that genuine overseas students may feel unwelcome.

In Short

• Australia's overall student visa refusal rate rose sharply over the past decade
• June 2026 refusals reached 24.2 per cent, up from 7.9
• Nepal saw even steeper refusals, while China's rate remained comparatively low

Australia has tightened scrutiny of international student visa applications, with the country's student visa refusal rate reaching its highest level in a decade.

According to data from Australia's Department of Home Affairs cited by ABC News, 24.2 per cent of student visa applications were refused in June 2026, compared with 7.9 per cent in June 2016. Indian applicants have been among those facing the sharpest rise in refusals, with more than 40 per cent of applications from India rejected during the 2025-26 financial year.

The impact has been even more pronounced for applicants from Nepal, where more than half of applications were refused during the same period. By comparison, China's refusal rate stood at 5.8 per cent.

WHY ARE AUSTRALIAN STUDENT VISAS BEING REJECTED?

The increase comes amid Australia's broader effort to tighten the integrity of its international education and migration systems. The country's Genuine Student requirement requires applicants to demonstrate that they genuinely intend to study in Australia.

Authorities consider factors including an applicant's circumstances in their home country, their potential circumstances in Australia, the value of the chosen course to their future, immigration history and other relevant factors.

This means Indian students applying to Australian universities and colleges will need to ensure that their study plans are clear and consistent with their previous education, work experience and future career plans.

The Australian government has said the higher refusal rate reflects increased scrutiny of applications that do not meet visa requirements. It maintains that applications are assessed individually against migration legislation.

The crackdown has also raised concerns within Australia's higher education sector. Experts cited by ABC News warned that genuine international students could be deterred if restrictive measures create a perception that Australia is becoming less welcoming to overseas students.

- Ends