Australia’s student visa refusal rate has climbed to its highest level in a decade, with applicants from India and Nepal recording particularly high rejection rates as the Australian government intensifies scrutiny of international student applications.
Australian Department of Home Affairs data reported by ABC News shows that the student visa refusal rate reached 24.2 per cent in June 2026, up sharply from 7.9 per cent in June 2016.
The impact has been particularly significant for applicants from India and Nepal. More than 51 per cent of student visa applications from Nepal were refused during the 2025–26 financial year, while more than 40 per cent of applications from India were rejected. By comparison, the refusal rate for applicants from China was 5.8 per cent during the same period.
The Department of Home Affairs has said that student visa applications are not assessed on the basis of nationality. According to the department, applications are considered individually against the requirements of Australia’s migration legislation.
A key part of the assessment is the Genuine Student requirement, which applicants must satisfy to demonstrate that studying in Australia is the primary reason for seeking a student visa.
The Genuine Student requirement replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement on March 23, 2024. Under the current rules, authorities consider factors including an applicant’s circumstances in their home country, their potential circumstances in Australia, the value of the proposed course to their future, their immigration history and any other relevant matters.
The increased refusal rate comes as the Australian government implements measures aimed at strengthening the integrity and quality of the international education sector and student visa programme.
ABC News reported that its examination of several refusal letters found almost identical paragraphs and similar wording explaining why information submitted by applicants had not been accepted.
Responding to concerns about standardised wording, the Department of Home Affairs said such language helps ensure decisions are consistent, legally robust and adequately explain decisions across a high-volume visa programme.
Applicants whose student visas are refused should carefully examine their refusal notification to understand the grounds for the decision and whether they have review rights. Depending on the applicant’s circumstances and where the application was lodged, review through Australia’s Administrative Review Tribunal may be available.
Applicants may also consider lodging a new application where permitted, but any issues that contributed to the original refusal should be addressed before doing so. Given that review rights and visa options depend on individual circumstances, applicants may seek advice from a registered migration agent or qualified Australian immigration lawyer.
Australia Student Visa Rejections Surge, Indian Applicants Hit Hard
