Australia has quietly tightened scrutiny of student visa applications from parts of South Asia, elevating several countries to higher-risk categories under its assessment framework, according to Australia Today. The changes, which took effect earlier this month, are expected to slow visa processing and increase documentary requirements as preparations begin for the 2026 academic intake.
The revised country risk ratings were issued through the PRISMS system by the Department of Education and came into force on January 8, 2026. Officials say the move reflects growing concerns over document integrity, even as Australia seeks to maintain enrolments of genuine international students.
In a statement accompanying the update, the department said the adjustments to country Evidence (Assessment) Levels were designed to “assist with the effective management of emerging integrity issues, while continuing to facilitate genuine students seeking a quality education in Australia.”
Assessment Levels upgraded
Assessment Levels are used by education and immigration authorities to gauge risk in student visa applications. Countries are graded from AL1 (lowest risk) to AL3 (higher risk), with higher levels triggering more stringent documentation requirements and closer scrutiny.
According to an unofficial sector analysis, several South Asian countries have seen significant upgrades in their risk status. India, Nepal and Bhutan have moved from AL2 to AL3, while Bangladesh has jumped from AL1 to AL3. Sri Lanka has been raised from AL1 to AL2, while Pakistan remains at AL3.
The previous revision to Assessment Levels was issued on September 30, 2025, making the latest update notably swift.
Sector unease as intake begins
The timing of the changes has unsettled education providers and recruitment agents, who say frequent shifts create uncertainty during a critical recruitment period.
International Education Association of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood said the sector had raised concerns directly with the government.
“In the last 24 hours, I have had a long discussion with Minister Hill about the sector’s concerns, primarily with two aspects of the assessment level changes,” Mr Honeywood told Australia Today.
“First and foremost, the frequency of change is causing confusion among providers here and agents offshore. Secondly, at the very time we are trying to ensure a good start to the year intake, we appear again as though we are not quite sure which countries we seek to recruit from.”
He said institutions need clearer and more stable policy signals to plan recruitment, coordinate with overseas agents and guide students through evolving visa requirements.
Government rationale
Officials say the decision follows evidence gathered during recent visits to South Asia, where authorities detected an increase in suspected fraudulent financial and academic documentation.
The government argues that tighter screening is necessary to protect visa integrity and Australia’s reputation as a quality education destination.
International Education Minister Julian Hill has reportedly described Australia as having become “the least worst country of choice” among the so-called Big Four destinations — Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada — a position that officials say has intensified pressure on the visa system.
Impact on students and institutions
India, one of Australia’s largest international student source markets, is among the countries most affected by the move to AL3. While sector experts stress that genuine students will continue to have pathways to study in Australia, they warn that abrupt policy shifts risk undermining confidence.
Education stakeholders are now awaiting detailed guidance from the Departments of Education and Home Affairs on how the new requirements will be applied, and whether the changes represent a short-term clampdown or a longer-term recalibration of Australia’s student visa risk framework.
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