Nearly one in four Australian student visa applications rejected

Australia's student visa refusal rate has reached its highest level in a decade as the government tightens scrutiny of international students.

The refusal rate reached 24.2% in June, the highest level in a decade, according to a new analysis of Department of Home Affairs data.

The rate has more than tripled from 7.9% in June 2016 as the government has tightened the student visa system to reduce migration and strengthen scrutiny of international students.

Refusal rates varied significantly by nationality during the 2025-26 financial year. More than 51% of applications from Nepal were rejected, while the rate for Indian applicants exceeded 40%. By comparison, 5.8% of applications from China were refused, ABC News reported.

The figures come as Australia applies greater scrutiny to whether applicants genuinely intend to study, following concerns that some international students have used education pathways primarily to remain in the country.

Student visa applicants must meet Australia's Genuine Student requirement, which assesses whether studying is genuinely the primary reason for their stay.

The assessment can consider an applicant's circumstances in their home country, expected circumstances in Australia, the value of the proposed course to their future, immigration history and other relevant factors.

The requirement replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant test in March 2024 as part of changes to Australia's student visa system.

Admission to an Australian education provider does not guarantee that a student visa will be granted. Applicants must also demonstrate that their proposed study is appropriate to their circumstances and future plans.

The higher refusal rate has affected applicants even when they provide extensive documentation explaining their study plans.

The rise in visa refusals comes as the Australian government seeks to reduce migration and tighten controls over the international education sector.

International students have become a major focus of the government's migration strategy. Australia has more than 680,000 international students, who account for about one-third of temporary visa holders.

Students and visitors gather outside the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia, Feb.18, 2026. Photo from the university's Facebook page

The government has also taken action against education courses it believes are being used to facilitate migration rather than genuine study.

Last week, Australia announced the cancellation of a graduate diploma course for international students after concerns that some students were using it to transfer between courses and maintain their visas rather than undertake genuine study.

The Department of Home Affairs has said stronger scrutiny is intended to protect the integrity and quality of Australia's international education sector and student visa program. It has also emphasized that applications are assessed individually against migration requirements.

The increase in refusals comes as Australia seeks to maintain its position as a major international education destination while reducing misuse of the student visa system.

The number of international students in Australia totaled 845,933 in the 2025 calendar year, according to Department of Education data, down 1% from 2024. China remained the top sending market, followed by India, Nepal, Vietnam and the Philippines.

For January-February 2026, government data shows that 622,043 international students were enrolled in the country. The top nationalities for this period were China, India, Nepal, Vietnam and Bangladesh.