Australia has tightened visa rules for Indian students who want to study there. From March 23, there are stricter requirements for English proficiency for both student and graduate visa applicants. Also, the Australian government can now stop universities from enrolling international students if they break the rules too many times.
Here are the main changes Indian students should know about:
- Language Skills:
- Graduates need an IELTS score of 6.5 (up from 6.0).
- Students need at least 6.0.
- Money Proof:
- Students must show they have at least $24,505 in savings (up 17%).
- Genuine Student Rule:
- Australia will check if students really want to study there based on their course choice, grades, past immigration record, and visa compliance.
- New Test:
- There’s a new test to make sure students are genuinely interested in academics. Risky applications will get more scrutiny.
The government wants to control immigration while fixing problems in the system, says Minister Clare O’Neil. Australia increased immigration earlier to fill post-Covid-19 job gaps, but it caused issues in housing and construction due to the large number of arrivals from India, China, and the Philippines.
Australia visa rules, Indian students, Student visa changes, Australian education, Visa regulations