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Australia flags India as high-risk student visa market
India, along with Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan joins Pakistan at Assessment Level 3, prompting increased scrutiny and higher approval standards.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Sat, 10, Jan 2026
- 02:56 EST
- 64
Representative image / Pexels
Australia announced an update in its student visa Assessment Levels for multiple South Asian countries, including India, as per a notification by the Department of Education by the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS).
Higher assessment levels impose stricter documentary requirements, greater scrutiny, and increased evidence thresholds to verify genuine student intent, fixed gauging risk in student visa applications from different countries. The levels range from AL1, lowest risk, to AL3, higher risk.
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The PRISM notification read, "On 8 January 2026, Evidence Levels of several countries in South Asia were adjusted. This change in Evidence Levels will assist with the effective management of emerging integrity issues, while continuing to facilitate genuine students seeking a quality education in Australia."
Under the recent changes, India has moved from Assessment Level 2 to Assessment Level 3. Other countries which moved to the highest scrutiny level are Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Pakistan continues at Assessment Level 3, while Sri Lanka has been shifted from Assessment Level 1 to Assessment Level 2.
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