Australia's recent crackdown on student visas, aimed at reducing annual immigration by half, is impacting Indian students and causing concerns about its potential effects on bilateral relations between Australia and India.
The Australian government, under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has implemented stricter visa norms, including higher IELTS scores and increased financial requirements. These changes have led to a significant decline in the number of international students, particularly from countries like India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Visas granted to Indian students decreased by 48% between December 2022 and December 2023, according to reports. Similar declines were observed for students from Nepal and Pakistan. India remains the second-largest source country for international student enrollments in Australia, with approximately 1.22 lakh Indian students studying in Australia in the January-September 2023 period.
The Australian Home Affairs Department attributes the increase in visa refusals and longer processing times to incomplete applications and fraudulent documentation. In response to the stricter visa conditions, some Australian universities have implemented policies such as banning or limiting enrollments of students from certain nationalities, including India.
The visa refusals are intended to curb non-serious international students who use study visas to work and immigrate to Australia. However, concerns have been raised about the potential negative impact on genuine students and bilateral relations with countries like India. Barry O'Farrell, former Australian High Commissioner to India, expressed concern that singling out nationalities in visa refusals could harm bilateral relations and called for encouraging practices that benefit both Australia and source countries of overseas students.
The Australian education system has historically benefited from international students, contributing to economic, strategic, and social benefits. A sudden crackdown on visas risks harming genuine students and disrupting the mutually beneficial relationship between Australia and source countries of overseas students.
