Australia’s visa crackdown hits Indians

Ex-Australian diplomat has expressed concern that such moves could hurt bilateral relations

Australia's massive crackdown on student visas in its effort to cut annual immigration by half has hit Indian students hard. Amid claims of targeted visa denials to Indian students, a former Australian diplomat to India has expressed concern that such moves could hurt bilateral relations.

The Australian government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made visa norms stringent, including higher IELTS scores and increased financial requirements.

Tougher norms and an alleged targeted denial of visas to students from particular countries has seen the number of international students dip since 2023.

Visas granted to Indian students fell by 48% between December 2022 and December 2023, according to a report in The Guardian.

The British newspaper, quoting latest Australian home affairs data, said visas granted to students from Nepal and Pakistan fell by 53% and 55%, respectively.

Why the visa denial is of concern to Indian students because "India continues to be the second-largest source country for international student enrolments in Australia", India's High Commission in Canberra said last year.

It said 1.22 lakh Indian students were studying in Australia in the January-September 2023 period.

The home affairs department cites an increase in incomplete applications and fraudulent documentation, contributing to both higher visa refusal rates and longer processing times, the report said.

The tougher visa conditions have prompted Australian institutions to change their policies, with some even imposing blanket bans on Indian students, according to The Guardian.

It was the Australian education system and industry that fuelled the intake of international students over the decades, and a sudden crackdown hurts genuine students hard.