Australia Sees Fall in Student Visa Lodgements Amid Integrity Crackdown
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Australia’s student visa system is undergoing significant change as application numbers decline and new integrity measures reshape international education.
Speaking at the Education Consultants Association of Australia (ECAA) 2025 conference in Melbourne, Matthew Noble, Assistant Secretary for Temporary Visas at the Department of Home Affairs, outlined how recent policy reforms are influencing outcomes for international students.
Visa lodgements fell to around 427,000 in 2024–25, compared with nearly 600,000 the previous year. While refusal rates remained steady at about 18%, declines have been sharpest in the vocational education and training (VET) and English language (ELICOS) sectors. By contrast, higher education enrolments have slightly exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
China, India and Nepal remain the top three source countries for student visa applications, with Bangladesh newly entering the top 10, replacing Pakistan. Processing times, however, continue to challenge the system. Although offshore decisions are typically made within 25 days, onshore applicants still face a median wait of 153 days. As of July 2025, around 67,000 onshore applications remained pending — down from over 100,000 a year earlier.
Policy adjustments have also had a direct impact. The visa application charge rose to AUD $2,000 in July, creating additional pressure for shorter and lower-cost programmes. National Planning Levels are set at 295,000 commencements for 2025–26, a 9.3% increase. Priority turnaround times now favour providers under 80% of their allocation, while others face longer waits.
The introduction of the Genuine Student (GS) requirement, replacing the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test, has become the main driver of refusals. Applicants must now prove that study is their primary purpose, with generic statements, poor academic progression and weak financial evidence among the leading reasons for rejection.
Noble emphasised that “decision-ready applications” with strong documentation remain key to success. Despite sector concerns, particularly from ELICOS providers, he reaffirmed that English study remains a valued pathway in Australia’s education system.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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