SYDNEY (Kashmir English): Australia has elevated India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan to the highest risk category (Assessment Level 3 or AL3) for international student visas.
This change is expected to lead to greater scrutiny and extended processing times for applicants from these South Asian countries.
Pakistan, which remains in the same category as before, was not included in the recent reclassification.
The Indian media reported the reclassification was carried out outside the regular review cycle, citing Australian media, and was triggered by what authorities described as “emerging integrity risks”.
The media report said no country-specific explanation was provided for India’s downgrade, though it noted recent international alleged fake degrees and fraudulent documentation cases originating from the region.
According to The Australia Today, the revised assessment levels were issued through Australia’s PRISMS system earlier this month, marking the second such update in less than four months. The previous revision was issued in September 2025.
Under the updated framework, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan have been moved to Assessment Level 3 (AL3), the highest risk tier, while Sri Lanka has shifted from AL1 to AL2.
Pakistan remains in AL3. Assessment levels range from AL1 (lowest risk) to AL3 and determine the level of documentary evidence and scrutiny required for student visa applications.
India: from AL2 → AL3
Nepal: from AL2 → AL3
Sri Lanka: from AL1 → AL2
Bangladesh: from AL1 → AL3
Bhutan: from AL2 → AL3
Pakistan: remains in AL3
According to Indian media estimates, the country accounts for nearly 140,000 of Australia’s approximately 650,000 international students, with the four reclassified countries together representing close to one-third of total enrolments in 2025.
Impact on students and providers
According to The Australia Today, higher assessment levels typically require applicants to submit more extensive financial documentation, proof of English language proficiency and evidence of genuine temporary entrant intent.
The decision can increase costs, slow processing and deter applicants if perceived as unpredictable.
On the other hand, Australian authorities have cited a rise in suspected fraudulent academic and financial documentation from certain source countries during recent engagements in South Asia as a reason for the higher assessment levels.
Minister for International Education Julian Hill was quoted as saying Australia had become the “least worst” option among the major English-speaking destinations, as the United States, United Kingdom and Canada tightened their student visa policies. This, he said, had prompted a stronger emphasis on documentary evidence and risk filtering to protect visa integrity.
