Australia closes door on non-genuine international students

Over the past two years, the Albanese government has increased the cost, evidentiary burden, and scrutiny of student visas to stem the flow of non-genuine students.

Measures introduced include:

• Tougher English-language requirements: From March 2024, the minimum English proficiency standard for student visas increased from an IELTS equivalent 5.5 to 6.0.
• Major increase in student visa fees: On 1 July 2024, the student visa application fee more than doubled from $710 to $1,600.
• Restrictions on “visa hopping”: Closing pathways that allowed temporary visa holders to repeatedly extend their stay through student visas and tightening eligibility for onshore student visa applications, including requiring students applying for another student visa to demonstrate genuine academic progression.
• Increased scrutiny of high-risk countries and providers: The Department of Home Affairs received additional funding to strengthen visa integrity checks and identify non-genuine students.
• Banning most student visa holders from bringing spouses and children as secondary applicants.