Australian Universities Ban Indian Students From Six States Amid Visa Fraud Concerns

Australian Universities Ban Indian Students From Six States Amid Visa Fraud Concerns

Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Jun 12, 2025 08:56 AM IST

Australia has officially denied reports of a ban on Indian student applications from specific states. Through an official clarification speech, a spokesperson from the Australian High Commission in New Delhi emphasised that such claims are incorrect. He highlighted that Indian students are important for Australia's international student community, and reassured that the country is very welcoming to them, stating, "There are strong ties between India and Australia". Check, Australia denies reports of banning Indian students from specific states' for detailed information. A spokesperson from the Australian High Commission in New Delhi also stated, “The assertion that Indian university student applications from specific Indian states are being banned, or restricted, is incorrect,”. Let us understand about the rumours highlighted through media about Australia banning Indian students from specific states in this article further for clearer understanding.

This Story also Contains
  1. How Australian Universities Ban Indian Students From Some States?
  2. Australia’s Ban On Which Indian States' Students?
  3. Some Universities have a Different Approach To Indian Students Banned From Specific States
Australian Universities Ban Indian Students From Six States Amid Visa Fraud Concerns
Australian Universities Ban Indian Students From Six States Amid Visa Fraud Concerns

Amid growing concerns over student visa fraud and increasing misuse there were reports in 2023 that many Australian universities have imposed a blanket ban on students from 6 Indian states. According to the Department of Home Affairs report, 1 out of 4 applications was deemed as fraudulent. In light of these fraudulent visa concerns, Australian universities have taken decisive action to restrict applications of Indian students, specifically from 6 major Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. As per Federation University, there was a temporary pause on enrolments from five Indian states in May 2023, this was reviewed and adjusted, with enrolments recommencing on 18 September 2023.

Several Australian universities, including Edith Cowan University, Torrens University, Southern Cross University, Federation University, and Western Sydney University, have banned Indian students from specific Indian states. These universities have implemented stricter measures to address visa fraud and misuse. However, as per the Australian High Commission, New Delhi, "There are over 125,000 Indian students currently studying in Australia – the second largest cohort of students from any country - and the Australian Government continues to process Indian student visa applications in line with our global standards.”

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It further added, "India and Australia continue to have a very strong relationship in the field of education.  Australia deeply values Indian students, and the Australian Government welcomes their contribution to our classrooms and Australian society,"

As per the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI), any restrictions imposed in 2023 were lifted within a month. As per a press release shared by AAERI, “In 2023, a few Australian universities had temporarily paused applications from certain regions due integrity issues. These were independent, institution-level decisions, not government mandates,”.

It further added, “All such restrictions were short-term and have since been lifted within one month. Visa grants to Indian students have increased by 19% in the past year, with 34,986 visas granted.”

In 2024, Australia warned several of its universities for immoral student recruitment practices in order to control student migration. Australia also increased evidence of savings to at least A$29,710 ($19,576) to grant a student visa. Also, the approval rate for Indian students applying to Australian student visa fell drastically from almost 90% in 2020-21 to 65% in 2024-25.

This has resulted in a worrying trend where more and more renowned universities in Australia have tightened their admission process, particularly for Indian students, to avoid the exploitation of the student visa application system. Let us now discuss in detail how several Australian universities have made decisions to reduce the number of applications from Indian students.

Also Read:

How Australian Universities Ban Indian Students From Some States?

The initial ban was announced by the universities in Australia before the Minister Narendra Modi's planned three-day visit to Australia. However, with the recent report released by the Australian Department of Home Affairs revealing that one in four applications were deemed fraudulent from India, several Australian universities have implemented rigid and stricter policies to address this visa misuse issue.

Given the ban on Indian students by several universities in Australia, many education agents are instructed to avoid recruiting students from the specified states due to the rise in application rejections.

Australia’s Ban On Which Indian States' Students?

Australia ban Indian students from which states: Australian universities have banned Indian Students from 6 states. Addressing the deceptive visa activities trending from India, the study abroad consultants were informed not to consider students from specific Indian states. The Indian students from the following states are banned from Australian universities amid the fraudulent visa concerns:

  • Punjab

  • Haryana

  • Jammu

  • Kashmir

  • Uttarakhand

  • Uttar Pradesh

Some Universities have a Different Approach To Indian Students Banned From Specific States

Many universities are deciding to ban students from Indian states such as Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, while several universities are responding differently. For instance, Western Sydney University, Edith Cowan University in Perth, and Victoria University have instructed agents to cease recruiting from these specific states due to high dropout rates in previous years.

However, the University of Wollongong has openly announced that there will be no ban on Indian students and that applications will continue to be processed as they were under the previous admission process.

Related Read:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which universities in Australia banned Indian students?

Several universities in Australia have imposed a ban on Indian students from specific states such as Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. These include Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales, and many others that have restricted applications from Indian students from the above mentioned states.

2. What is the new rule of Australia student visa?

In 2025, many new changes and rules have introduced for an Australian student visa. These changes include more rigid admission and financial requirements, a mandatory CoE letter instead of a letter of offer, and higher English proficiency requirements. Moreover, the study visa caps in AUstralia have drastically impacted the number of students choosing Australia as a study abroad country.

3. Which Indian states are blacklisted in Australia?

India is the top country that is considered to be a high-risk for an Astralina student visa. It is due to rising fraudulent applications and visa breaches. To address the misuse of student visas in Australia, a ban on Indian students from specific states was implemented by certain universities

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Questions related to

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Yes, after LLB from India, you may apply for the 491 Subclass Visa if your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List and you meet other eligibility criteria like skills assessment, points test, and regional nomination.

Hello,

No, NIOS Chemistry cannot be used to meet DASA eligibility for IIITH if you are studying the NSW HSC in Australia.

As per DASA guidelines, all three required subjects (Maths, Physics, and one among Chemistry/Bio/Biotech/CS) must be part of the same qualifying exam, which should be completed in a school located outside India. NIOS is considered an Indian board, so it does not meet the “outside India” condition.

So, if Chemistry is not part of your NSW HSC, then using NIOS Chemistry will not make you eligible under DASA for IIITH.

Hope it helps !

To practice medicine in India without completing NEET UG, you'll need to leverage your medical degree from Belarus and upcoming postgraduate degree from the UK. Since the UK is one of the countries exempt from the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), you might be eligible to practice in India without taking the exam.


Key Requirements:


- Registration in the UK: You'll need to register with the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK, which involves verifying your medical degree and completing any necessary exams, such as the PLAB test.

- Specialist Registration: After completing your postgraduate degree in the UK, you'll need to register as a specialist doctor with the GMC. This registration might exempt you from the FMGE requirement in India.¹ ²

- Indian Registration: With your UK specialist registration, you can apply for registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) in India. This might allow you to practice medicine in India without taking the FMGE exam.³


Steps to Consider:


1. Verify your medical degree: Get your medical degree from Belarus verified by the GMC in the UK.

2. Complete your postgraduate degree: Finish your postgraduate degree in the UK and register as a specialist doctor with the GMC.

3. Apply for Indian registration: Submit your application for registration with the NMC in India, providing your UK specialist registration and other required documents.

4. Check with Indian authorities Confirm with the NMC and other relevant authorities in India that you're eligible to practice medicine without taking the FMGE exam.


It's essential to consult with the GMC, NMC, and other relevant authorities to ensure you meet all the requirements. Additionally, consider seeking guidance from a medical professional or a consultant familiar with the registration process for international medical graduates.

Hi rachna

Pursuing medical studies or MBBS in the USA or Australia can be a bit complex, but I'll break down the steps for you:


USA:

1. *Undergraduate degree*: Complete a bachelor's degree in a science-related field (e.g., biology, chemistry, or physics) from an accredited US institution.

2. *MCAT*: Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in areas like biology, chemistry, physics, and critical thinking.

3. *Medical school*: Apply to medical schools in the US that are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Some popular medical schools include Harvard, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins.

4. *Clinical rotations*: Complete clinical rotations in various specialties during your final two years of medical school.

5. *Residency*: Apply for a residency program in your chosen specialty after graduating from medical school.

6. *Licensure*: Obtain a medical license by passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) series.


Australia:

1. *Undergraduate degree*: Complete a bachelor's degree in a science-related field (e.g., medicine, health sciences, or biomedical sciences) from an Australian institution.

2. *GAMSAT*: Take the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT) to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in areas like biology, chemistry, physics, and critical thinking.

3. *Medical school*: Apply to medical schools in Australia that are accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC). Some popular medical schools include the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, and Monash University.

4. *Clinical placements*: Complete clinical placements in various specialties during your final two years of medical school.

5. *Internship*: Complete a one-year internship after graduating from medical school.

6. *Residency*: Apply for a residency program in your chosen specialty after completing your internship.

7. *Registration*: Register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practice as a medical practitioner.


Additional Requirements:

1. *English language proficiency*: Demonstrate English language proficiency by taking exams like TOEFL or IELTS.

2. *Visa requirements*: Obtain a student visa for the US or Australia, depending on your country of origin.

3. *Financial support*: Demonstrate sufficient financial support to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs.


Challenges:

1. *Competition*: Admission to medical schools in the US and Australia is highly competitive.

2. *High tuition fees*: Tuition fees for medical schools in the US and Australia can be very high.

3. *Different accreditation systems*: Medical schools in the US and Australia have different accreditation systems, which can affect the recognition of your degree in other countries.


I hope this helps! If you have more specific questions or concerns, feel free to ask.

Thanks

To get Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia, it's not required to pursue a master's degree on a student visa. You can apply for PR through different visa pathways like the Skilled Independent visa or Skilled Nominated visa, which are based on points. These visas assess factors like your age, education, work experience, and English proficiency.

However, studying in Australia can still help your PR chances. After completing a master's degree, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa, allowing you to work in Australia temporarily. This work experience can boost your points for a PR application.

It's important to know that recent changes in Australian immigration policies have led to an increase in student visa fees and stricter rules. From July 2024, the student visa fee was raised to A$1,600, and stricter measures are in place to prevent students from switching visas frequently.

In short, while studying in Australia can improve your PR prospects, it’s not the only way to apply for PR. You can still apply for PR through the points-based visa system without studying there. However, recent policy changes have increased fees and added regulations, so it’s a good idea to stay updated and consult with a migration expert to choose the best option for you.

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