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

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

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.”

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.

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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.

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