Australia has officially moved India into the 'highest-risk' category, known as Evidence Level 3, for student visa applications, a significant policy shift that came into effect on January 8, 2026. This re-categorization, which also includes Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, means that Indian students applying for an Australian visa will face considerably stricter scrutiny and increased documentation requirements. The primary reason cited by the Australian administration for this 'out-of-cycle' re-rating is 'emerging integrity risks,' including concerns over fraudulent financial and academic documents. Reports suggest an increase in fraudulent applications, particularly from students who may have been unable to secure visas for other popular study destinations like the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada. For Indian students, this change translates to a more rigorous application process. They will be required to provide more extensive proof of finances, stronger evidence of English proficiency, and a clearer demonstration of their genuine temporary entrant (GTE) intentions. Visa officers are now authorized to manually verify bank statements, request additional English language evidence, and contact institutions or referees for background checks. One of the most immediate impacts for applicants will be longer processing times, which are expected to increase from the usual three weeks to potentially eight weeks. This heightened scrutiny aims to ensure that only genuine students seeking a quality education are granted visas, thereby maintaining the integrity of Australia's international education system. India is a crucial source market for international students in Australia, accounting for nearly 140,000 of Australia's 650,000 international students, with the four affected nations collectively representing almost one-third of 2025 enrolments. This move is part of broader changes in Australia's immigration strategy, which also includes revisions to English language test scores, increased financial requirements for student visas, and a new 'Genuine Student' (GS) requirement replacing the GTE.