Australia’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has raised serious concerns about the growing misuse of the student visa system, especially from South Asian markets.
- Fraudulent Passports Being Used
- Some applicants are using fake or altered passports to secure university enrolments in Australia.
- Even top universities (Group of Eight) are being targeted.
- These fraudulent activities bypass important security checks, which threatens the credibility of the student visa program.
- Misleading Promotion by Some Education Agents
- Certain agents or bodies are misrepresenting the recent “evidence level” update (done in September 2025).
- They are falsely claiming that this update means Australia is open to non-genuine students.
- DHA says this is completely wrong and is damaging the system’s integrity.
- Some Providers Incentivizing Fraud
- DHA notes that some education providers may be incentivising agents to submit applications without proper documents just to increase student numbers.
- This creates long-term problems including high dropout rates and reputation damage for Australia.
- Main Market of Concern
- These fraudulent practices are being observed mostly in South Asian countries (e.g., India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal), where student demand is rapidly rising.
- DHA’s Warning to Universities
DHA has strongly reminded universities to:
- Ensure strict compliance
- Maintain high standards in admissions
- Protect the overall visa integrity
If universities fail to act, consequences may include:
- Higher institutional risk levels
- Restrictions on international recruitment
- Reputational damage
- New Tools to Fight Fraud
Two new verification platforms are being introduced:
AAERI Verification Tool
- Designed for Indian students
- Allows quick, secure verification of key documents
- Aims to reduce document fraud
UniReady Global (AI-based Platform)
- Students pay for their own verification
- Faster and reduces human error
- Supports institutions with compliance
- Bigger Reforms Coming
The Australian government is working on:
- Stricter monitoring of education agents
- Expanding the legal definition of agents
- Requiring transparency of commissions
- Possible ban on commission payments for onshore student transfers
This is part of Australia’s broader strategy to ensure “managed growth” in student migration and protect education standards.
In Simple Words
Australia is tightening its student visa system because:
- Fake passports and fraudulent documents are increasing.
- Some agents are misleading students.
- Some universities are not doing strict checks.
To control this, Australia is launching new verification tools and introducing strict regulations for agents and institutions.
For guidance on genuine admissions and visa processes, contact our expert counsellors today.
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