Australia is considering stricter student visa requirements, including new financial conditions that could require international students to deposit tuition fees and living expenses into Australian bank accounts before applying for visas.
The Department of Home Affairs has launched a public consultation on the proposed changes, which opened on October 30 and will continue until November 23, 2026. The move comes amid rising student visa rejection rates, particularly among applicants from South Asian countries.
Under the proposals, students may be required to deposit either 50% of their total tuition fees and living expenses or 100% of their first-year costs into an eligible Australian bank account for a specified period. Another option would allow applicants to demonstrate financial capacity through approved education loans, scholarships and personal savings. The government is also considering stricter bank statement requirements and additional financial checks for applicants from Evidence Level 3 countries.
The proposed changes would also strengthen the Genuine Student assessment by placing greater emphasis on academic records, course selection and previous educational progress. However, the Australian government has not made a final decision and will review public feedback before introducing any changes.
