Update (October 2026)
This news item is from October 2019. Since then the student visa assessment levels have been replaced by evidence levels shown in the Document Checklist Tool, the income needed under the annual income option has risen to AUD 87,856 (AUD 102,500 with family members), the minimum English scores rose on 23 March 2024, and the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement was replaced by the Genuine Student requirement. New student visa rules also apply from 2 October 2026: see student visa changes from 2 October 2026.
Australia’s world-class international education sector contributed $34 billion to the local economy last year, an increase of 15.3 per cent. Australia hosted a record 690,000 international students in 2018 who paid tuition fees and spent money on living costs.
The department of Home Affairs has made changes to the risk levels (assessment levels) for some countries. These changes are based on a balance of offshore refusals (both fraud-related and non-fraud related) and onshore immigration ‘trailing risks’: rate of visa cancellations, overstayers and subsequent protection visa applications.
India, Pakistan and Nepal rated ‘high risk’ for Australian Student visa
India, Nepal and Pakistan are among the higher risk countries and therefore Students from these countries would need to demonstrate more documentary evidence such as:
Evidence of financial capacity;
Which you must provide either:
- sufficient funds to cover your travel costs and 12 months of living and tuition fees for you and your accompanying family members and school costs for any school aged dependants, or
- evidence that your spouse or parents are willing to support you and they have an annual income of at least AUD 60,000 for single students or at least AUD 70,000 for students that are accompanied by family members
- an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students form for secondary exchange students only
- a letter of support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Department of Defence.
| Sum of DATA YTD Enrolments | ||||
| Sector | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| Higher Education | 288,237 | 333,252 | 378,686 | 415,703 |
| VET | 147,990 | 171,211 | 193,747 | 225,188 |
| Schools | 21,928 | 24,351 | 25,657 | 24,754 |
| ELICOS | 99,501 | 106,077 | 105,838 | 106,811 |
| Non-award | 38,006 | 44,537 | 43,873 | 39,648 |
| Grand Total | 595,662 | 679,428 | 747,801 | 812,104 |
Student visa applicants from India, Nepal and Pakistan must also provide evidence of their English language skills at the time of visa application
English language ability:
- This must be evidence that you have either obtained a satisfactory test score in an English language test that has been approved by DHA or evidence of certain eligible studies in English or if you fall into an exemption category.
you must provide evidence that you:
- have obtained a certain test score in an English language test that the Department has approved (below table)
- have completed certain eligible studies in English, or
- fall into an exemption category
The department of Immigration uses a combined evidence level of the student’s education provider and country of citizenship to determine whether the student needs to provide evidence of financial and English language capacity with their student visa application.
Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Hungary, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa are now considered ‘low risk’ for Australian Student visa
On the positive side students from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Hungary, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa are now considered low risk and therefore do not need to demonstrate Financial ability and English unless the department specifically requests them.
Higher education enrolments, overseas (os) students, state and territory, top ten nationalities, 2018
| Nationality | Total | % of all OS |
| China | 152,591 | 38.3 |
| India | 71,857 | 18.0 |
| Nepal | 28,233 | 7.1 |
| Vietnam | 15,718 | 3.9 |
| Malaysia | 13,988 | 3.5 |
| Pakistan | 11,397 | 2.9 |
| Indonesia | 9,875 | 2.5 |
| Sri Lanka | 9,209 | 2.3 |
| Hong Kong | 8,931 | 2.2 |
| Singapore | 7,328 | 1.8 |
| Other | 69,436 | 17.4 |
| All OS | 398,563 | 100.0 |
Source: DoE, Basic pivot table 2015-2019, December 2018.
What this means in 2026
The idea behind this 2019 change still applies: the Department of Home Affairs looks at the risk record of your country of citizenship and your education provider together, and the result decides how much evidence of money and English you must give with your application. What has changed is the name, the figures and the tests.
| Requirement | 2019 (this article) | 2026 |
| How the Department decides what evidence you need | Assessment levels by country and provider | Evidence levels by country and provider, shown in the Document Checklist Tool |
| Annual income option (no family / with family) | AUD 60,000 / AUD 70,000 | AUD 87,856 / AUD 102,500 (since 10 May 2024) |
| 12 months living costs for the student | About AUD 20,300 to AUD 21,000 | AUD 29,710 (since 10 May 2024) |
| Minimum IELTS (or equivalent) | 5.5, or 5.0 with 10 weeks ELICOS, or 4.5 with 20 weeks ELICOS | 6.0, or 5.5 with 10 weeks ELICOS, or 5.0 with 20 weeks ELICOS (since 23 March 2024) |
| Accepted English tests | IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, PTE Academic, OET | From 7 August 2025, nine tests taken in person, including IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, OET, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and MET |
| Genuine intention test | Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) | Genuine Student requirement (since 23 March 2024) |
| Student visa charge (main applicant) | AUD 620 | AUD 2,500 (from 1 July 2026) |
Who it affects now
Every student visa applicant. Students from countries and providers with a higher evidence level, which in recent years has often included India, Nepal and Pakistan, are usually asked to upload evidence of funds and English with the application. Students at the lowest evidence level may not need to, but the Department can still ask for it at any time, and every applicant must meet the Genuine Student requirement.
Next steps
- Use the Document Checklist Tool for your passport and provider before you apply, as evidence levels are reviewed regularly.
- Prepare evidence of funds even if the tool says it is not required, so you can respond quickly to a request. Our financial capacity guide explains the amounts.
- Check that your English test was taken in person and meets the 2026 scores. See English requirements for Australian visas.
- Book a consultation if you have had a refusal before or your circumstances are complex.
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