The number of applications for study has also decreased, and the government's strict selection policy has made it even more difficult to obtain a visa.
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The rate of visa rejection for Nepali students applying to study higher education in Australia has reached an all-time high. According to government statistics, about 64 percent of students who applied to educational institutions here from Nepal have had their visa applications rejected.
Recently, the Australian government has tightened the selection process for students coming for higher education, leading to a sharp increase in visa rejections.
Australia classifies countries separately to better select students for visa applications. In the selection process based on 'evidence level,' Nepal is currently at the lowest 'level 3,' according to those working in this sector. Previously, Nepal was at the second level. A review conducted a few months ago downgraded it to the third level.
The field of study with the highest visa rejection rate for Nepali students is vocational education. In vocational (VET) courses, which are less expensive and of shorter duration, nearly 90 percent of students have had their visas rejected. According to the data, out of 549 applicants, only 56 have received visas in this category.
Currently, about 60,000 Nepali students are studying in Australia. Of these, 56,000 are students who had already received visas earlier, while only about 4,000 are new students studying on recently granted visas.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs here, the number of Nepalis applying to study has also decreased. According to statistics from January to May, out of 7,500 students who applied offshore (from Nepal) for higher education, only 2,700 received visas. In the same period last year, out of 8,028 applicants, 7,167 received visas.
On one hand, uncertainty about getting a visa and, on the other, rising visa fees have led to a decrease in the number of applicants. Currently, students must pay a fee of 2,500 Australian dollars (about 260,000 rupees) just to apply, and if the visa application is rejected, there is no possibility of getting that amount refunded.
After COVID, the government had admitted a large number of students. However, as more students began to change subjects and remain on student visas for extended periods instead of completing their designated courses, the government has become even more serious, says Sydney-based legal practitioner Sanjeev Pandey. "As problems of finding jobs and housing have increased, the government may have tightened student visas to address these issues as well," he said.
With the government's stricter policies and the rising rate of student visa rejections, those who have long used the education sector as a business are now worried. Some are even on the verge of shutting down.
Khagendra Satyal, International Business Development Manager at Central Australian College, says that with the increase in visa rejections and the decline in international student arrivals, consultancies and small educational institutions are on the verge of closing. "When international students come, the authorities look at what kind of positive contribution they can make to Australia and what Australia can gain in the long term before granting a visa," he said. "Students applying from Nepal also need to understand this."
Due to the policies of political parties, Australia has recently tightened its immigration sector. Analysts say the government is also under pressure because of the growing popularity of politician Pauline Hanson, who has recently adopted a stricter stance on immigration. Experts say that the recent wave of anti-immigration sentiment in Australia has also affected the student visa process.
According to legal practitioner Pandey, the uncertainty surrounding visas after arriving here has also become another problem. After a student visa expires, applications for another student visa are being rejected, and after moving to a post-study visa, it is becoming difficult to get another student visa. It has also become harder to bring one's spouse after marriage. Currently, obtaining permanent residency (PR) is also not as easy as before.
Even now, Nepal ranks third in the list of countries with the highest number of international students studying in Australia. Government statistics show that Nepali students make up 9 percent of the total international student population.
