Australia limits student visas from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, UP and more

Australia has joined the US and Canada in enforcing stricter immigration regulations for Indian students, as multiple universities have stopped accepting applications from six states, including Gujarat.

Recent restrictions on student visa applications from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Jammu and Kashmir have been implemented by a number of Australian universities, including Federation University, Western Sydney University, Victoria University, and Southern Cross University.

The action is part of the Australian government's larger immigration crackdown, which aims to stop the misuse of the student visa system.

This trend has puzzled both consultants and students, particularly in Gujarat, where Australia has been ranked among the top three countries for higher education, according to visa consultants and foreign education specialists.

20% of state students who are going overseas usually choose Australia; with these new limits, that number is probably going to decline.

"This has dramatically reduced the number of opportunities available to students. Of every 100 students who plan to study overseas, at least 20 are directly impacted. With Canada and the US already tightening immigration policies, and now Australia going the same way, the list of accessible countries is shrinking. While there's no official govt statement yet, the message is quite clear," said Bhavin Thaker, a foreign education consultant.

The increasing demand for overseas education among Indian students coincides with the tightening of entry requirements in certain nations. It's getting harder for students to plan their academic futures overseas as the UK is also reevaluating its post-study visa policies.