Top 9 Most Common Australian Student Visa Rejection Reasons

Getting an Australian student visa is a dream for many international students. Because Australia offers a world-class education system, attracting students from all over the globe. However, not everyone who applies for a student visa gets it!

 

According to Australian Immigration Authorities. In 2023, 50% of applications for Australian student visas were rejected, and only about 3.8%, or 34, of the 900 visa applications were approved.

 

So, why is the Department of Home Affairs rejecting student visa applications? What are the most common reasons for Australian student visa rejection? These are the questions students ask the most. 

Read this blog post to find answers to all your questions about the reasons for student visa cancellation in Australia.

 

Top 9 Most Common Australian Student Visa Rejection Reasons

Here is the list of the most common mistakes that result in student visa cancellation in Australia: 

 

• Providing incomplete or incorrect documents.
• Providing the invalid passport.
• Previous visa rejection
• Overseas Student health cover (OSHC)
• Failure to meet health and character requirements.
• Failure to provide sufficient financial evidence.
• Failure to meet English language requirements.
• Failure to meet the required academic qualification.
• Not meeting the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.

 

Let’s discuss them in detail to develop a better understanding.

1. Providing the Incomplete or Incorrect Documents

While filing the Australian student visa application form, you are required to provide the necessary documents with your application. If you do not provide accurate information or if the information you provided does not match the visa application form, there are higher chances that your application will be rejected. 

 

Providing incomplete or incorrect documents is one of the most common reasons for visa rejection. Therefore, make sure to provide all required documents. Here, I’ve shortlisted some of the most important documents required for a student visa in Australia.

 

• Letter of Enrollment
• Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement
• Valid passport
• English language proficiency test certificates
• Financial documents
• Academic transcripts
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

 

Here is a piece of advice for you:

Try to double-check your visa application before submitting it. Providing the correct and complete information will also speed up the processing of your visa application. It is better to consult a migration agent or a visa processor to submit a flawless visa application. 

 

2. Failure to Meet Health and Character Requirements

The Australian Government implements stringent health and character measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the community. So, if you come from a high-risk country or are suffering from a contagious disease, you will not be allowed to enter Australia. Moreover, if you have a criminal record in the past, the Department of Immigration will reject your visa application. 

 

Therefore, for successful approval of your student visa application, you must provide:

• Medical examination certificate.
• Police clearance certificate. 

 

3. Failure to Provide the Financial Evidence

 

Did you know that approximately 25% of Australian student visas are refused due to insufficient financial documentation?

 

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection requires proof that you can financially support yourself during your studies. Therefore, you must be financially stable enough to pay your tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs. If you are unable to provide adequate financial evidence, your visa may be rejected. 

 

Here is the list of financial documents that you need to provide for an Australian student visa:

 

• Bank statements showing your financial stability.
• Government loans or scholarships (if applicable).
• Letter of support from sponsor (if applicable).
• Evidence of your parent’s income if they are supporting you.

 

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions by students:

 

How much bank balance is required for an Australian student visa in 2024?

You must have at least AUD 29,710 in your bank account to support yourself financially in Australia in 2024. 

What is Australian Student visa fee in 2024?

Starting from July 1, 2024, the Australian Government has increased the student visa application fees to AUD 16,000. 

 

4. Failure to Meet English Language Requirements

If you are planning to study abroad, you must know the English language. For international students, it is the most basic and important requirement. In the case of Australia, you must have a sufficient score in IELTS, TOFEL, PTE or other acceptable English language tests. 

If your scores do not meet the minimum requirements, your visa application may be rejected. The Australian Government has increased the English language requirements for student visas in 2024. Have a look at the changed English language criteria for international students in Australia in 2024: 

 

• The new English language requirements for a student visa (subclass 500) have increased from IELTS 5.5 to 6.0 score. 
• The IELTS requirements for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) have been increased from 4.5 to 5.0.
• The English language requirements for university foundation or pathway programs will be 5.5 or equivalent for IELTS. 

 

5. Not meeting the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.

The GTE requirement ensures that you genuinely intend to study in Australia temporarily and not use the student visa as a means to gain permanent residency. Therefore, ensure that your GTE statement clearly outlines your study plans, career goals, and reasons for choosing Australia. Providing a well-documented and honest GTE statement is essential.

However, the big news here is that the Government of Australia has replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test with the Genuine Student Test (GST). 

Click here to learn more about Australian Genuine Student Test.

 

6. Failure to Meet the Required Qualification

To be eligible for a student visa, applicants must fulfill the required academic requirements. Every institution has prerequisites that students must meet depending on the courses they want to take. If they don’t meet the required academic requirements, their application for a student visa will be rejected.

Furthermore, if a student has a poor academic history, they must provide a declaration detailing their future academic ambitions in order to keep up with Australian education.

 

7. Providing the Invalid Passport

Failure to meet passport requirements is a typical reason for the denial of an Australian student visa. The Immigration Office of Australia looks for two primary requirements, which are:

• The student passport must be issued no later than ten years after the date of the student visa application.
• The applicant’s passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program for which the student has been admitted to the Australian university.

 

8. Previous Visa Rejections

If you have a history of visa rejections, especially for Australian visas, it can negatively impact your student visa application. Therefore, make sure to mention the past student visa refusal if applicable. Furthermore, don’t mention the refusal of other visa categories, such as work, tourist, and immigration visas. Don’t include any information about any other country; instead, just tell them the history of your Australian student visa rejection.

 

9. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

In order to pay for medical and hospital care while studying in Australia, international students are required to acquire Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The Department of Home Affairs ensures that international students must maintain OSHC for the duration of their studies in Australia.

It provides financial assistance for hospital stays, prescription drug costs, and medical procedures. It’s one of the requirements to be fulfilled in order to receive a student visa. Having no OSHC or allowing it to expire could result in the termination of your visa.

These are the most common reasons for Australian student visa rejection. If you find yourself facing a visa rejection, don’t worry. You can take these steps to address the situation and improve your chances for a successful application next time.

 

What to do after an Australian Student Visa Rejection?

If your Australian student visa is denied, you will have the following options:

 

• You can file an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if applicable.
• You can reapply for an Australian student visa. 

 

First, make sure to check whether you have the right to appeal to a tribunal or not. If you own the right, file an appeal letter to the AAT for reconsideration within 28 days of the visa rejection. The length of time it takes to file an appeal depends on the kind of visa and the reasons the application was denied.

How do you appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (ATT)?

Follow these steps to file an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (ATT):

 

• First, make sure to appeal to AAT within 28 days of receiving the notice.
• Submitting an online application to ATT will cost AUD 1,826. This fee is refundable if your appeal is granted.
• The AAT will review all the documents you provided with your application and may ask for further evidence to support your application. 
• After that, you will receive a final written response to your application that will either affirm (agree), vary (alter), or set aside (withdraw).
• If you’re not happy with their decision, you will have two more choices. You can submit your application to Australia’s Federal Court or you can write a letter to the minister outlining the problem.

Read this blog for complete process: How do you lodge an AAT Visa Refusal Appeal in Australia?

 

How do I reapply after receiving an Australian Student Visa Refusal?

Follow these steps to reapply after your student visa is rejected in Australia:

 

• Check and pinpoint the problems in your application that led to the rejection. 
• After that, gather the necessary documents to support your application and make sure they are up to date.
• In addition, pay an application fee of AUD 620 via the Department of Home Affairs website in order to submit your visa request.
• Next, await the result, which could take several months or years, depending on the type of visa and the progress of your application.

 

What are the chances of getting an Australian student visa after refusal?

Obtaining an Australian student visa following a rejection is not guaranteed. You can, however, greatly increase your chances of success in your reapplication by understanding the reasons behind the rejection and then making the necessary corrections. Moreover, it is better to get professional assistance in this matter to submit a flawless application.

 

Concluding Remarks

In conclusion, the Australian student visa application process can be challenging, but understanding the common reasons for rejection can significantly improve your chances of success. Make sure that you provide complete and accurate documents, meet all health, character, and financial requirements, and clearly demonstrate your genuine intent to study. By following these instructions,  you can avoid many of the pitfalls that lead to visa refusals.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Australia rejecting student visas in 2024?

The Australian Government has released statistics that indicate an almost three-quarter decrease in study visa grants to overseas applicants in the first four months of 2024. However, this decrease is small compared to the fifty percent decrease that occurred during the pandemic.

What is Australia’s student visa refusal rate by country?

The refusal rates for Australian student visas vary significantly by country. For example, in 2023, the approval rates dropped notably for several countries: 

• India saw a reduction from 73% to 42%. 
• Pakistan from 64% to 30%. 
• Philippines from 81% to 36% 
• Nigeria from 71% to 29%. 

Conversely, countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States had much higher approval rates, around 97%.