Common Reasons for Australian Student Visa Rejection in 2024

Top 10 Reasons for Australian Student Visa Rejection

The only way to prevent refusal of your Australian student visa is by knowing the common dos and don'ts. The causes of higher visa rejection are due to invalid details, fake papers, etc. To elaborate more, below are the typical Australian student visa mistakes that you should avoid at any cost:

1. Academic Qualifications:

To acquire a student visa, you have to fulfil all the academic requirements set by the university. Complete all the prerequisites expected by the institute to meet the criteria based on your chosen course. These conditions vary depending on different factors, for instance, the study program, university, level of study, etc.

Furthermore, with the visa application, you can mention your future career goals to keep up with the Australian education system. It will make a good impact if you have a weak academic background from your previous course.

2. Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Requirements:

It is the most crucial part of your visa application process and considered as the common Australia visa rejection reason. The objective of a Genuine Temporary Entrant is to check the student's intention of coming to the country. For that, you will need to provide a written statement as evidence that you're coming to Australia to gain knowledge of the course rather than seeking long-term residency or work rights in the country.

When evaluating an applicant's visa application, the Australian immigrant officer considers various points, including:

• Personal & Academic Background
• Immigration History
• Financial Stability
• Past Employment Records

3. Inadequate English Language Requirements:

Any international student who plans to study in an English-speaking country must qualify for a language proficiency test, such as IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL. Also, you might need to submit your exam scores as a part of your visa application process.

Don't forget to go through the Australian Department of Home Affairs website to check the minimum criteria of English language requirements. Since failing in the exam may lead to visa rejection. So, practice reading, speaking, listening, and writing in English to build a command of the language.

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4. Past Criminal Records:

Applicants with a criminal history are strictly prohibited from getting an Australian student visa. They should be transparent about their past records, such as if they've been involved in any minor criminal incident or court cases. If you hide any details in your visa application, and the immigration officer finds any misleading data, it will straight away lead to rejection.

5. Insufficient Funds:

Studying abroad can indeed be an expensive experience, and every country ensures that a student has sufficient funds to cover their tuition fee and other expenses. Meanwhile, in the case of Australia, the DIBP (Dept. of Immigration and Border Protection) is responsible for checking the applicant's visa application.

They validate if candidates hold sufficient bank balances or if they can manage their cost of living for the entire duration of staying in Australia. Thus, it is mandatory to attach your bank statement along with your visa application to prevent rejection.

Also Read: Did you know about Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students?

6. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC):

It is a mandatory field to complete before applying for an Australian visa. As an international student, you must own OSHC health insurance as per the requirement of the Australian Department of Home Affairs for the entire study duration.

It covers all medical bills, treatment costs and other hospital care expenses. Keeping your OSHC ready before filling out the visa application can save you from an Australian student visa refusal letter.

7. Invalid or Outdated Passport:

As an overseas student, you must fulfil the passport requirements drafted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to be qualified for a student visa. The two conditions are:

• The applicant's passport must not be more than ten years older than the student visa application date.
• Secondly, the passport must be valid for at least six months post-completing your study program at the Australian university.

8. Missing or Incorrect Documents:

Further, the documents attached to your visa application must be valid and indicate your legitimate facts. If you fail to submit the authentic information or your details don't match the visa application form, there will be a high chance of your Australian student visa rejection.

Yet, this is the most common mistake by international students, which led to a high refusal rate in 2022-23. Some of the necessary documents are:

• Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE)
• Updated Passport
• English Language Test Score
• Financial Statements
• Academic Mark Sheets
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)

9. Health & Character Requirements Failure:

Failure to meet the health and character standards will result in clear rejection. Thus, it is a necessary step you should meet, including police verification and medical examination. These requirements by the Australian Department of Home Affairs ensure the safety and welfare of students. Furthermore, to enter the country securely, you must pass the character test mentioned under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958.

10. Visa Rejection History:

Lastly, while filling out the visa application, don't forget to mention any past student visa refusal with the reason for it. Also, avoid adding the rejection of other visa types, such as tourist, work and immigration visas. Make sure to add only the history of your Australian student visa refusal and don't add any other country.

If you fail to provide accurate and complete documents to the visa embassy, there are clear chances for an Australian student visa refusal letter that refers to the rejection. Thus, it's advised to prepare a checklist of documents prior to submitting the visa application form and tick the boxes. Ensure double-checking so you don't miss anything important for your application. Further, scroll down and check the visa rejection rate of last year.

Comparison of Australian Student Visa Rejection Rate for 2022 and 2023

Are you aware of the Australia student visa rejection comparison rate? Look at them now! Below are some points that give a clear picture of the Australian student visa rejection rate from the year 2021 to 2023:

• The Australian student visa rejection rate has increased from 32% in 2022 to 50% in 2023. It means only half of the applicants have received an approval letter for their student visas.
• According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, there has been a decline of 32% in the visa refusal rate in 2020-21 from 2019-20.
• There was a hike of 24.3% in the rejection rate of Indian applicants for Australian student visas. It was the most elevated since 2012 due to the critical investigation of Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) status for visa applicants.

Besides, it was reported that Australian student visa success rate in 2024 will increase to 13.3% from the study year 2022-23 .

How to Re-apply After Australian Student Visa Refusal?

If your visa application is rejected for the first time, you hold a right to appeal to re-apply for the student visa. Thus, the steps include:

• Check the issues in your application, identify them, and correct those that caused the rejection. For instance, incorrect details, not meeting English language criteria, and more.
• Then, assemble the required documents as evidence of your application and ensure they are up-to-date.
• Further, deposit an application charge of AUD 620 through the Department of Home Affairs website to submit your visa application.
• After that, wait for the outcome, which takes a few months to years, depending on the visa subclass and the status of your application.
• You will receive a visa grant letter in your mailbox if your visa application gets approved. It includes details such as visa subclass, grant number, expiry date, and other conditions.
• If your visa application gets refused again, you might have an option to plea to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within 20 days of receiving the decision.

The following section contains the information on the appeal to AAT after a visa refusal letter from the Australian embassy.

How to Appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (ATT)?

ATT in Australia is responsible for reviewing administrative decisions made by the Australian Government ministers, departments and agencies. Thus, you can appeal to the ATT department if you receive a visa rejection from the embassy. Steps to raise a complaint after receiving a refusal letter:

• Applicants have the right to appeal to the ATT within 28 days of receiving the notice.
• To submit an online application to ATT, you will have to pay a fee of AUD 1,826, which is partially refundable if your appeal gets approval.
• Then, the ATT will review your submitted documents and may ask for additional evidence in support of your application form.
• Then, you will either receive an affirm (agree), vary (change), or set aside (withdraw) as a final response to your application in writing.
• Furthermore, if you're not satisfied with their decision, you will have two more options. Firstly, send your application to the Federal Court of Australia. Secondly, submit a letter to the minister highlighting the issue.

To avoid these pitfalls, the upcoming section covers some tips you can follow while filling out the visa application form.

How to Prevent an Australian Student Visa Refusal Letter?

You must have got an understanding of the common Australia visa rejection reasons. That's why we've prepared this section to save aspirants like you from these downfalls that lead to visa refusal.

• Must be enrolled in a full-time study program in a recognized Australian institute.
• Must meet the required academic and English language conditions.
• Always prepare a genuine GTE with correct information and your plans after coming to Australia.
• Give proof that indicates you've sufficient funds to cover your tuition fee and additional outlays during the study program.
• Must pass the character test and other health requirements.
• Moreover, you can even seek professional guidance from an experienced study abroad counsellor. They will clear your doubts about the visa application process.

In conclusion, these are some facts you should note to save yourself from a visa rejection. Students should not overlook these minor things since minor errors can lead to a refusal letter. So, to ensure an Australia student visa success rate, attach valid documents with your application for a smoother and faster process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q.1 Can I Re-Apply After the Australian Student Visa Rejection?

Answer:
Yes, you can re-apply after receiving a visa refusal letter from the Australian embassy by appealing to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within 28 days of receiving the notice.

Q.2 What Is the Minimum Age Limit to Apply for an Australian Student Visa?

Answer:
There is no age limit to apply for a student visa by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Q.3 What Is the Australian Student Visa Rejection Rate in 2023?

Answer:
Due to wrong and misleading information, the Australian student visa rejection rate has reached 50% in 2023.