An Indian software-engineering graduate who had lived and worked in Melbourne for four years saw his Subclass 500 student visa renewal denied on 31 January 2026, spotlighting Australia’s new ‘Genuine Student’ (GS) requirement. Introduced this month, the GS rule assesses study progression, immigration history, financial capacity and intent to return home.
Despite a stellar academic record and employer sponsorship for part-time postgraduate study, the applicant failed to convince officers that the course aligned with his career trajectory. Education consultants report a 22 % increase in refusals for Indian nationals since the GS rubric replaced the older ‘Genuine Temporary Entrant’ test.
![Indian Student’s Visa Refusal Signals Tougher ‘Genuine Student’ Tests in Australia]()
For students unsure how to navigate these shifting goalposts, VisaHQ offers a dedicated Australian-visa service that walks Indian applicants through the GS checklist, helps craft persuasive statements of purpose, and ensures supporting documents meet evidence-level-3 scrutiny. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) also tracks biometrics and health-exam appointments in real time, giving applicants a clearer roadmap and reducing the risk of costly omissions.
The tightening comes on the heels of Australia moving India to “evidence level 3”—its highest-risk category—earlier in January, meaning applicants must now submit extra bank statements, language-proficiency proofs and biometrics, extending processing times to 8–12 weeks.
Stakeholders warn that universities reliant on the half-million-strong Indian cohort could see enrolment dips unless clarity improves. Students are urged to prepare detailed statements of purpose linking studies to career goals and to explore alternate pathways such as the 485 Graduate Work visa. Appeals remain possible through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, but can take six months.
Despite a stellar academic record and employer sponsorship for part-time postgraduate study, the applicant failed to convince officers that the course aligned with his career trajectory. Education consultants report a 22 % increase in refusals for Indian nationals since the GS rubric replaced the older ‘Genuine Temporary Entrant’ test.
For students unsure how to navigate these shifting goalposts, VisaHQ offers a dedicated Australian-visa service that walks Indian applicants through the GS checklist, helps craft persuasive statements of purpose, and ensures supporting documents meet evidence-level-3 scrutiny. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) also tracks biometrics and health-exam appointments in real time, giving applicants a clearer roadmap and reducing the risk of costly omissions.
The tightening comes on the heels of Australia moving India to “evidence level 3”—its highest-risk category—earlier in January, meaning applicants must now submit extra bank statements, language-proficiency proofs and biometrics, extending processing times to 8–12 weeks.
Stakeholders warn that universities reliant on the half-million-strong Indian cohort could see enrolment dips unless clarity improves. Students are urged to prepare detailed statements of purpose linking studies to career goals and to explore alternate pathways such as the 485 Graduate Work visa. Appeals remain possible through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, but can take six months.
