Bangladesh downgraded to high-risk Level 3 for Australian student visas

Australia has tightened student visa rules for Bangladeshi students, downgrading Bangladesh from Level 1 to the highest risk category, Level 3. As a result, applicants will now be required to submit more detailed financial information and supporting documents to obtain a visa.

Until last year, Bangladesh’s Level 1 status allowed students to apply with comparatively limited financial evidence. That facility will no longer be available under the new decision.

According to data from the Provider Registration and International Student Management System, Bangladesh is currently classified as Level 3. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs said verification levels for several South Asian countries have been revised to prevent fraud and ensure genuine students receive access.

Under the new rules, applicants must show sufficient funds to cover travel costs, 12 months of living expenses, tuition fees for themselves and their families, and education expenses for any dependants.

Alongside Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal have also been placed in Level 3. However, Bangladesh has experienced the sharpest downgrade among the countries.

Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, said Australia’s assistant minister for international education Julian Hill expressed concern during a South Asia visit over rising fraud in visa applications. As a result, financial and academic verification has been made stricter.

While enrolment of foreign students at Australian universities increased last year, applications from lower-income Bangladeshi students rose significantly. In 2025, around 8,000 Bangladeshi students applied, compared to approximately 2,000 to 2,500 the previous year.