Rejection of Sri Lankan student visa applications to Australia surge to 38%

May 5 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lankan students are increasingly affected by the impact of Australia’s tightened student visa policies, with new data showing a significant rise in rejection rates for higher education visas.

Latest figures released by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs indicate that 38% of student visa applications from Sri Lanka were refused in February 2026, placing the country among those with the highest rejection rates.

Australia has long been a key destination for Sri Lankan students pursuing higher education. However, the latest trend is expected to disrupt study plans and add uncertainty for prospective applicants.

The increase comes amid a broader shift in Australia’s migration policy, with authorities intensifying scrutiny on international student applications. Education consultants note that applicants now face stricter requirements, including stronger financial documentation, clearer academic progression plans and more credible post-study intentions.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as reported by SBS News, shows that the overall offshore refusal rate for higher education visas rose to 32.5% in February 2026, the highest monthly level recorded in nearly two decades.

While Sri Lanka’s refusal rate remains slightly below some regional counterparts, it is still notably high. Nepal recorded the highest rate at 65%, followed by Bangladesh at 51% and India at 40%, with Bhutan at 36%.

Officials attribute the tightening measures in part to concerns over document integrity, including falsified qualifications, questionable financial records and misleading employment histories in some applications. This shift further reflects a broader recalibration of Australia’s immigration system, where student visa programmes are no longer treated solely as an education pathway but also as a key lever of migration control.