Australia has recently released a new Student Visa Integrity Alert (November 2025), in which the government has revealed serious concerns about how fraudulent applications, misinformation about evidence level updates, and the misuse of the student visa program are increasing nowadays. Because of these, the refusal of student visas has also increased.
So, if you are a genuine student, make sure you do not believe in false narratives and every part of your application is correct with strong intent. Here is the major update from this Student Visa Integrity Alert document.
Why This Alert Was Issued
The department is continually monitoring the student visa program, and it has found many emerging risks. This includes:
- Fraudulent passport details are being used to get the Confirmation of Enrolments (CoEs), especially in Higher Education and even in the top Group of Eight (Go8) universities.
- Some firms are promoting the new update in Evidence Level (EL) in the wrong way, which makes some applicants believe that the visa system is “easy” now, and non-genuine behaviour can be somehow accepted.
- Some education providers and agents are just focusing on increasing their enrolments by pushing applications forward without proper documentation.
Such trends are currently high in specific markets, including some parts of South Asia, and because of this, the department has issued an alert to maintain the long-term integrity of the student visa program.
What This Means for Genuine Students
Even though this alert is mainly related to the education providers, genuine students will also feel their impact. Here’s how:
1. Identity Checks Will Be Much Stricter
The government now expects providers to:
- Collect and verify students’ passports at the time of admission.
- Ensure the passport is valid for visa lodgement and travel.
- Check if the student’s passport country matches the origin of other supporting documents, such as academic, financial, and employment documents.
- Conduct video interviews to confirm the student’s identity and assess his/her genuineness.
2. English & Financial Documents Must Be Genuine and Ready
- Providers are instructed to verify all English language and financial documents before issuing a CoE.
- Even if your application falls under streamlined Evidence Level, the Department may request these proofs at any time while processing a visa application.
3. Strong Genuine Student Assessment
Education providers must:
- Carefully assess the Genuine Student claims and ensure that they are enrolling students who genuinely aim for quality education.
4. Expect More Questions from Your Education Provider
As providers are now becoming more responsible for avoiding fraud, they may:
- Conduct more interviews
- Ask for more supporting documents
- Re-check inconsistencies in your history
- Review your engagement patterns more closely
How These Changes Can Affect Visa Outcomes
The Integrity Alert clearly states that fraudulent or non-genuine documents lead to:
- Visa refusals
- Delays in visa processing
- Additional requests for evidence
- Visa cancellations for non-compliance
- Discontinuation of studies
- Provider hopping and transfers
Final Note for Students
This alert makes it clear that Australia will only welcome genuine students who have all transparent and accurate documentation. Also, students are advised not to fall for any ongoing misinterpretation regarding the evidence level, as many firms are currently using it to attract students. The department still demands authentic documents, clear intent, and strict identity checks. So, keep your passport and other documents accurate from the beginning to avoid delays or refusals.
If you want to lodge a strong, genuine, and decision-ready student visa application without falling into any type of traps of misinformation, then contact Growmore Immigration now. Here, we guide you through every step of the student visa with accuracy and clarity.