Top 8 Australian Student Visa Rejection Reasons In 2025

50%. That’s the Australia student visa rejection rate, meaning only half of those who apply for an Australian student visa are granted their visa. This means you’ve got just as much of a chance of Australia student visa rejection as acceptance. So, how do you tilt the scales in your favour? We suggest learning about the common Australia student visa rejection reasons to make sure you avoid making these mistakes. These can range from issues with the applicant's personal circumstances, such as criminal history or health conditions, to problems with the application itself, such as incomplete documentation or false information provided.

Types of Australian Student Visas

There are mainly three types of Australian student visa categories that change according to the course of study, the post-study work permit, the applicant's residence and employment status. Three general types of Australian student visas apply to overseas students - the Temporary subclass 407 visa, the Visa subclass 500 and the Visa subclass 590. Here is what you need to know about these visas:

1. Subclass 500

This is a five-year temporary study visa. The length of the stay will depend on the type, of course, you've opted for, and its length. 

2. Subclass 590

Depending on the length of the student's study in Australia, You might be allowed to apply for a guardian visa if the student you care for has exceptional needs and is older than 18. 

3. Subclass 407

This visa subclass is a provisional visa that enables holders to go to Australia to pursue professional training in a field to increase their skill level and complete their necessary training on Australian soil.

Australia Student Visa Rejection Reasons

Here are some of the common Australia student visa rejections: 

1. Unsatisfactory academic achievements

As you should know, depending on your course, the institution of your choice and your educational level, the academic qualification and requirements will vary. This is a common Australia student visa rejection reason. If you are not qualified, we suggest you find a degree or university with the course you want to pursue, and your qualifications fit all the university requirements. If you desperately want to pursue that certain subject and university, you can take up a foundation or a bridging course. This is essentially a one-year intensive training course that will help you meet your entry requirements and bring you one step closer to attending your dream college. 

Entry levels for different levels of study include: 

• English Language: To achieve the required English test score.
• Undergraduate: Have an abroad equivalent to an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
• Postgraduate: You have successfully completed a bachelor's degree. It's always worth a shot to see if your institution considered research potential or related employment experience. 

2. Incomplete GTE requirements

The GTE is one of the most crucial criteria for your Australian visa application. At any cost, you must not ignore this integrity measure. This test proves to the Australian Government that you don't have ulterior motives and are applying solely to pursue your further education. You must provide a personal statement along with your application, and your writing will be evaluated. Additionally, you'll need to demonstrate your enthusiasm for travelling to Australia for education and wisdom. Here is a brief guide to GTE in Australia to make sure all your requirements are complete. 

The GTE also considers an applicant's personal circumstances. This is evaluated in line with some of the following criteria:

• Reasons for not studying at home, even if there is a similar degree, include difficulties in the home town/Country of residency. 
• Potential conditions in Australia include knowledge of the course and education provider, scheduled student accommodation arrangements, prior study and financial ability. 
• Importance of the course to the applicant's future, for e.g. estimated salary in the applicant's home country that might be obtained using the degree qualifications.
• Immigration history of the applicant; previous student visa applications for Australia or other countries (including prior visa rejections/cancellations) 

3. Failure to follow English requirements 

Remember, when planning to study in an English-speaking country, the first requirement is to be fluent in the language. You need to make sure to take your IELTS, TOEFL or any other equivalent exams well in advance because you will be required to submit the test scores, especially if you are from a non-English speaking country. Develop your English writing, listening, speaking and reading skills. If you fail to provide this requirement, this can be another Australia student visa rejection reason. International students must provide their English language test scores with their Australian visa application.

All language proficiencies vary from university to university and their skill level. You must check the English requirements suggested by the Department of Home Affairs and your university. IELTS is a relatively easy exam. Here are 13 IELTS myths you need to know about. After you've improved your language proficiency and scored the required marks, you have ticked another box and are on your road to passing your Australian student visa! If you want to learn English and love technology, here are 8 apps for English learning.

4. Insufficient financial funds

Funds are quite common for Australia student visa rejection reasons. We all know that education overseas is expensive, and every country will want to ensure their visa applicants have enough funds to support their education and the cost of living. Every applicant has to provide their financial documents, e.g. personal bank statements, pay slips, etc., to DIBP so that they can take a call if they are qualified to pay for education in Australia. 

You need to have all your documents and legal proof ready. If you are not able to provide all your necessary documents and legal proofs, this is yet another Australia student visa rejection reason. So, as an applicant, you must ensure that you can present documents that prove you are financially stable.

5. No overseas student health cover

Australian student visa applicants are required to possess an OSHC. It is handy as you never know if you must visit a hospital. It will last for the length of your stay in Australia as a student and will give you medical and hospital insurance in Australia. If you don't have an OSHC, your health insurance is not the only thing at risk, and so is your Australian student visa, making this another one of the Australia student visa rejection reasons. 

If you are thinking, "Who is responsible for my OSHC?" in any case, you or your education provider can arrange for your OSHC. You get to pick which one. If your education provider provides the OSHC, keep track of the name of your insurance company, the start and end date of your policy and its terms and conditions. If you organise your own insurance, you must submit your Australian studnet visa application with the policy number.

Remember that the Australian Government is quite strict regarding the medical examination. There are certain additional measures that you must take if you are a student under the age of 18. 

You should check the Department of Home Affairs' necessary health examinations before submitting your application for a studnet visa because medical exams are important for a temporary visa application.

6. A record of bad past conduct

This is another Australia student visa rejection reason. This category includes your character as well. It all depends on you passing the DIBP character standards. Every applicant to Australia, whether a student or not, will have their character evaluated. If you ever attempted to enter a nation without having any concrete plans to enrol at an institution, your offences will be on file. Australian officials will have access to this data and be able to deny visa requests based on previous wrongdoings. So be careful if you have a murky immigration past or unsuccessful applications from false entrance attempts. Your visa will likely be denied. There is only a little you can do if you fall into this category other than praying and taking advantage of every opportunity to show that, this time, you're a serious applicant. 

7. Incomplete or Incorrect Documents

Authentic documentation must be presented to back up the information on the Australian student visa application form. You will be notified by the immigration office if you need to provide more documents, corrected documents, or missing documents if the information you've provided is unsatisfactory. Your application for an Australia student visa will only be accepted if you follow these instructions or if the information in the submitted papers lines up with the data on the form. This is one of the top Australia student visa rejection reasons in 2023, which many applicants ignore. 

Most of the information is covered in the blog, but keep this checklist in mind given by the DIBP (Department of Immigration and Border Protection): 

• Birth Certificate
• Identity page of the passport, with visa labels and immigration stamps for every nation on each page
• Nationality Identity Card
• All pages of the Household Registration Book
• A Curriculum Vitae certified by local authorities
• Valid electronic Certificate of Enrolment (CoE) 
• A genuine intention statement 
• Evidence of qualifications 
• Evidence of any scholarship(s) 
• An Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) 
• If under 18: signed and witnessed Parent consent letters
• Confirmation of Appropriate Student Accommodation and Welfare Arrangements (CAAW), linked with your CoE
• A signed financial undertaking from the individual(s) providing the funds
• English language test certificate

8. Invalid Passport

One common Australia student visa rejection reason is that the student might fail to meet the passport requirements. There are two main requirements that the Immigration Office of Australia checks for, which are:

• The issuance of the student’s passport must fall within the 10 years from the student visa application date.
• The validity of the applicant’s passport should exceed the end of the course in which the student has gained admission to the Australian university by at least 6 months.

How to prevent Australia Student Visa Rejection?

Now that you’re familiar with the most common Australia student visa rejection reasons, you’ll have a better idea of how to avoid these. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you avoid Australia student visa rejection.

1. Firstly, make sure you have enough funds in your account before applying. This should be enough to cover any future education, travel and living costs that you may incur.

2. Ensure that all information provided by you is accurate and your documents are valid.

3. Practice with a friend or family member in order to prepare for an interview.

4. Crosscheck whether or not you meet the eligibility criteria for your desired course. The institution’s administration team will even provide you with written confirmation of the same if you email them about it.

5. Getting a professional migration agent might help you out quite a bit as they are skilled in preparing applications and offer tips that help you prevent Australian student visa rejection.

6. Use a professional migration agent as they can help prepare your student visa application and provide visa interview tips.

What to do After Australia Student Visa Rejection? 

Students can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if an Australian student visa is rejected. Within 28 days of the visa rejection, students must submit an appeal letter to the AAT for reconsideration. The time it takes for the appeal process varies depending on the reasons for the visa rejection and the type of visa.

Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)

If your visa application is turned down, you have the right to file an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). The particular visa Officer will issue you a written decision on your visa, and inside that notice, you will find all of the information you need to know about the deadline for appealing a visa refusal. You can submit a paper application or apply online at the AAT's official website. Remember that if you miss the deadline, neither the Immigration Office nor AAT can assist you in extending the time restriction. 

Appeal Fees

Applicants may request that you pay an extra charge of up to AU$1,826 to review the decision. Applicants may be eligible for a cost reduction of up to 50% if paying the full charge would put them in financial jeopardy. Applicants must pay the fee before the appeal request period expires. If you apply offline, make sure you do it before the deadline and pay the application cost the same day. 

Information Required by ATT to Review Rejected Visa Application

When your visa application gets rejected, it means that there were some issues or concerns that the immigration authorities found that led to the rejection. In order for ATT to review your rejected visa application, they may need certain information from you. Students can provide ATT officers with the following information to support their visa applications:

1. Details of their previous educational achievements.
2. Explanations for why they chose not to pursue a similar course in their home country.
3. Information regarding their plans to return to their home country after completing their studies.
4. A copy of the acceptance letter received from the university they wish to attend.
5. Demonstrating the relevance of the chosen course to their future job opportunities in Australia.
6. Testimonials or references from other individuals who can support their case.

What to do After the Appeal to ATT Fails?

Students have two choices if the visa is still denied following an appeal to ATT.

1. Students can file petitions with the Federal Court. However, this is only done where there is a legal error in the ATT judgement.
2. Students can write to the minister, providing strong grounds and seeking his personal discretion to grant them a visa. The amount of petitions that are granted is dropping. If the Minister interferes, however, the judgement is typically favourable. 

The AAT will review your application, taking into consideration the following factors:

1. Reasons for your intention to study in Australia.
2. Your immigration history.
3. Other relevant details pertaining to your case.
4. Based on this review, the AAT will provide you with a detailed written decision regarding your visa application.

The AAT committee makes decisions based on various factors, like:

1. The applicant's circumstances in their home country.
2. The reasons for wanting to enter Australia.
3. The value and relevance of the enrolled course for future prospects.
4. The applicant's immigration history.
5. Any other pertinent information.

These were all the Australia student visa rejection reasons. It is important to carefully review the visa application requirements and ensure all necessary documents and information are provided to avoid visa rejection. If an Australian visa application is rejected, the applicant may have the option to appeal the decision or reapply with additional information or documentation. Here is a TOEFL prep blog to make your TOEFL preparation easier. Voila! If you're visa gets accepted, booking a place to stay would worry you! but we've got you covered! Book with amber to get comfortable student accommodations in Australia at pocket-friendly prices!