Should one apply for a student visa to Australia?

The implementation of Ministerial Direction 111 (MD 111) raises critical questions about transparency, legality, and the fairness of Australia’s immigration policies towards international students. This new directive, which effectively curtails the number of international students entering Australia, appears to have bypassed significant legislative scrutiny. Despite the ESOS Amendment Bill not being approved, the Minister for Immigration has found a way to reduce numbers through administrative adjustments in visa processing.

Equally concerning is the lack of clarity surrounding the implementation and some key questions remain unanswered:

  • Will applicants, over 80% of whom are now impacted, face indefinite delays or outright refusals?
  • If applications are refused, will it be based on Genuine Student (GS) requirements, even though this has no bearing on provider allocation?
  • Will students be asked to withdraw their applications, and if so, will they be refunded?

As the Immigration officers are instructed to process up to 80% of the allocated quota, how will providers know when the quota has been reached? Is it determined at the application stage, at the decision point, or only when the student commences their studies? This ambiguity creates confusion for providers, who rely on clarity to plan their enrollment and resource allocation.

Moreover, students who face visa refusals—despite meeting eligibility requirements—will endure long-term implications. A refusal will need to be declared on future applications, potentially jeopardising their chances of ever studying in Australia again. To make matters worse, the application fees are non-refundable, leaving students out-of-pocket with nothing to show for it. 

The timing of this directive could not be worse. With the holiday season approaching, students and providers are left scrambling for answers, adding undue stress during an already busy period. Plus adding to the frustration, all these changes have been implemented immediately, without any transition period. This abruptness demonstrates a complete disregard for the planning and commitments of international students and education providers alike.

The reality is stark as many of the industry stakeholders are questioning the integrity of the system.

We have prepared a list of the key points to consider when applying for a student visa in 2025: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-consider-when-applying-student-visa-australia-2025-bejcek-5yl8c

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