Australia has announced new student visa rules under Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115), effective November 15, 2025, that could impact international students, including many from India.
Under the new system, if a university or college enrolls more than 115% of its annual student intake target, visa applications linked to that provider will be assigned a lower processing priority, resulting in slower approvals.
Here’s how the new priority system works:
- Priority 1: Providers below 80% of their target
- Priority 2: Providers between 80–115%
- Priority 3: Providers above 115% (slowest processing)
The change aims to ensure a balanced intake across institutions, especially between regional and metro areas. However, it doesn’t impose a strict cap; it only affects the speed of visa processing.
Some categories, such as TAFE, postgraduate research, ELICOS, and government scholarship holders, will continue to receive Priority 1 treatment.
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Source: Business Today