Official government statistics have laid bare the scale of Indian students facing deportation from major study destinations over the past five years. The data, presented by the Ministry of External Affairs in Parliament, shows hundreds of students were sent back from countries including Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Deportation Numbers: A Country-Wise Breakdown
The figures, shared on Thursday, December 5, 2025, provide a stark overview. According to the breakdown, 170 Indian students were deported from the United Kingdom in the last half-decade. Russia followed with 82 deportations, while Australia recorded 114. From the United States, 45 students were deported.
The list extends to other nations as well, highlighting a widespread issue:
- 13 students deported from Ukraine
- 17 from Georgia
- 5 from Finland
- 4 from China
- 2 from Egypt
- 1 from Austria
In a related trend, the data also indicated that 62 Indian students were denied entry into the United States during the same period. The government noted that these actions could stem from various triggers, ranging from specific visa-rule violations to broader compliance checks initiated by host countries.
A Global Trend of Tighter Student Visa Rules
These deportations and denials occur against a backdrop of increasingly restrictive immigration and student-visa policies in key English-speaking destinations. Major study hubs are implementing sweeping reforms that impact cost, eligibility, and post-study opportunities.
In Australia, significant changes took effect in 2025. The base student visa application fee (Subclass 500) was hiked from AUD 1,600 to AUD 2,000 starting July 1. New guidelines under Ministerial Direction 115, active from November 14, 2025, introduced a tiered system for processing applications, stricter oversight of "packaged courses," and heightened scrutiny to prevent visa misuse.
The United Kingdom has also tightened its requirements for the 2025–26 academic year. The financial maintenance threshold for international students has been raised. Applicants must now demonstrate £1,529 per month for living in London and £1,171 per month for other areas, up from previous amounts. Furthermore, the government announced more stringent English-language requirements for skilled-visa applicants, demanding a B2-level proficiency from January 2026. Plans are also underway to shorten the post-study work visa (Graduate Route), reducing the time graduates have to find employment.
Implications and Shifting Pathways for Indian Students
The geographic spread of deportations underscores that Indian students face legal and regulatory risks across many traditional and 'safer' study destinations. While the government data does not link individual cases to specific incidents, the collective numbers point to a challenging environment.
In response to growing restrictions on student and skilled-work visa pathways in countries like the US, many Indian aspirants are exploring alternative routes. There has been a notable surge in demand for investment-based residency visas, often viewed as a substitute for the conventional student-to-work transition, since 2024.
This data serves as a crucial reminder for prospective students and their families to meticulously understand visa regulations, ensure strict compliance with all conditions, and stay informed about the rapidly evolving policy landscape in their chosen study destination.
