What to do if your student visa application is rejected

If your student visa application gets refused, it’s natural to feel disappointed or stressed about the outcome.

Remember that you are not the first international student to have their visa application rejected, and a range of support is available.

See below for our guide on what to do after having a student visa application refused, including why it may have been rejected and whether you can appeal your result.

What should I do if my student visa is rejected?

The first thing you should do if your visa is rejected is try to find out why the application was refused. This should be outlined in a rejection letter from the home office or department of immigration in your destination country.

If the reason hasn’t already been made clear it’s best to ask for feedback directly and review it thoroughly before reapplying or appealing the result.

From there, you can work to address the reason/s for rejection and reapply for the visa once you have addressed the concerns.

You should also contact your university to let them know, particularly if the delay to your visa means you cannot arrive for the agreed starting date of your course. Most universities have an international office devoted to overseas students so this should be your first port of call. They will have helped countless students obtain a visa to study at their institution and they will be able to support you.

Different countries have different routes of appeal, while for others you’ll have to start a new application. See below to find out the processes to follow after a student visa rejection in Canada, Australia, the US and the UK.

Common reasons your visa may be rejected

Student visas are sometimes rejected for arbitrary or fixable reasons. Some common reasons include:

• Incorrectly filling out one or more parts of the visa application form, or forgetting to fill out any sections
• Not providing the correct documents, including ID or photographs
• Insufficient English language ability
• Lack of substantial proof to show you fulfil the financial requirements to study abroad
• Failing any background checks
• Your previous education isn’t related to your course. Having no previous qualifications related to your course, or having qualifications in unrelated fields is a common reason for visa refusal.
• There is a gap in your education journey. The amount of time since you were last in education can have an impact on your outcome.
• Your course selection doesn’t show career progression. Choosing a course at the same level of education or lower calls into doubt the purpose of your visa. Whether you are applying to a college or a university can also impact the result. Universities typically have better approval rates.
• Your travel history to other countries
• Your nationality. Each nation has its own political and economic factors that contribute to the success of an application. The same application from citizens of different nationalities may have different results. 
•  Your past application history. Any previous visa refusals could be a factor, particularly if you were previously granted a visa to your destination country and were found to be breaking any visa conditions.

Should I get help with my visa?

If your visa has been refused speak to your university guidance counsellor, who will be able to help you understand why your visa application was rejected. If you don’t have a counsellor at your school you could enlist an experienced international student or immigration agent to ensure things go more smoothly next time. Ensure that you use an agent from a reputable company or one that has been recommended by your school. 

Finding an experienced agent or independent counsellor who can help prospective students understand visa-specific requirements can improve the chance of successfully receiving a visa, according to Jake Foster, chief commercial officer at Australian Education and Career Counselling. He adds that you should always look for a reputable agent with a proven track record.

For help with study visas in Canada, Hari Ghai, a senior immigration consultant at ApplyBoard, suggests students find an immigration consultant using this database of accredited consultants in Canada.

For consultants in Australia, Janelle Chapman, president of the International Education Accreditation Authority, suggests finding agents through the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority’s agents list.

You can also check out the British Council’s global database for its list of approved agents.

In the US, American International Enrollment Management (AIRC) has created a code of standards to ensure that agents operate transparently and with integrity. You can find AIRC’s members on its website and also read our top tips on how to choose a university agent.