International Students Stand To Benefit From India-Australia Free Trade Agreement

India and Australia will sign the provisional trade pact in March

As a point of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) debate, India and Australia are exploring the possibility of extending their visas for Indian students for an additional three to five years

India and Australia are discussing the possibility of giving Indian students Down Under visas for an additional period of 3-5 years as part of the FTA that is under negotiation

Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan is currently in urgent talks to fast-track negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in India to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and promote Australia as a top destination for students and tourists.

Faster access to visas for Indian students and professionals in Australia is reportedly a critical necessity demanded in New Delhi. The number of Indian international students going to Australia fell by 62% in the 12 months in September 2021 compared to 2019. As opposed to the digit of new Indian international students to the UK doubled, up to 174%.

This fall in numbers may be related to the ban on Indians arriving in Australia at the end of April 2021. It requires everyone, including Australians who have been in India for the previous two weeks and tried to return to Australia, to be sentenced to prison and heavy fines of up to AU $ 66,000.

“Goyal and I have been in regular contact over the Christmas/New Year period because we are both committed to concluding an interim free trade agreement,” Tehan said in the announcement.

The two sides have consented to conclude a long-pending FTA, officially declared as Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), by the end of 2022.

The statement said that this trade pact is a “potential game-changer” at the beginning of Australia and India business opportunities and an essential piece of post-Covid economic recovery.

Tehan will also sign a memorandum of agreement on behalf of the Australian government with the Indian government to promote travel and tourism between the countries further.