General Information Sections on Migration into Australia

Australia is a highly economically developed nation with an education system that is world renowned. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is a measure of its wealth is 13^th for 2022. It rates very highly at 8^th in 2019 based on the Human Development Index (HDI) with a score of 0.944 out of a maximum of 10. This index is based on the combination of life expectancy, education level and GDP. These indices show that Australia is a highly desirable country to which people wish to immigrate.

There are a range of reasons why people will visit Australia and/or seek to immigrate to the country. Some people come purely on a holiday, and this is called a Tourist Visa. Some come to advance their education levels, and this would be an Education Visa. Some visitors aim to transition to Permanent Residency (PR) status through work in certain industries from the Skilled Workers List. See the list below for this visa category.

The following visas are available to individuals who are qualified to work or train in an eligible skilled occupation in Australia and can meet all other requirements:

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)*
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Training visa (subclass 407)
• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work 
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494).

Source: Australian Government: Department of Home Affairs

Another reason for immigration are on Humanitarian grounds which is for refugees and their families.

How many people come to Australia each year?

The migration policy of Australia is regulated and controlled through the Federal Government Department of Home Affairs in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Border Security. Visa Applications are dealt with by Australian Embassies in foreign nations or directly through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia.

Each year Australia accepts over 500,00 “visitors” on various Visas. See table 1 below.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – ABS- Data

Key statistics for Migrants to Australia

For the year ending 30 June 2020:

• There were over 7.6 million migrants living in Australia
• 29.8% of Australia's population were born overseas
• Australia's population increased by 194,400 people due to net overseas migration

Nearly every single country from around the world was represented in Australia's population in 2020.

• England (980,400) continued to be the largest group of overseas-born living in Australia. However, this decreased from just over a million, recorded throughout the period 2012 to 2016
• Those born in India (721,000) were in second place, with an increase of 56,300 people
• Chinese-born (650,600) fell to third place, with 17,300 fewer people
• Those born in Australia (18.0 million) increased 211,400 during the year.

Source: ABS Data Many students from overseas nations come to Australia to complete their Secondary and Tertiary education. They arrive with an Education Visa. Some stay on as their skills are needed in the Australian community and they can gain a special Graduation Visa that can lead to Permanent Residency (PR) and eventually Australian Citizenship. If coming to study in Australia a proficiency level of 5 on the International English Test Standard –(IELTS) for Secondary and 6.5 for Tertiary study is essential as the language of instruction in all education fields is English.