List of Top Nationalities Migrating to Australia 2011/12

There’s a new country at the top of the list of source countries of permanent residents moving to Australia. What is a little surprising though is that this news is hitting the headlines this week when, as far as I can see, it’s been known since July of last year.

Brendan O’Connor, who is Minister for Immigration and Citizenship here in Australia, made the announcement some time back, as you’ll see from the source link further down this page. But anyway, which country is the new number one?

Here’s a clue…

IndiaFirst, let’s remind us of what I found when I last cover this subject over four years ago in my post called Australia – A Nation of Immigrants. That post is slightly different from todays inasmuch as it looked at the population in total, that is to say the current percentages of people living in Australia who originally came from another country.

At that time, the top three were:

  1. UK
  2. New Zealand
  3. China
Indians on the move

Indians on the move

And as a rolling total, that hasn’t changed today, it’s still the same. But the trend is different and that’s what we are looking at now.

During the year 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 the top three, with the numbers who moved were:

  1. India  – 29,018
  2. China  – 25,509
  3. UK       – 25,274

Ooh, just look how close it was for second!

The above figures are, let me remind you, for permanent residents moving to Australia. I have not yet found any accurate or official figures listing those who permanently leave the country. I’m not sure official figures even exist, after all, people leaving the country permanently do not have to tell anyone, they just go and don’t come back.

You can’t monitor that, can you?

I found another very interesting chart provided by the government which shows the top 20 countries for each of the different types of migrants whether permanent or temporary.

They have broken it down into seven different types, the first one I’ll explain, it’s the Family Stream. These are partner (spouse or de facto), child, parent and other family visa categories like carer visas, age dependent relative visas and remaining relative visas.

The rest of the following types of migration are pretty self-explanatory, and I have just listed the top three in each.

Family Stream:

  1. China
  2. UK
  3. India

General Skilled Migration:

  1. India
  2. UK
  3. China

Employer Sponsored:

  1. UK
  2. Philippines
  3. India

Total Skill Stream

  1. India
  2. UK
  3. China

Students

  1. China
  2. India
  3. Republic of Korea

Business (Long Stay)

  1. UK
  2. India
  3. Ireland

Visitors

  1. UK
  2. China
  3. USA

So there you have it, Australia is still a nation of immigrants, it’s just the source countries that are changing slightly.

Visa Assessment Service
{ 6 comments… add one }
  • Rosse June 21, 2016, 3:19 pm |

    Hi Bob, This is Rosse from the Philippines. I just wanna ask how long is the processing time for Carer Visa? My mum lodged my application last Feb 2016 in Australian Embassy. Up to now we haven’t gotten any feedback from the immigration. Thanks for your response.

    • BobinOz June 21, 2016, 6:27 pm |

      Sorry, but I have no idea about processing times at all. All I would suggest that you do is contact immigration just to make sure that they have actually received the application.

      • Rosse June 22, 2016, 3:51 pm |

        Ok then, I’ll just ask my mum to make follow up. Another question Bob, is there a chance for me to go to Australia since I’ve been there already when I was a kid. I’m just thinking the immigration will consider it. Thanks again Bob.

        • BobinOz June 23, 2016, 12:56 am |

          I couldn’t possibly tell you what your chances are of getting a visa, it’s very complicated, see Would I Qualify?

  • ASJ Pty Ltd June 7, 2013, 4:08 pm |

    Must read….. Australian Telecom Network Updates Edition June 2013

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