Lyla Lindsey
Australia, along with Canada and the United States, is considered a traditional country of immigration, with each country encouraging immigration for permanent settlement on a significant scale that was essential for the country's founding and development. In 2023, BCG ranked Australia as the top country for individuals seeking to work and live a high-quality life. Australia has experienced successive waves of immigration, with the largest components being skilled migration and family reunion programs. As of 2021, India was the top country of birth among permanent migrants, with one in five skilled migrants born in India. Other countries with high migration rates to Australia include Iraq, South Africa, and China.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Top 5 countries of birth for migrant arrivals in 2023-24 | India, China, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand |
| Top countries for overseas-born migrants | England, China, and India |
| Total number of overseas-born citizens in 2018 | 7,342,000 |
| Percentage of overseas-born citizens in 2018 | 29.4% |
| Total number of native Australians in 2018 | 17,650,000 |
| Percentage of native Australians in 2018 | 70.6% |
| Percentage of Australians who believe the number of migrants is too high (2019) | 49% |
| Australia's ranking as a destination for individuals seeking a high-quality life (2023) | #1 |
| Year the first migration to the continent occurred | Around 65,000 years ago |
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What You'll Learn
Migration from India to Australia
Australia is a popular destination for migrants due to its welcoming culture, vibrant cities, sunny beaches, and strong economy. It offers excellent growth prospects, along with a good healthcare system and quality education, making it attractive to migrants worldwide.
Skilled migration is a significant driver of Indian migration to Australia. The country actively seeks highly skilled professionals through its General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, which is one of the most sought-after permanent visa categories. Many Indians with expertise in fields like engineering, IT, education, and healthcare find opportunities in Australia's diverse and robust economy.
Family reunion is another critical aspect of migration from India to Australia. Family and partner visas are commonly applied for, allowing Indian families to reunite and settle in Australia together. The process can be complex, and applicants are advised to seek guidance from official sources, such as the Australian High Commission in India, to ensure a smooth and successful application process.
Additionally, India's historical ties with Australia have played a role in migration patterns. Post-World War II, Australia launched a massive immigration program, and while it initially targeted Commonwealth countries, it later expanded to other nations. This period saw an influx of migrants from diverse backgrounds, and Indians may have been among those who seized the opportunity to build a new life in Australia during this era of relatively open immigration policy.
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Chinese migration to Australia
Australia has always been a popular destination for migrants. In 2017, there were 7.1 million overseas-born people living in Australia, which rose to 7.3 million in 2018. The top countries for overseas-born migrants to Australia include England, China, and India. As of 2021, the Chinese diaspora in Australia numbers 1.4 million, accounting for 5.5% of the population.
The history of Chinese migration to Australia goes back to the early 19th century. Mak Sai Ying, also known as John Shying, was the first officially recorded Chinese migrant in 1818. After his arrival, he spent some time farming and then, in 1829, became the publican of The Lion in Parramatta. The 1850s and 1860s saw the largest pre-federation Chinese migration to Australia, with numbers peaking at around 40,000. Most Chinese who came to Australia during this time were from Southern China and were lured by the Australian Gold Rushes. The Australian gold rush was known as the 'new gold mountain', following the Californian Gold Rush, which was known as the 'old gold mountain'.
The opening of ports in the 1850s, such as Amoy, facilitated the practice of importing indentured labour. Many Chinese workers on labour contracts arrived via the port of Sydney to work as shepherds for private landowners and the Australian Agricultural Company. These workers mainly came from the province of Fujian via the port of Amoy, with some having been kidnapped and brought to Australia. This practice was often referred to pejoratively as the 'sale of pigs'.
After the federation of the Australian colonies into a single nation, the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, also known as the White Australia Policy, was enacted. This policy restricted non-White settlement and made it almost impossible for anyone new to migrate from China to Australia. As a result, the population of Chinese in Australia steadily declined.
The final end of the White Australia Policy in 1973 saw new arrivals from the Chinese diaspora, with significant numbers from non-Cantonese speaking parts of China. The first wave of arrivals were ethnic Chinese refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia during the 1970s, followed by economic migrants from Hong Kong in the 1980s and 1990s. After the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, then-Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke allowed students from China to settle in Australia permanently. Since then, immigrants from mainland China and Taiwan have arrived in increasing numbers.
In recent years, there has been a notable uptick in migration from Hong Kong to Australia, particularly since 2020. Between 2019-20 and 2020-21, the number of permanent migration places granted to Hong Kong nationals almost tripled, from 1,391 to 4,312. This trend continued in 2021-22, with 4,237 places granted. Migration from the People's Republic of China to Australia has also increased steadily in recent years, with 595,630 Chinese-born people living in Australia as of June 2021.
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UK migration to Australia
Australia has long been a popular destination for migrants from around the world, with its excellent growth prospects, good healthcare, and education system. Migration from the United Kingdom to Australia has a long history, dating back to the European colonisation of the continent. The first migration of Europeans to Australia occurred in 1788 with the British convict settlement of Sydney Cove.
The end of World War II saw a massive influx of British migrants to Australia, with over 1,000,000 British subjects immigrating under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, known colloquially as the Ten Pound Poms. This scheme, initiated by the Australian government in 1945, charged just £10 in processing fees (equivalent to £545 in 2023) and promised migrants employment, affordable housing, and a better lifestyle. The scheme was part of Australia's "'Populate or Perish' policy, aiming to increase the population and supply workers for booming industries.
The Ten Pound Poms were mostly from urban backgrounds and were motivated by factors such as escaping post-war austerity, seeking a warmer climate, and a sense of adventure. While the scheme targeted Commonwealth countries, it gradually extended to other nations like the Netherlands and Italy. Initially, there was a focus on migrants with certain skill sets, but by the 1960s, these requirements became less strict, with more emphasis on age and health checks.
In recent years, Australia has continued to be a desirable destination for UK migrants. In the 2023 financial year, it was estimated that approximately 19.23 thousand more UK nationals migrated to Australia than emigrated, indicating a significant increase in net overseas migration from the UK to Australia. Australia's migration programs, such as skilled migration and family reunion schemes, continue to attract people from the UK and other countries seeking new opportunities and a high quality of life.
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Australian visa options
Australia has been a popular destination for migrants, with its federal government granting Permanent Residence visas under four main streams: skilled migration, family reunion programs, work, and business.
Skilled Migration
The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) enables employers in regional and low-population-growth areas of Australia to sponsor highly skilled workers to fill skilled vacancies in their business. The Skilled Independent (Migrant) Visa is a permanent visa for people with skills in demand in the Australian labour market. The Australian government also publishes a State and Territory SOL (Skilled Occupation List) and an Employer-Nominated SOL, which outlines the occupations through which employers can sponsor potential immigrants to fill positions in their companies.
Family Reunion Programs
If you have a spouse, partner, or relative who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, they may be able to sponsor your visa. You can be sponsored if you are a spouse, fiancée, child/adopted child, parent, orphan relative, special need relative, aged dependent relative, or last remaining relative of a qualifying sponsor who is resident in Australia.
Work Visa
The Working Holiday Visa is a residence permit that allows travelers to undertake employment and sometimes study in Australia. The Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa is for applicants under 31.
Business Visa
The Subclass 457 Business (Long Stay) Visa is a program for employers to sponsor approved skilled workers to work in Australia on a temporary visa.
Other Visa Options
There are also temporary residence visas available, as well as Investor Visas, which allow foreign investors to acquire Permanent Residence in Australia after four years. Employment and family visas can also lead to Australian citizenship, provided the applicant has lived in Australia for at least four years, with at least one year as a permanent resident.
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Australia's multicultural society
Australia has long been a popular destination for migrants, with its federal departments working together to manage multicultural affairs, settlement services, and immigration and border-related functions. The country's migration program is designed to attract skilled migrants and facilitate family reunions.
In 2023, BCG ranked Australia as the top country for individuals seeking a high-quality life, and it has historically encouraged immigration for permanent settlement, which has been essential to the country's founding and development. Australia's population has been steadily increasing due to more people immigrating than emigrating. In 2017, there were 7.1 million overseas-born people in Australia, which rose to 7.3 million in 2018.
The top countries for overseas-born migrants to Australia include England, China, India, the Philippines, New Zealand, and South Africa. Australia's foreign-born population has continued to rise despite some opposition from Australian citizens, with 49% saying that the number of migrants coming to Australia each year is too high, according to a 2019 Lowy Institute poll.
Historically, European migration to Australia began with the British convict settlement of Sydney Cove in 1788. The Gold Rush era attracted large numbers of British and Irish settlers, followed by smaller groups of Germans, other Europeans, and Chinese. Post-World War II, Australia launched a massive immigration program, attracting hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans. The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, colloquially known as the "Ten Pound Poms," brought over 1,000,000 British subjects to Australia.
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