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20 Jul, 2012

India Now Australia’s Largest Source Of Permanent Migrants

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Canberra, 19 July 2012, (Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) – For the first time, India is Australia’s largest source of permanent migrants, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced today. Indian migrants comprised a total of 29,018 places or 15.7% of the total migration program of 185,000 places under the 2011-12 permanent migration program.

“For some time, India has been a source of increasing numbers of new migrants to our country and it is now our largest source of permanent migrants,” Mr Bowen said. “The Indian community has made a valuable contribution to economic, social and cultural life in Australia, and I know this will continue with more Indians choosing to make their home here.”

The total migration program outcome for 2011-12 was 184,998 places against a planning level of 185 000 which is 2 places below the planning level.

The top 10 source countries were: India 29,018; China 25,509; United Kingdom 25,274; Philippines 12,933; South Africa 7,640; Sri Lanka 5,577; Malaysia 5,508; Irish Republic 4,938; South Korea 4,874; and Vietnam 4,773. Seven of these countries are from Asia.

The outcome for China decreased in 2011-12 to 25,509 (down from 29,547 in 2010-11) or 13.8% of the total migration program. The United Kingdom outcome increased from 23,931 in 2010-11 to 25,274 in 2011-12 or 13.7% of the total migration program.

In terms of regions, the Indian sub-continent now provides 23.7% of the migration program (an increase from 19.4% in 2010-11), largely due to the increase of migrants from India in 2011-12. North Asia had a decrease in its share of the program from 24.9% in 2010-11 to 20.9% in 2011-12. The proportion of migrants from the United Kingdom has been declining steadily from a high of 22.5% in 2005-06 to 13.7% in 2011-12.

Within the overall program the breakdown by visa streams was: the skill stream: 125,755 places delivered (5 places above the planning level); the family stream: 58,604 places delivered (4 places above the planning level); and the special eligibility stream: 639 places delivered (11 places below the planning level).

The skill stream accounted for 68% of the total migration program. At the major group level of the Australia New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), Professionals accounted for 61.0% of the outcome in the skill stream.

The employer sponsored category delivered a strong performance in 2011-12 with an outcome of 46,554 against a planning level of 46,550. It comprised 37.0% of the 2011-12 skill stream.

General Skilled Migration (GSM) had an outcome of 71,819 against a planning level of 71 820. GSM comprised 57.1% of the skill steam in 2011-12.

Some 76.8% of primary applicants in the skill independent category had an occupation on the Skill Occupation List (SOL).

The State Specific and Regional Migration (SSRM) outcome was 47,733 or 38.0% of the skill stream compared to 32.9% in 2010-11.

The family stream accounted for 31.7% of the total migration program. Some 77.0% of the family Stream outcome was comprised of spouses, fiancés or partners of Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Outcomes in the child and other family categories were 3,700 and 1,252, respectively.

The non-contributory parent category met the planning level of 2000 places and the contributory parent category outcome was 6,502 against the planning level of 6,500.

The special eligibility outcome of 639 comprised 0.3% of the total migration program.

The family stream had a final outcome of 58,604 places, representing 31.7% of the total migration program.

“The family stream is an essential component of our migration program, as it allows Australians to unite with their loved ones, particularly with their partners and children,” Mr Bowen said. “I am pleased that the government will help even more families to reunite under this program next year, as I increased family places from 58,600 to 60,185 in this year”s Budget.”

Skilled migration accounted for over two-thirds of Australia’s total migration program, with a 2011-12 skill stream outcome of 125,755 places.

Click here for the full 2011-12 migration program report.