Overseas Migration, 2021-22

Net overseas migration (NOM) was 170,900 for the 2021–22 financial year, a substantial increase from ‑84,900 observed in the 2020–21 financial year. This increase reflects the resumption of international travel as restrictions to slow the spread of COVID‑19 were eased in late 2021.

Overseas arrivals drove significant increases in NOM, more than doubling from 146,000 in 2020–21 to 395,000 in 2021–22. Overseas departures remained relatively stable, decreasing by only 3 per cent from 230,900 in 2020–21 to 224,000 in 2021–22 (Chart 1).

Temporary migrants contributed to more than three quarters of total NOM in 2021–22. In the 3 financial years prior to the pandemic, temporary migrants contributed to just under three‑quarters of total NOM.

Declines in migration over 2020–21 were mainly concentrated in temporary migrant categories. As international travel restrictions were eased in 2021–22, there were large net inflows of temporary migrants in student, temporary skilled and working holiday maker visa categories (see Table 1). However, there were outflows in the ‘Other temporary’ category, which includes Bridging visas.

International students now make up the largest share of migrant arrivals, as was the case prior to the pandemic, having risen to 138,000 in 2021–22 from a low of 1,500 in 2020–21. The availability of online study options allowed student visa holders to continue studying offshore while travel restrictions were in place. The number of student visa holders in Australia has grown since the easing of these restrictions as students have returned onshore. International student departures have declined by 34,100 over 2021–22. As a result, NOM for student visa holders has risen from -60,700 in 2020–21 to 108,900 in 2021–22 (Chart 2), which is above pre‑pandemic levels (Table 1).

There were 12,600 working holiday maker arrivals in the March and June 2022 quarters, a significant increase from 800 in the September and December 2021 quarters, largely reflecting eased travel restrictions in late 2021 and the seasonal migration patterns of individuals on this visa. Offshore grants of working holiday visas have been increasing, and in September 2022 surpassed 2019 levels signalling that arrivals are likely to continue increasing. There was a net inflow of 8,400 working holiday makers over 2021–22 and the stock of working holiday makers in Australia increased to 40,900 as at 30 June 2022. Since then, the stock of working holiday makers has increased further, to 86,900 as at 31 October 2022, although still below the pre‑pandemic level of 141,100 in December 2019.

Note: Totals are lower than the sum of sub‑components as Other permanent, Other temporary and Unclassified recorded outflows in some years.

Permanent migrants made up 43,900 of total NOM in 2021–22, still below pre‑pandemic levels despite an increase from 19,000 in 2020–21.

More Australian citizens emigrated from Australia than migrated to Australia over 2021–22, driving Australian citizen NOM to the pre‑pandemic pattern of net emigration (a net outflow of 12,900). This outflow was caused by a growth in departures from 44,000 in 2020–21 to 74,100 in 2021–22, an increase of 68 per cent. Australian citizen arrivals were steady over this period (a decline of 0.3 per cent).

In 2021–22, all states and territories experienced a net inflow of migrants after experiencing net outflows in 2020–21. New South Wales and Victoria historically have accounted for the largest share of NOM and correspondingly had the largest increases in 2021–22 (Chart 3), primarily due to high student and visitor arrivals. New South Wales and Victoria received 36 per cent and 33 per cent of national NOM in 2021–22, respectively. All other jurisdictions received inflows of migrants consistent with their pre‑pandemic shares.

The largest contribution to NOM in 2021–22 came from Asian‑born migrants (Chart 4). The recovery in NOM from migrants born in China and India was particularly strong, with increases of 65,400 and 48,800, respectively, compared to 2020–21. This has returned migration to pre‑pandemic trends where migrants from Asia – especially temporary migrants from China and India – made up the majority of NOM. Migration by Australian‑born persons also returned to pre‑pandemic trends of net emigration as international travel restrictions were eased.

Note

Further detail is available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Overseas Migration, 2021–22