General Procedures

Visas Granted 2019-2020
September 23, 2020

Visas Granted 2019-2020

The total number of Australian visas granted in 2019–2020 under the permanent migration program was 140,366 which is within the planning level of 160,000 places. Despite being already the lowest outcome in a decade, the future numbers are expected to fall even further in the next few years due to a significant impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Overall Migration Program lodgements dropped by 12.3 per cent from 198,710 in 2018–19 to 174,170 in 2019–20. The Global Talent and Skilled Regional categories were the least affected, but the ramifications for the Skilled Independent and Business Innovation and Investment streams have been devastating with 62% and 40% reductions in the respective number of visas.
Australia Visas Granted 2019-2020

Migration Outcomes

In 2019-2020 the number of finalised applications under the permanent migration program was lower by 12.5 per cent when compared to 2018–2019 numbers. The top nine source countries were:

  • India – 25,698
  • China – 18,587
  • United Kingdom – 10,681
  • Philippines – 8,965
  • Vietnam – 5,398
  • Nepal – 5,048
  • New Zealand – 4,997
  • Pakistan – 4,136
  • South Africa – 3,743
Interestingly, 64.5% of visas were granted to people that were already in Australia on temporary visas. This has been a trend for some time now, as many migrants are using temporary visas as a stepping stone to permanent residency. But it became especially prevalent during COVID-19 border closures.

The Skilled stream accounted for 69.5 per cent of the total 2019–2020 outcome and the top three major ANZSCO occupation groups for visa grants were as follows:

  • Professionals – 59.6%
  • Technicians & Trades Workers – 17.0%
  • Managers – 9.0%
State/Territory of Intended Residence*
  • New South Wales – 44,182
  • Victoria – 34,189
  • Queensland – 18,743
  • South Australia – 11,996
  • Western Australia – 11,377
  • Tasmania – 6,152
  • Australian Capital Territory – 4,370
  • Northern Territory – 2,558
*6,799 applicants have no specified where they intended to reside.

Previous Year Comparison

Despite generally lower numbers, the percentages remained largely the same with the Skilled stream taking the largest share and contributing 68.43 per cent to the 2018–2019 and 69.5 per cent to the 2019–2020 Migration Program outcomes. The comparison of stream specific numbers within the permanent migration programs in 2018-2019 and in 2019-2020 years are as follows.

Skilled
  • Employer Sponsored
  • Skilled Independent
  • Skilled Regional
  • Skilled State Nominated
  • Business Innovation and Investment program
  • Global Talent
  • Distinguished Talent
2018-2019
  • 33,025
  • 34,247
  • 18,308
  • 25,993
  • 7,261
  • N/A
  • 200
2019-2020
  • 29,261
  • 12,986
  • 23,372
  • 21,495
  • 4,420
  • 4,109
  • 200
The Family stream accounted for 31.57 per cent of the 2018–2019 and 29.8 per cent of the 2019–2020 of Migration Program outcomes.
Family
  • Partner
  • Parent
  • Other family
2018-2019
  • 39,918
  • 6,805
  • 524
2019-2020
  • 37,118
  • 4,399
  • 444
Other
  • Special Eligibility
  • Child
2018-2019
  • 115
  • 3,248
2019-2020
  • 81
  • 2,481

Global Talent Focus

Although the final size and composition of the 2020-21 Migration programs will be announced as part of the Budget process in October, certain trends are becoming clear already. The federal government announced the creation of the Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce to bring international businesses and talented individuals to Australia in order to support the post-pandemic recovery and to boost local jobs. Its initial emphasis will be on three key sectors.

  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Financial Services
  • Health

This taskforce builds on the success of the Global Talent Independent (GTI) program that was launched in November 2019. Despite a late start in its first year GTI made up 4.3% of the Skilled stream and attracted high calibre applicants with skills in the following industry sectors.

Global Talent Industry Sectors
  • Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science and ICT – 28%
  • Medical Technology – 26%
  • Energy and Mining Technology – 20%
  • Agricultural Technology – 9%
  • Space and Advanced Manufacturing – 8%
  • Financial Technology – 6%
  • Cyber Security – 3%
In total there were 6,417 lodgements made and the grant rate was 99.5%. Out of 4,109 places granted, overwhelming majority of applicants (3,344) were already in Australia at the time when they made their GTI visa application.

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