Migration Statistics
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Overseas Travel Statistics, Provisional
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Provisional statistics on international travel based on initial border crossings, arriving in and departing from Australia, including tourism trips
Reference period
December 2020
Released
18/01/2021
Key statistics
- Of the 35,100 estimated arrival trips, 17,800 were by Australian citizens
- Arrival trips show a 17.9% increase compared to the previous month
- Of the 49,900 estimated departure trips, 12,100 were by Australian citizens
- Departure trips shows a 9.8% increase compared to the previous month.
All arrivals - provisional estimates monthly
Provisional statistics on international travel movements of persons arriving in Australia. It is the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people.
Key findings
All overseas arrivals to Australia in December 2020 (provisional estimates):
- 35,100 estimated trips, 17,800 of these are Australian citizens
- 17.9% increase compared to the previous month and a 98.1% decrease compared to the corresponding month of the previous year
- 14.1% of all arrivals were New Zealand citizens, the largest group apart from Australian citizens returning home
- 7.8% of all arrivals were those arriving on permanent skilled visas.
All arrivals - by citizenship
The five largest countries of citizenship (excluding Australian) for all arrivals to Australia in December 2020 were:
- New Zealand (4,900), increasing 33.2% compared to the previous month
- India (1,700), increasing 50.3%
- China (1,300), increasing 11.2%
- UK (1,100), decreasing 10.7%
- USA (780), decreasing 0.1%.
| Country of citizenship | Dec-19 | Nov-20 | Dec-20 | Nov-20 to Dec-20 % change | Dec-19 to Dec-20 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 176,600 | 3,710 | 4,950 | 33.2% | -97.2% |
| India | 66,250 | 1,140 | 1,720 | 50.3% | -97.4% |
| China(b) | 133,030 | 1,190 | 1,330 | 11.2% | -99.0% |
| UK(c) | 127,610 | 1,270 | 1,130 | -10.7% | -99.1% |
| USA | 96,020 | 780 | 780 | -0.1% | -99.2% |
| South Africa | 13,260 | 380 | 460 | 20.7% | -96.5% |
| Philippines | 18,780 | 490 | 430 | -13.8% | -97.7% |
| Pakistan | 4,830 | 180 | 380 | 111.0% | -92.1% |
| Indonesia | 27,700 | 270 | 340 | 26.4% | -98.8% |
| Malaysia | 45,850 | 210 | 330 | 60.0% | -99.3% |
(a) To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
(b) Excludes SARs & Taiwan.
(c) Includes the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers.
All arrivals - by visa group
The three largest visa groups arriving in Australia in December 2020 were:
- Permanent skilled visas (2,700), increasing 50.8% compared to the previous month
- Permanent family visas (2,200), increasing 30.9%
- Temporary other visas (2,000), decreasing 6.1%.
| Visa Group | Dec-19 | Nov-20 | Dec-20 | Nov-20 to Dec-20 % change | Dec-19 to Dec-20 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Family Visas | 20,270 | 1,650 | 2,160 | 30.9% | -89.4% |
| Permanent Other Visas | 46,030 | 1,490 | 1,860 | 24.6% | -96.0% |
| Permanent Skilled Visas | 34,770 | 1,810 | 2,720 | 50.8% | -92.2% |
| Temporary Other Visas | 28,570 | 2,180 | 2,050 | -6.1% | -92.8% |
| Temporary Skilled Visas | 15,990 | 1,220 | 1,310 | 7.7% | -91.8% |
| Temporary Student Visas | 40,790 | 200 | 230 | 13.9% | -99.4% |
| Temporary Visitor Visas | 803,170 | 1,970 | 1,980 | 0.8% | -99.8% |
| Temporary Work Visas | 19,330 | 120 | 100 | -18.5% | -99.5% |
(a) To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
All arrivals - by state or territory of clearance
All international travellers must be processed and cleared by Australia's Border Force via specific seaports or airports around the country. This information provides the state or territory of clearance for each traveller.
For December 2020 when comparing to the previous month, increases were recorded for:
- Vic. (866.6%)
- Tas. (300.0%)
- SA (30.2%)
- Qld (7.1%)
- WA (2.2%)
Decreases were recorded for:
- ACT (97.4%)
- NT (16.9%)
- NSW (0.2%)
Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers.
| State of clearance | Dec-19 | Nov-20 | Dec-20 | Nov-20 to Dec-20 % change | Dec-19 to Dec-20 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 735,880 | 16,440 | 16,410 | -0.2% | -97.8% |
| Vic. | 521,000 | 550 | 5,330 | 866.6% | -99.0% |
| Qld | 357,500 | 5,780 | 6,200 | 7.1% | -98.3% |
| SA | 49,900 | 1,090 | 1,410 | 30.2% | -97.2% |
| WA | 201,930 | 4,490 | 4,580 | 2.2% | -97.7% |
| Tas. | 7,360 | 40 | 140 | 300.0% | -98.0% |
| NT | 16,150 | 1,240 | 1,030 | -16.9% | -93.6% |
| ACT | 2,560 | 150 | 0 | -97.4% | -99.8% |
(a) To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers
All departures - provisional estimates monthly
Provisional statistics on international travel movements of persons departing Australia. It is the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people.
Key findings
All overseas departures from Australia in December 2020 (provisional estimates):
- 49,900 estimated trips, 12,100 of these are Australian citizens
- 9.8% increase compared to the previous month and a 97.8% decrease compared to the corresponding month of the previous year
- 18.7% of all departures were Chinese citizens
- 24.1% of all departures were those leaving on temporary student visas.
All departures - by citizenship
The five largest countries of citizenship (excluding Australian) for all departures from Australia in December 2020 were:
- China (9,300), increasing 2.1% compared to the previous month
- India (5,400), decreasing 10.3%
- New Zealand (4,000), increasing 17.3%
- UK (1,300), increasing 17.8%
- USA (1,100), increasing 24.3%.
| Country of citizenship | Dec-19 | Nov-20 | Dec-20 | Nov-20 to Dec-20 % change | Dec-19 to Dec-20 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China(b) | 202,970 | 9,130 | 9,320 | 2.1% | -95.4% |
| India | 68,450 | 5,970 | 5,350 | -10.3% | -92.2% |
| New Zealand | 193,340 | 3,400 | 3,990 | 17.3% | -97.9% |
| UK(c) | 91,870 | 1,120 | 1,320 | 17.8% | -98.6% |
| USA | 82,390 | 890 | 1,110 | 24.3% | -98.7% |
| Malaysia | 64,380 | 890 | 1,000 | 12.5% | -98.4% |
| Indonesia | 26,640 | 560 | 910 | 63.8% | -96.6% |
| South Korea | 36,580 | 680 | 900 | 31.8% | -97.6% |
| Singapore | 50,100 | 510 | 880 | 74.0% | -98.2% |
| Philippines | 22,460 | 760 | 870 | 14.0% | -96.1% |
(a) To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
(b) Excludes SARs & Taiwan.
(c) Includes the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
All departures - by visa group
The three largest visa groups departing from Australia in December 2020 were:
- Temporary student visas (12,000), increasing 32.1% compared to the previous month
- Temporary other visas (8,500), increasing 13.4%
- Temporary visitor visas (5,700), decreasing 26.2%.
| Visa Group | Dec-19 | Nov-20 | Dec-20 | Nov-20 to Dec-20 % change | Dec-19 to Dec-20 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Family Visas | 33,460 | 910 | 840 | -7.8% | -97.5% |
| Permanent Other Visas | 85,750 | 1,880 | 1,970 | 5.2% | -97.7% |
| Permanent Skilled Visas | 81,990 | 1,700 | 1,930 | 13.2% | -97.7% |
| Temporary Other Visas | 64,390 | 7,490 | 8,490 | 13.4% | -86.8% |
| Temporary Skilled Visas | 33,810 | 1,110 | 1,680 | 51.0% | -95.0% |
| Temporary Student Visas | 142,930 | 9,100 | 12,020 | 32.1% | -91.6% |
| Temporary Visitor Visas | 539,330 | 7,730 | 5,710 | -26.2% | -98.9% |
| Temporary Work Visas | 21,840 | 1,410 | 1,480 | 5.3% | -93.2% |
(a) To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
All departures - by state and territory of clearance
All international travellers must be processed and cleared by Australia's Border Force via specific seaports or airports around the country. This information provides the state or territory of clearance for each traveller.
For December 2020 when comparing to the previous month, increases were recorded for:
- NT (173.5%)
- SA (43.5%)
- WA (28.8%)
- Vic. (13.0%)
- NSW (6.2%)
- Qld (3.4%)
Decreases were recorded for:
- ACT (100.0%)
- Tas. (96.5%)
Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers
| State of clearance | Dec-19 | Nov-20 | Dec-20 | Nov-20 to Dec-20 % change | Dec-19 to Dec-20 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 893,020 | 25,110 | 26,670 | 6.2% | -97.0% |
| Vic. | 611,690 | 10,970 | 12,400 | 13.0% | -98.0% |
| Qld | 411,800 | 5,480 | 5,670 | 3.4% | -98.6% |
| SA | 62,300 | 520 | 750 | 43.5% | -98.8% |
| WA | 244,880 | 2,990 | 3,850 | 28.8% | -98.4% |
| Tas. | 260 | 170 | 10 | -96.5% | -97.7% |
| NT | 18,300 | 220 | 600 | 173.5% | -96.7% |
| ACT | 4,510 | 10 | 0 | -100.0% | -100.0% |
(a) To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers
Notes
New publication in response to COVID-19
This is a temporary monthly publication in response to COVID-19 and the heightened interest in traveller data. It provides information 4 weeks earlier than the regular monthly Overseas Arrivals and Departures (OAD)(cat. no. 3401.0) publication.
This publication contains provisional arrivals and departures information for the reference month based on initial border crossings into and out of Australia using the Department of Home Affairs Travel and Immigration Processing System (TRIPS). It contains early information on arrivals and departures, country of citizenship, major visa groups, and state or territory of clearance. Like Overseas Arrivals and Departures, it is the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people. Individuals who travel multiple times in a year are counted each time they cross Australia's borders.
In response to the observed drop in the numbers of movements due to the ongoing travel restrictions, month on month (MOM) comparisons have been included in the publication, in addition to the year on year (YOY) comparisons. Please note that large changes may be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers.
More detailed information including important variables such as state of residence, duration of stay, country of residence and main reason for journey (which can only be sourced later from the passenger card) will be available in the subsequent release of Overseas Arrivals and Departures scheduled for release 6 weeks after the reference month.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) commenced daily situation reports of the COVID-19 outbreak on 21 January 2020 and identified it as an international health emergency on 30 January. This was less than a month after suspected cases were reported in Wuhan, China. The Australian Government placed travel restrictions on those travelling to Australia initially from mainland China commencing 1 February. Other restrictions from other countries soon followed as the crisis worsened around the globe. Currently, all overseas travel is banned, with few exceptions. For more information, see the Smartraveller page from the Australian government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website or the News and Media page at the Australian government Department of Home Affairs website.
Forthcoming Issues
This publication will be regularly reviewed in response to external data requirements, but it is anticipated this will be continued monthly while COVID-19 is still impacting on travel data.
The January 2021 issue will be released on 18 February 2021
The February 2021 issue will be released on 17 March 2021
Data downloads
1. Total movement, arrivals and departures - country of citizenship
Data files
2. Total movement, arrivals and departures - visa group
Data files
3. Total movement, arrivals and departures - state of clearance
Data files
All data cubes
Data files
Previous catalogue number
This release previously used catalogue number 3401.0.55.004.