Overseas Travel Statistics, Provisional

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.

All overseas arrivals to Australia in January 2021 (provisional estimates):

• 31,700 estimated trips, 14,100 of these are Australian citizens
• 9.7% decrease compared to the previous month and a 98.6% decrease compared to the corresponding month of the previous year
• 13.8% of all arrivals were New Zealand citizens, the largest group apart from Australian citizens returning home
• 12.1% of all arrivals were those arriving on temporary other visas.

The five largest countries of citizenship (excluding Australian) for all arrivals to Australia in January 2021 were:

• New Zealand (4,400), decreasing 11.4% compared to the previous month
• China (1,500), increasing 12.8%
• India (1,500), decreasing 13.4%
• UK (1,100), decreasing 3.9%
• USA (890), increasing 13.9%.

The three largest visa groups arriving in Australia in January 2021 were:

• Temporary other visas (3,800), increasing 86.9% compared to the previous month
• Permanent skilled visas (2,800), increasing 1.0%
• Permanent other visas (1,700), decreasing 7.4%.

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 January 2021 when comparing to the previous month, increases were recorded for:

• NT (61.4%)
• SA (58.3%)
• Vic. (32.7%).

Decreases were recorded for:

• Tas. (52.8%)
• NSW (30.4%)
• WA (25.9%)
• Qld (5.8%).

Provisional statistics on international travel movements of persons departing Australia. It is the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people.

All overseas departures from Australia in January 2021 (provisional estimates):

• 42,900 estimated trips, 12,600 of these are Australian citizens
• 14.1% decrease compared to the previous month and a 97.8% decrease compared to the corresponding month of the previous year
• 17.9% of all departures were Chinese citizens
• 18.4% of all departures were those leaving on temporary student visas.

The five largest countries of citizenship (excluding Australian) for all departures from Australia in January 2021 were:

• China (7,700), decreasing 17.6% compared to the previous month
• India (5,300), decreasing 0.2%
• New Zealand (3,400), decreasing 13.8%
• Malaysia (1,000), decreasing 2.3%
• UK (800), decreasing 39.7%.

The three largest visa groups departing from Australia in January 2021 were:

• Temporary student visas (7,900), decreasing 34.4% compared to the previous month
• Temporary other visas (7,400), decreasing 12.8%
• Temporary visitor visas (6,000), increasing 4.5%.

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 January 2021 when comparing to the previous month, increases were recorded for:

• Tas. (666.7%)
• Qld (3.6%).

Decreases were recorded for:

• NT (63.3%)
• SA (23.7%)
• NSW (19.5%)
• WA (15.7%)
• Vic. (7.6%).

Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers
 

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.

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 February 2021 issue will be released on 17 March 2021

The March 2021 issue will be released on 20 April 2021

This release previously used catalogue number 3401.0.55.004.