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 statistics
All overseas arrivals to Australia in May 2020 (provisional estimates):
- 19,400 estimated trips, 11,100 of these are Australian citizens
- 98.8% decrease compared to the same month last year
- 11.9% of all arrivals were New Zealand citizens, the largest group apart from Australian citizens returning home
- 8.4% 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 May 2020 were:
- New Zealand (2,300), decreasing 98.5% compared to the same month last year
- India (1,300), decreasing 97.9%
- China (620), decreasing 99.5%
- UK (540), decreasing 99.0%
- Pakistan (310), decreasing 92.1%.
1.3 All arrivals - top 10 countries of citizenship - provisional estimates(a)
| Country of citizenship | May-19 | May-20 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 152,810 | 2,320 | -98.5% |
| India | 62,220 | 1,310 | -97.9% |
| China(b) | 123,570 | 620 | -99.5% |
| UK(c) | 52,270 | 540 | -99.0% |
| Pakistan | 3,900 | 310 | -92.1% |
| USA | 56,840 | 300 | -99.5% |
| Philippines | 23,010 | 250 | -98.9% |
| Afghanistan | 1,300 | 220 | -83.0% |
| South Africa | 5,110 | 170 | -96.7% |
| Nepal | 6,750 | 150 | -97.8% |
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 arrivals - by visa group
The three largest visa groups arriving in Australia in May 2020 were:
- Permanent skilled visas (1,600), decreasing 96.2% compared to the same month last year
- Permanent family visas (1,300), decreasing 95.0%
- Permanent other visas (1,200), decreasing 97.8%.
1.4 All arrivals - visa groups - provisional estimates(a)
| Visa Group | May-19 | May-20 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Family Visas | 25,010 | 1,260 | -95.0% |
| Permanent Other Visas | 55,250 | 1,190 | -97.8% |
| Permanent Skilled Visas | 42,980 | 1,640 | -96.2% |
| Temporary Other Visas | 30,160 | 940 | -96.9% |
| Temporary Skilled Visas | 19,640 | 190 | -99.0% |
| Temporary Student Visas | 36,810 | 40 | -99.9% |
| Temporary Visitor Visas | 457,890 | 750 | -99.8% |
| Temporary Work Visas | 20,720 | 30 | -99.9% |
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 May 2020 when comparing to the same month of the previous year, decreases were recorded for:
- SA (100.0%)
- Tas. (100.0%)
- WA (99.3%)
- Qld (99.3%)
- Vic. (98.6%)
- NSW (98.5%)
- NT (98.4%)
- ACT (93.4%).
1.5 All arrivals - state or territory of clearance - provisional estimates(a)
| State of clearance | May-19 | May-20 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 642,050 | 9,750 | -98.5% |
| Vic. | 436,940 | 5,920 | -98.6% |
| Qld | 292,120 | 2,150 | -99.3% |
| SA | 39,090 | 0 | -100.0% |
| WA | 163,220 | 1,170 | -99.3% |
| Tas. | 0 | 0 | -100.0% |
| NT | 13,330 | 210 | -98.4% |
| ACT | 3,130 | 210 | -93.4% |
a. To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.