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 May 2021 (provisional estimates):

• 115,600 estimated arrivals, an increase of 60,800 compared with the previous month
• May 2021 arrivals decreased 92.7 per cent when compared with pre-COVID levels in May 2019
• 44,600 Australian citizens arrivals (39%), 9,900 permanent visa holders (9%), 52,300 New Zealand citizens (45%) and 10,100 temporary visa holders (9%).

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

• New Zealand (52,300)
• UK (2,400)
• China (1,900)
• India (1,400)
• USA (1,100).

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

• Temporary other visas (4,600)
• Permanent skilled visas (3,800)
• Temporary visitor visas (3,300).

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 2021, the states receiving the largest number of arrivals were:

• NSW (42,300)
• Qld (35,100)
• Vic. (26,600).

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 May 2021 (provisional estimates):

• 108,300 estimated departures, an increase of 43,200 compared with the previous month
• May 2021 departures decreased 93.4 per cent when compared with pre-COVID levels in May 2019
• 41,400 Australian citizens departures (38%), 6,000 permanent visa holders (6%), 48,500 New Zealand citizens (45%) and 14,200 temporary visa holders (13%).

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

• New Zealand (48,500)
• China (4,100)
• UK (2,500)
• USA (1,400)
• India (980).

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

• Temporary other visas (7,600)
• Temporary visitor visas (3,000)
• Permanent other visas (2,600).

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 2021, the states receiving the largest number of departures were:

• NSW (43,300)
• Qld (30,400)
• Vic. (25,400).

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.

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 temporary product was introduced to provide more timely travel data in response to COVID-19. In line with ABS work program changes announced on 20 April 2021, this product will cease in July 2021. 

For further information see "Changes to the ABS statistical work program".

The June 2021 issue will be released on 14 July 2021

Provisional travel data for total overseas arrivals and total overseas departures will be added to the monthly Overseas Arrivals and Departures publication from the June issue scheduled for release on the 17 August 2021. 

This release previously used catalogue number 3401.0.55.004.