PrintOutput 1.1 Migration and temporary entry
Overview
This output has eight components:
1.1.4 Visitors and working holiday makers
1.1.6 Temporary residents (economic)
1.1.7 Temporary residents (non-economic)
The overall objectives of the migration and temporary entry programs are to contribute to Australia’s economic, demographic and social well-being by facilitating:
- the permanent entry or stay of skilled migrants who have the skills and characteristics that will enable them to integrate readily into Australia’s skilled labour market
- the permanent entry or stay of close family members including the partners and children of Australian citizens and permanent residents and other close family in defined circumstances
- the temporary entry or stay of skilled people who will contribute to Australia’s economic growth by working in Australia under employer sponsored arrangements
- the temporary entry or stay of people for the purposes of study, tourism, working holidays or a range of more specialised activities which further Australia’s social, cultural, economic and international relations.
Highlights
Skilled migration
The Skill Stream planning level in 2007–08 was initially set at 102 500 places and then increased by a further 6000 places in early 2008 (to 108 500) places to help address skill shortages. Priority for these places was given to employer sponsored visas, state and territory sponsored visas, and occupations in national demand. The Family Stream planning level remained at 50 000 places.
The Migration Program planning levels were met, with 158 630 people granted migration visas, comprising 68.42 per cent under the Skill Stream, 31.44 per cent under the Family Stream and 0.14 per cent under the special eligibility component. This outcome represented a variation of only 0.1 per cent from the revised planning level.
The volume of employer sponsored visas continued to increase through 2007–08 with an outcome of 23 760, an increase of 43.2 per cent over 2006–07.
The outcome for visas granted under the suite of visas known as state specific and regional migration visas was 26 162 or 24 per cent of the Skill Stream overall.
The proportion of primary applicants in the Skill Stream who had occupations on the Migration Occupations in Demand List increased to a record 54.5 per cent.
These outcomes support the broad government objective of using immigration to help meet the needs of an expanding economy and a tight labour market at a time of record low skilled unemployment. The level of targeting within the Skill Stream continued to increase in 2007–08 with the objective of giving a relative advantage to skilled migrants whose skills are most in demand.
The Temporary Skilled Migration Program continued to show strong growth with 110 570 subclass 457 visas granted, over 58 000 to primary applicants.
The department’s Regional Outreach Officers continued to play an integral role in promoting and supporting regional migration initiatives, working directly with regional employers. Industry Outreach Officers worked with peak industry bodies to promote mechanisms for the entry of skilled migrants to employers. The department continued the Australia Needs Skills expo program, holding one overseas expo in London and one in Sydney, helping to connect employers with skilled migrants. Both expos were well attended and received favourable feedback from employers and state and territory governments.
Temporary entry
During 2007–08, the department continued to design and strengthen internal systems to improve the security and integrity of Australia’s border. The development of more efficient visa application facilities for clients was also implemented. The online tourist visa service (e676) autogrant, which enables quicker decision making and label-free travel, was expanded. The facility was released to Cyprus in July 2007, Slovakia in March 2008 and Poland, Romania and Bulgaria in June 2008. This means that all European Union nationals now have access to autogranted tourist visas when applying to visit Australia for up to three months.
The Working Holiday and Work and Holiday visa programs continued to experience strong growth in 2007–08, with157 574 visas granted, onshore and offshore. This was underpinned by promotional activities, expansion of reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangements to include the USA, and an increasing number of people staying on in Australia for a further 12 months on a second Working Holiday visa.
Students
From 26 April 2008, student visa processing was streamlined to include all entitlements in the initial student visa grant. While the visa entitlements remained the same, this change removed the need for a second application by students to access their work rights. This change has cut red tape for students and was welcomed by the international education industry. The change was made possible through improved system links between the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and education providers.
The department also expanded visa label-free arrangements to further groups of students. Label-free arrangements were extended to countries in the Assessment Level 2–4 eVisa trial, namely India, Indonesia and Thailand. These arrangements mean that students do not have to obtain a visa label and can instead rely on the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service to check visa information and entitlements.
A communications strategy targeting students through campus information campaigns and seminars has been used to encourage label-free travel and the use of VEVO to check visa information and entitlements. This campaign has resulted in a significant increase in its use.
Research and publications
In 2007–08, independent research commissioned by the department confirmed the significant long-term contribution of permanent and temporary business entry migrants to the Federal Budget. This research by Access Economics is available on the department’s website.
The department also commissioned research to analyse Australia’s future population directions and labour supply, and to examine the role of immigration in meeting future labour force needs. This research should be completed in 2008–09.
Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia
The Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia is a survey of approximately 10 000 primary applicants from the Family and Skill streams who have been surveyed in two waves. Wave one was run approximately six months after arrival or grant of visa onshore and wave two was run 12 months later.
The survey found that the unemployment rates of primary applicants fell substantially over time and that migrants with good English language skills had the best employment outcomes and their earnings were higher. This report can be found on the department’s website.
Special activities
Throughout 2007–08, the department worked closely with World Youth Day organisers in Sydney and group leaders around the world to facilitate the entry of international pilgrims for the event. The usual application fee for tourist visas was waived for pilgrims. Those eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority could register to attend World Youth Day and apply for their visa at the same time.
During 2007–08, the department granted 64 525 visas for World Youth Day. A large number of other pilgrims obtained their visas independently through the department’s other services.
Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme
In March 2008, the department led an interdepartmental committee that included the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Treasury, Department of Finance and Deregulation, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and AusAID to develop a pilot program for seasonal workers from Pacific island countries. The government was considering a pilot to examine whether a seasonal worker program could contribute to foreign aid objectives and also assist Australian employers. A delegation of senior government officials, led by the secretary, travelled to New Zealand in May 2008 to learn more about its Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme. Consultations with key stakeholders were also undertaken to test the demand for labour and receptiveness to a pilot program.
The Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme was formally announced by the government on 17 August 2008, with the pilot likely to commence in late 2008.
