Fact Sheet 2 – Key Facts in Immigration

Continued from previous page

2010–11 Humanitarian Program

The Humanitarian Program for 2010–11 is set at 13 750 places and comprises:

• A total of 6000 places for refugees from overseas who are subject to persecution in their home country and who are in need of resettlement. This category includes a 12 per cent target for Woman at Risk visas.
• A total of 7750 places for 'other humanitarian'. This allocation includes places for the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category, for people outside their home country who are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights in their home country. This allocation also includes Onshore Protection visas granted to people who apply for protection in Australia and are found to be refugees.

In 2009–10, a total of 13 770 visas were granted under the Humanitarian Program. A total of 6003 visas were granted to people in the Refugee category, including 806 Woman at Risk visas. In addition, 3233 Special Humanitarian Program visas were granted to people outside Australia. A total of 4534 visas were granted to people in Australia, including 4515 initial protection visa grants.

Visitors

Visitor visas facilitate the entry of tourists and business people to Australia for a short-term period. Tourists include people visiting Australia for a holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational reasons, to visit relatives, friends or for other short-term non-work purposes. Business visitors include people attending a conference, negotiation or exploratory business visit.

There are a number of Visitor visa options available for people intending to visit Australia for tourism or business purposes, including a range of electronic options for eligible passport holders.
See: Fact Sheet 53 - Australia's Entry System for Visitors

In 2009–10 a total of 3 416 576 Visitor visas were granted to people outside Australia, compared to 3 328 078 in 2008–09.

Statistics on the number of Visitor visas granted to the major nationalities of visitors to Australia from 2003–04 to 2009–10 are available.
See: Visitor visa statistics

Working holiday

The Working Holiday program allows young people to experience Australian culture and lifestyle through an extended holiday and short-term employment, with special focus on regional Australia.

The program is an integral part of Australia's tourism industry and also supports the Australian economy by providing supplementary labour for industries requiring short-term casual workers.
See: Fact Sheet 49 - Working Holiday Program

Work and holiday

The Work and Holiday program is similar to the Working Holiday program, except that Work and Holiday visa applicants must meet educational requirements, have functional English and, in some cases, provide a letter of approval from their government agreeing to their stay in Australia.
See: Fact Sheet 49a - Work and Holiday Program

Temporary residence

The Temporary Residence program is designed to help Australian employers recruit skilled workers from overseas on a temporary basis. It also provides for the entry of people who can contribute to our cultural or international relations, such as working holiday, entertainers and sportspeople.
See: Fact Sheet 47 - Temporary Residence in Australia

Overseas students

The student visa program enables overseas students to come to Australia to undertake full-time study in registered courses. A total of 270 499 student visas were granted in 2009–10.
See: Fact Sheet 50 - Overseas Students in Australia

Professional Development visa program

The Professional Development visa allows overseas professionals, managers, and government officials to enter Australia to undertake tailored professional development training programs that are primarily classroom-based.

In 2009–10, six sponsorship applications and 531 Professional Development visas were granted.
See: Fact Sheet 51 - Professional Development visa

Occupational Trainee visa program

The Occupational Trainee visa program allows people from overseas to undertake workplace-based training in Australia on a temporary basis. The training must provide people with additional or enhanced skills in the nominated occupations, tertiary studies or field of expertise.

In 2009–10, 3726 Occupational Trainee visas were granted.
See: Fact Sheet 52a - Occupational Trainee Visa Program

Settlement programs

The department funds a range of settlement services aimed at assisting approved migrants and humanitarian entrants. These services focus on building self-reliance, developing English language skills and fostering connections with mainstream services as soon as possible after arrival in Australia.
See: Fact Sheet 96 - Eligibility for Settlement Services

Irregular maritime arrivals

People who arrive by boat in Australia without authority (irregular maritime arrivals), either on the mainland or at an excised place outside Australia, are detained and transferred to Christmas Island while their reasons for being in Australia are investigated.

Irregular maritime arrivals undergo a comprehensive assessment process, including security checking to establish if they have a legitimate reason for staying in Australia.

Overstayers

When people enter Australia on a temporary visa, they give an undertaking to comply with the conditions of their visa, including the requirement that they leave Australia before their visa expires.

However, a small number of people fail to depart Australia prior to their temporary visa expiring and they become overstayers.
See: Fact Sheet 86 - Overstayers and Other Unlawful Non-citizens

Further information is available on the department's website.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national general enquiries line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Recorded information is available outside these hours.

Fact Sheet 2. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.

Last Reviewed March 2011.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2011.