Fact Sheet 2 – Key Facts in Immigration

Continued from previous page

2009–10 Humanitarian Program

As a member of the international community, Australia is committed to sharing the responsibility for protecting refugees worldwide and resolving refugee situations through the system of international protection. A key element of this commitment is Australia's Humanitarian Program, which provides resettlement to people overseas in humanitarian need and protection to people who arrive in Australia and are determined to be refugees.
See: Fact Sheet 60 Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program

In 2009–10 the Humanitarian Program has increased to 13 750 places, which comprises two main categories:

• A total of 6000 places have been allocated to the Refugee category, which is for people who are subject to persecution in their home country and who are in need of resettlement.
• A total of 7750 places have been allocated to 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 needs. Onshore Protection visas are granted to people who apply from within Australia and are found to be refugees.

For 2009–10 the government will continue to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in focusing on people from Africa, Asia and the Middle East and South West Asia. The target for Woman at Risk visa grants will also increase to 12 per cent of the Refugee category allocation.

In 2008–09, a total of 13 507 visas were granted under the Humanitarian Program. 6499 visas were granted to people in the Refugee category, including 788 Woman at Risk visas. In addition, 4511 Special Humanitarian Program visas were granted to people offshore. A total of 2497 visas were granted to people onshore, including 2378 initial Protection visa grants.

Visitors

Between July 2008 and June 2009 a total of 3 328 078 Visitor visas were granted offshore.

In 2007–08, 3 609 928 were granted.

In 2006–07 international visitors to Australia generated tourism export earnings of $22.4 billion, amounting to 10.4 per cent of Australia's total export earnings (Tourism Industry Facts and Figures at a Glance June 2008; published by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism).

Statistics on the number of Visitor visas granted to the major nationalities of visitors to Australia from 2003–04 to 2007–08 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 320 368 student visas were granted in 2008–09.
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 2008–09, six sponsorship applications and 557 visa applications 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 2008–09, 4946 Occupational Trainee visas were granted.
See: Fact Sheet 52a Occupational Trainee Program Visa

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 offshore place, 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 web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

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

Last Reviewed September 2009.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.