3412.0 - Migration, Australia, 2015-16 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/03/2017   
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NET OVERSEAS MIGRATION

Net overseas migration (NOM) is the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia and emigration from Australia. Data provided by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) are used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to calculate the official NOM estimates each quarter.

In 2015-16, NOM increased from the previous year, recording an end of financial year estimate of 182,200 persons, which was 3.0% (5,300 persons) more than in 2014-15 and 1.0% (1,800 persons) more than the dip experienced in 2010-11 when NOM added 180,400 persons to Australia for the year.

Graph Image for 2.1 Net Overseas Migration (NOM)(a)(b) - Australia

Footnote(s): (a) Contains a break in series at 30 June 2006 - see paragraphs 22-23 of the Explanatory Notes. (b) Estimates from September quarter 2014 onwards are preliminary - see paragraph 9 of the Explanatory Notes.

Source(s): Australian Historical Population Statistics (cat. no. 3105.0.65.001); Migration, Australia (cat. no. 3412.0)


In 2015-16, NOM contributed the greatest number of people to the most populous states: New South Wales with a net increase of 71,200 persons, followed by Victoria (65,000 persons), Queensland (20,000 persons) and Western Australia (13,600 persons). Northern Territory had the lowest net increase with 400 persons (see Table 2.2). For the most up-to-date official estimates of NOM by state and territory produced by the ABS see Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0). For the most up-to-date forecasts of NOM produced by DIBP see The Outlook for Net Overseas Migration at: http://www.border.gov.au/about/reports-publications/research-statistics/statistics


2.2 NOM Selected characteristics - State & territory - 2015-16(a)
NOM
NOM ARRIVALS
NOM DEPARTURES
Overseas arrivals
Median age
Sex ratio(b)
Overseas departures
Median age
Sex ratio(b)
State or territory
no.
%
no.
years
ratio
no.
years
ratio
NSW
71 161
39.1
170 959
26.6
96.6
99 798
29.3
100.1
Vic.
65 007
35.7
138 000
25.5
95.6
72 993
28.7
99.9
Qld
20 019
11.0
81 994
26.1
93.6
61 975
28.3
99.6
SA
9 163
5.0
21 573
25.7
96.2
12 410
28.1
102.9
WA
13 640
7.5
52 694
26.8
99.8
39 054
29.2
109.4
Tas.
1 143
0.6
3 885
26.8
98.5
2 742
29.0
102.4
NT
420
0.2
5 560
27.6
112.4
5 140
28.9
153.7
ACT
1 607
0.9
7 993
26.1
98.2
6 386
29.3
102.3
Australia(c)
182 165
100.0
482 665
26.2
96.3
300 500
28.9
102.0
(a) Estimates are preliminary - see paragraph 9 of the Explanatory Notes.
(b) Males per 100 females.
(c) Includes Other Territories.


An individual's actual travel behaviour and associated characteristics including visa type are only available from final NOM data as these can only be accurately determined at the end of the 16 month reference period following a traveller's initial border crossing.

The DIBP manages and grants visas each year in accordance with relevant legislation government planning and policy. It is important to note that there is a difference between when and how many visas are granted by DIBP; and when and how they may impact on NOM and therefore Australia's estimated resident population (ERP). For example for many visas there can be a lag between a visa being granted and the actual use of that visa by the applicant on entering Australia. Also some travellers who have been granted permanent or long-term temporary visas may end up staying in Australia for a short period of stay or not at all. In addition travellers may also apply for and be granted a different visa whilst in Australia or overseas. However without an additional border crossing within the reference quarter to capture a traveller's change of visa the NOM system is unable to show these occurrences.

Table 2.3 shows a breakdown of the types of visa groups which have contributed to final NOM. It shows that temporary visa holders are the main contributors to NOM in the 2014-15 financial year.


2.3 NOM by major groupings and visa(a) - Australia - 2014-15
NOM ARRIVAL
NOM DEPARTURE
NOM
Major groupings and visa
no.
%
no.
%
no.
%
Temporary visas
266 715
56.5
134 896
46.0
131 819
73.8
Vocational education and training sector
11 225
2.4
8 750
3.0
2 475
1.4
Higher education sector
85 179
18.0
25 371
8.6
59 808
33.5
Student other
25 950
5.5
11 025
3.8
14 925
8.4
Temporary work skilled (subclass 457)
31 837
6.7
21 582
7.4
10 255
5.7
Visitor(b)
52 855
11.2
15 414
5.3
37 441
21.0
Working holiday
51 885
11.0
28 582
9.7
23 303
13.0
Other temporary visas
7 784
1.6
24 172
8.2
-16 388
-9.2
Permanent Visas
92 044
19.5
21 545
7.3
70 499
39.5
Family
32 367
6.9
6 231
2.1
26 136
14.6
Skill
42 344
9.0
8 758
3.0
33 586
18.8
Special eligibility and humanitarian
11 740
2.5
152
0.1
11 588
6.5
Other permanent visas
5 593
1.2
6 404
2.2
-811
-0.5
New Zealand citizen (subclass 444)
31 874
6.8
27 652
9.4
4 222
2.4
Australian citizen
72 646
15.4
98 825
33.7
-26 179
-14.7
Other(c)
8 694
1.8
10 473
3.6
-1 779
-1.0
Total
471 973
100.0
293 391
100.0
178 582
100.0
(a) The visa category information in this table represents the number of visas based on the visa type at the time of a traveller's specific movement. It is this specific movement that has been used to calculate NOM. Therefore the number of visas in this table should not be confused with information on the number of visas granted by DIBP.
(b) Visitor visas include tourists business visitors medical treatment and other.
(c) Includes residents returning (i.e. non Australian citizens who have a permanent resident visa) and visa unknown.