GLOSSARY

Australian resident

An Australian resident is self defined as reported by travellers when completing an incoming or outgoing passenger card.

Category of movement

Overseas Arrivals and Departures data are classified according to length of stay (in Australia or overseas), as recorded by travellers on passenger cards, or derived with reference to previous border crossings. There are three main categories of movement and 10 sub-categories:

• permanent movement;
  • permanent arrival (PA)
  • permanent departure (PD)
  
  
• long-term movement - has a duration of stay (or absence) of one year or more; and
  • long-term resident returning (LTRR)
  • long-term visitor arrival (LTVA)
  • long-term resident departure (LTRD)
  • long-term visitor departure (LTVD)
  
  
• short-term movement - has a duration of stay (or absence) of less than one year;
  • short-term resident returning (STRR)
  • short-term visitor arrival (STVA)
  • short-term resident departure (STRD)
  • short-term visitor departure (STVD).

Duration of stay

For overseas visitors arriving in Australia and Australian residents departing, duration of stay refers to travellers' stated length of stay (in Australia or overseas) as recorded on the passenger card. For overseas visitors departing Australia and Australian residents returning, duration of stay is the true recorded length of stay (in Australia or overseas) derived from the Travel and Immigration Processing System (TRIPS).

Intended length of stay

On arrival in Australia, all overseas visitors are asked to state their ‘intended length of stay in Australia’. On departure from Australia, all Australian residents are asked to state their ‘intended length of stay abroad’.

Long-term arrivals

Long-term arrivals comprise long-term visitor arrivals (LTVA) and long-term resident returns (LTRR).

Long-term departures

Long-term departures comprise long-term resident departures (LTRD) and long-term visitor departures (LTVD).

Long-term resident departures (LTRD)

Australian residents who state that they intend to stay abroad for 12 months or more (but not permanently).

Long-term resident returns (LTRR)

Australian residents returning after a recorded absence of 12 months or more overseas.

Long-term visitor arrivals (LTVA)

Overseas visitors who state that they intend to stay in Australia for 12 months or more (but not permanently).

Long-term visitor departures (LTVD)

Overseas visitors departing after a recorded stay of 12 months or more in Australia.

Overseas arrivals and departures

Overseas arrivals and departures (OAD) refer to the recorded arrival or departure of persons through Australian air or sea ports (excluding operational air and ships' crew). Statistics on OAD relate to the number of movements of travellers rather than the number of travellers (i.e. the multiple movements of individual persons during a given reference period are all counted).

Passenger card

Passenger cards are completed by nearly all passengers arriving in, or departing from, Australia. Information including occupation, nationality, intended length of stay, main reason for journey, and state or territory of intended stay/residence is collected. An example of the current Australian passenger card is provided with the monthly Overseas Arrivals and Departures (cat. no. 3401.0) publication under the Explanatory Notes tab.

Permanent arrivals

Permanent arrivals (settlers) comprise:

• travellers who hold permanent visas (regardless of stated intended duration of stay);
• New Zealand citizens who indicate on their passenger card an intention to migrate permanently; and
• those who are otherwise identified as eligible to settle.

Permanent departures

Permanent departures are:

• Australian residents (including former settlers) who on departure state on their passenger card that they are departing permanently.

Relative Root Mean Square Error (RRMSE)

The RRMSE is an estimate of accuracy for the modelled values, based on how well the model performs in comparison with known historical data. For more information see paragraphs 7 to 13 of the Explanatory Notes.

Resident

See Australian resident.

Short-term arrivals

Short-term arrivals comprise short-term visitor arrivals (STVA) and short-term resident returns (STRR).

Short-term departures

Short-term departures comprise short-term resident departures (STRD) and short-term visitor departures (STVD).

Short-term resident departures (STRD)

Australian residents who intend to stay abroad for less than 12 months.

Short-term resident returns (STRR)

Australian residents returning after a recorded stay of less than 12 months overseas.

Short-term visitor arrivals (STVA)

Overseas visitors who intend to stay in Australia for less than 12 months.

Short-term visitor departures (STVD)

Overseas visitors departing after a recorded stay of less than 12 months in Australia.

State or territory of residence/stay

State or territory in which overseas visitors lived/stayed or the state or territory in which residents live/lived.

On arrival, overseas visitors are asked on their passenger card for their state or territory of intended address in Australia. On departure from Australia, overseas visitors are asked on the passenger card for the state or territory where they spent most time.

Australian residents departing Australia are asked on their passenger card for the state or territory in which they live/lived. Residents returning to Australia are asked on their passenger card for their state or territory of intended address.

Travel and Immigration Processing System (TRIPS)

The Travel and Immigration Processing System (TRIPS) was introduced in July 1990 by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). The system contains data sourced from passports and visa permits, which along with incoming and outgoing passenger cards, are used by the ABS to collect data on overseas movements.

Visa

Permission or authority granted by the Australian government to foreign nationals to travel to, enter and/or remain in Australia for a period of time or indefinitely.

Visitor

A visitor is any traveller arriving to or departing from Australia who is not a resident. A visitor can be either short-term (less than 12 months) or long-term (12 months or more).