Overseas Travel Statistics, Provisional

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Provisional statistics on international travel based on initial border crossings, arriving in and departing from Australia, including tourism trips

Reference period
July 2020
Released
17/08/2020

Key statistics

  • Of the 18,300 estimated arrival trips, 10,700 were by Australian citizens.
  • Arrival trips show a 29.1% decrease compared to the previous month.
  • Of the 57,000 estimated departure trips, 12,300 were by Australian citizens.
  • Departure trips show a 42.2% increase compared to the previous month.

All arrivals - provisional estimates monthly

Provisional statistics on international travel movements of persons arriving in Australia. It is the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people.

Key statistics

All overseas arrivals to Australia in July 2020 (provisional estimates):

  • 18,300 estimated trips, 10,700 of these are Australian citizens
  • 29.1% decrease compared to the previous month and a 99.1% decrease compared to the corresponding month of the previous year
  • 8.4% of all arrivals were New Zealand citizens, the largest group apart from Australian citizens returning home
  • 9.4% of all arrivals were those arriving on temporary other visas.
     

All arrivals - by citizenship

The five largest countries of citizenship (excluding Australian) for all arrivals to Australia in July 2020 were:

  • New Zealand (1,500), decreasing 43.6% compared to the previous month
  • UK (630), decreasing 20.5%
  • China (620), decreasing 48.1%
  • USA (560), increasing 21.7%
  • India (480), decreasing 64.7%.
     

1.3 All arrivals - top 10 countries of citizenship - provisional estimates(a)

Country of citizenshipJul-19Jun-20Jul-20Jun-20 to Jul-20  % changeJul-19 to Jul-20  % change
New Zealand171,8602,7401,540-43.6%-99.1%
UK(b)66,050800630-20.5%-99.0%
China(c)187,8301,190620-48.1%-99.7%
USA63,09046056021.7%-99.1%
India53,6301,370480-64.7%-99.1%
Malaysia40,86070290307.1%-99.3%
Philippines19,120290220-24.7%-98.9%
Indonesia26,130210200-7.9%-99.2%
Pakistan4,120430150-65.7%-96.4%
Singapore26,700140400.7%-99.5%

a. To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
b. Includes the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
c. Excludes SARs & Taiwan
Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers
 

All arrivals - by visa group

The three largest visa groups arriving in Australia in July 2020 were:

  • Temporary other visas (1,700), decreasing 17.1% compared to the previous month
  • Permanent other visas (1,200), decreasing 32.8%
  • Permanent skilled visas (1,000), decreasing 52.8%.
     

1.4 All arrivals - visa groups - provisional estimates(a)

Visa GroupJul-19Jun-20Jul-20Jun-20 to Jul-20  % changeJul-19 to Jul-20  % change
Permanent Family Visas22,1001,540880-43.3%-96.0%
Permanent Other Visas59,6001,7801,200-32.8%-98.0%
Permanent Skilled Visas48,5702,1901,030-52.8%-97.9%
Temporary Other Visas35,0202,0701,720-17.1%-95.1%
Temporary Skilled Visas22,28019027046.0%-98.8%
Temporary Student Visas150,6906040-24.6%-100.0%
Temporary Visitor Visas479,8601,160900-22.2%-99.8%
Temporary Work Visas16,4204040-2.6%-99.8%

a. To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
 

All arrivals - by state or territory of clearance

All international travellers must be processed and cleared by Australia's Border Force via specific seaports or airports around the country. This information provides the state or territory of clearance for each traveller.

For July 2020 when comparing to the previous month, increases were recorded for:

  • WA (64.6%)
  • SA (31.9%)
     

Decreases were recorded for:

  • Vic. (99.6%)
  • ACT (95.9%)
  • Qld (34.1%)
  • NT (12.8%)
  • NSW (3.9%)
     

1.5 All arrivals - state or territory of clearance - provisional estimates(a)

State of ClearanceJul-19Jun-20Jul-20Jun-20 to Jul-20  % changeJul-19 to Jul-20  % change
NSW772,04011,67011,220-3.9%-98.5%
Vic.557,1806,36030-99.6%-100.0%
Qld393,6504,5002,970-34.1%-99.2%
SA56,28029038031.9%-99.3%
WA211,5601,7602,90064.6%-98.6%
Tas.000--
NT17,990890780-12.8%-95.7%
ACT4,31030010-95.9%-99.7%

a. To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.

All departures - provisional estimates monthly

Provisional statistics on international travel movements of persons departing Australia. It is the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people.

Key statistics

All overseas departures from Australia in July 2020 (provisional estimates):

  • 57,000 estimated trips, 12,300 of these are Australian citizens
  • 42.2% increase compared to the previous month and a 96.8% decrease compared to the corresponding month of the previous year
  • 11.6% of all departures were Chinese citizens
  • 21.5% of all departures were those leaving on temporary other visas.
     

All departures - by citizenship

The five largest countries of citizenship (excluding Australian) for all departures from Australia in July 2020 were:

  • China (6,600), increasing 59.0% compared to the previous month
  • India (5,500), increasing 172.7%
  • New Zealand (3,800), increasing 4.8%
  • UK (3,600), increasing 29.1%
  • Malaysia (2,200), increasing 460.5%.
     

Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers
 

2.3 All departures - top 10 countries of citizenship - provisional estimates(a)

Country of citizenshipJul-19Jun-20Jul-20Jun-20 to Jul-20  % changeJul-19 to Jul-20  % change
China(b)130,0904,1606,61059.0%-94.9%
India44,1502,0105,490172.7%-87.6%
New Zealand167,3103,6203,7904.8%-97.7%
UK(c)58,7502,8203,64029.1%-93.8%
Malaysia37,8704002,240460.5%-94.1%
France17,5701,2301,89053.0%-89.3%
USA68,2901,3201,49013.1%-97.8%
Germany16,0309901,44046.3%-91.0%
South Korea22,4601,2901,4209.6%-93.7%
Indonesia29,6805401,210121.5%-95.9%

a. To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
b. Excludes SARs & Taiwan.
c. Includes the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers.
 

All departures - by visa group

The three largest visa groups departing from Australia in July 2020 were:

  • Temporary other visas (12,300), increasing 38.0% compared to the previous month
  • Temporary student visas (12,100), increasing 62.8%
  • Temporary visitor visas (6,400), increasing 7.1%.
     

2.4 All departures - visa groups - provisional estimates(a)

Visa GroupJul-19Jun-20Jul-20Jun-20 to Jul-20  % changeJul-19 to Jul-20  % change
Permanent Family Visas22,40043067054.2%-97.0%
Permanent Other Visas53,6609301,47058.0%-97.3%
Permanent Skilled Visas39,7206601,13071.7%-97.2%
Temporary Other Visas41,2108,89012,27038.0%-70.2%
Temporary Skilled Visas19,5901,1202,02080.0%-89.7%
Temporary Student Visas65,3307,45012,13062.8%-81.4%
Temporary Visitor Visas443,170  6,010   6,440  7.1%  -98.5%
Temporary Work Visas21,6403,8004,94029.8%-77.2%

a. To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
 

All departures - by state or territory of clearance

All international travellers must be processed and cleared by Australia's Border Force via specific seaports or airports around the country. This information provides the state or territory of clearance for each traveller.

For July 2020 when comparing to the previous month, increases were recorded for:

  • SA (598.1%)
  • WA (85.4%)
  • Vic. (60.6%)
  • NSW (34.9%)
  • ACT (30.0%)
  • Qld (17.3%)
  • NT (12.5%)
     

Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers
 

2.5 All departures - state or territory of clearance - provisional estimates(a)

State of ClearanceJul-19Jun-20Jul-20Jun-20 to Jul-20  % changeJul-19 to Jul-20  % change
NSW688,87022,38030,20034.9%-95.6%
Vic.478,1309,31014,96060.6%-96.9%
Qld336,1405,4706,42017.3%-98.1%
SA50,17050370598.1%-99.3%
WA189,0302,5104,65085.4%-97.5%
Tas.000--
NT14,74033037012.5%-97.5%
ACT4,300203030.0%-99.4%

a. To confidentialise, estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Note: Large percentage changes can be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers
 

New publication in response to COVID-19

This is a temporary monthly publication in response to COVID-19 and the heightened interest in traveller data. It provides information 4 weeks earlier than the regular monthly Overseas Arrivals and Departures (OAD)(cat. no. 3401.0) publication.

This publication contains provisional arrivals and departures information for the reference month based on initial border crossings into and out of Australia using the Department of Home Affairs Travel and Immigration Processing System (TRIPS). It contains early information on arrivals and departures, country of citizenship, major visa groups, and state or territory of clearance. Like Overseas Arrivals and Departures, it is the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people. Individuals who travel multiple times in a year are counted each time they cross Australia's borders.

In response to the observed drop in the numbers of movements due to the ongoing travel restrictions, month on month (MOM) comparisons have been included in the publication, in addition to the year on year (YOY) comparisons. Please note that large changes may be observed due to monthly fluctuations of small numbers.

More detailed information including important variables such as state of residence, duration of stay, country of residence and main reason for journey (which can only be sourced later from the passenger card) will be available in the subsequent release of Overseas Arrivals and Departures scheduled for release 6 weeks after the reference month.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) commenced daily situation reports of the COVID-19 outbreak on 21 January 2020 and identified it as an international health emergency on 30 January. This was less than a month after suspected cases were reported in Wuhan, China. The Australian Government placed travel restrictions on those travelling to Australia initially from mainland China commencing 1 February. Other restrictions from other countries soon followed as the crisis worsened around the globe. Currently, all overseas travel is banned, with few exceptions. For more information, see the Smartraveller page from the Australian government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website or the News and Media page at the Australian government Department of Home Affairs website.

Data downloads

1. Total movement, arrivals and departures - country of citizenship

2. Total movement, arrivals and departures - visa group

3. Total movement, arrivals and departures - state of clearance

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 3401.0.55.004.

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