The actual intake of Australian immigrants this fiscal year may be well below the planned quota. (photo by the Guardian)
According to the Guardian, the number of skilled immigrants and guaranteed work visas may fall sharply in the current fiscal year, possibly 25000 fewer than the 190000 planned quota, due to a decline in the number of skilled immigrants and guaranteed work visas.
Although Australia's immigration program quota has been 190000 since 2012-13, actual receipts fell to 183000 in the previous fiscal year and may be further reduced in the current fiscal year.
According to data released by the Senate Assessment Committee and visa statistics obtained by the newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act, the number of visas approved in 2017-18 is likely to be 165000, the lowest level in seven years.
As of April 30, this year, Australia issued 138086 permanent residence visas, roughly 2/3 for skilled immigrants and 1/3 for family visas. Humanitarian visas are not counted.
"this may be lower than the same period last year." Last month, Darcy (Christine Dacey), (Department of Home Affairs) 's first assistant deputy to the Home Affairs Department, told a Senate review hearing.
It is speculated that for the entire fiscal year ending June 30, it looks likely that only 165000 immigration visas will be granted.
According to data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, the number of permanent residence visas granted fell 15 percent in the first six months of the 2017-18 fiscal year, from 92477 to 78190. Most categories of visas received fewer batches than in the first six months of fiscal year 2016, especially for independent skilled immigrants and employer-guaranteed work visas.
Employer-guaranteed visa issuance fell to 16047 from 22843, largely affected by reforms to the visa system.
According to official figures, the number of independent skilled immigrant visas fell from 24289 to 20989, but the actual number is likely to be thousands fewer. Because New Zealand applicant visa (Kiwi)
Visa) had not previously included independent skilled immigrant visa data, and the number of New Zealand immigrants who received visas in 2017-18 was also included, with far less than 20989 skilled immigrants from other countries.
In addition, the number of guaranteed immigrants in most states, territories and remote areas also declined, although the number of (Business Innovation and Investment Visa) approvals for business innovation and investment visas remained virtually unchanged.
Permanent immigrants in Australia
In 2017, permanent residence in the top 10 countries of origin of immigrants. (data: Australian Immigration and Border Protection Agency)
Over the past 20 years, the main countries of origin of permanent immigrants have changed, from most immigrants from Britain, South Africa and other places to China and India.
Australia's population will exceed 40 million by 2060, according to the 2016 Productivity Council (Productivity Commission) report, arguing that Australia's future size will depend largely on the country's immigration policy.
Since 2005, immigration has contributed more to population growth than Australian-born babies. Migrants now make up about 60% of Australia's population.
