Australia’s permanent and long-term arrivals
When the ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) reports permanent and long-term arrivals, they’re talking about people entering Australia intending to stay 12 months or more (or permanently) regardless of their citizenship or visa type.
These figures reflect Australia’s migration settings, education demand, and humanitarian commitments, and they include many people contributing to our workforce, families, and communities.
Monthly fluctuations occur due to processing times and seasonal patterns.
Here’s what the data tells us:
The latest numbers:
* 447,620 net permanent & long-term arrivals in the 12 months to May 2025, the second-highest annual total on record.
* 33,230 arrivals in May alone, the highest May total ever recorded.
* Temporary visitors & residents (short stays) actually recorded a slight net outflow, but long-term arrivals are driving the growth.
Who are these arrivals?
They generally fall into these main visa categories:
- Permanent Visas Estimated monthly contribution: ~21,500 visas (mostly skilled & family)
- Skilled migration visas: 189, 190, 186
- Family visas: Partner (820/801, 309/100), Parent, Child
- Humanitarian visas: Refugee & Special Humanitarian (200–204, 866)
- New Zealand SCV holders – Arriving on subclass 444 visas, often staying long-term: estimated 3,000 per month
2. Temporary Long-Term Visas (12+ months)
These are temporary but intended for stays of a year or more. Short-term visitors & returning residents recorded a net outflow despite high volumes — over 1.6 million arrivals & departures each way.
- International students (subclass 500): ~26,210 arrivals in May.
- Temporary Skilled (TSS 482) & Graduate (485): ~1–2,000 monthly.
- Visitor and Tourist visas: Several hundred thousand each month.
- Bridging visas: a few hundred monthly.
In short, Australia’s permanent and long-term arrivals are not just numbers, they represent skilled workers filling shortages, students driving our education sector, families reuniting, and refugees finding safety. Understanding who these arrivals are, and why they come, helps us have a more informed and constructive conversation about migration and its role in shaping Australia’s future.
Let’s focus on the facts, not the fear.
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