Overseas Student Arrivals Close to Pre-Pandemic Levels

The number of people entering Australia has again skyrocketed, according to new data, with student visa holders making up the vast majority.

The ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures report for September said there were 45,090 international student arrivals to Australia, an increase of 9540 students compared to September, 2022.

This was just 0.5 per cent lower than the pre-Covid levels of the same month in 2019.

The rapid increase in student arrivals has created headaches across the nation as cities struggle to house them, adding to the nation’s housing crisis.

Among other arrivals, 11,850 people arriving in Australia in September indicated they would remain in the county, an increase of the 36.3 per cent year-on-year. There were 8690 permanent arrivals in September, 2022, and just 2290 in September, 2021.

Permanent arrivals (settlers) comprise travellers who hold permanent visas, New Zealand citizens who indicate on their passenger card an intention to migrate permanently, and those who are otherwise identified as eligible to settle, not including student visas.

Total arrivals in September numbered 1.6 million, up 49.6 per cent on last year’s 1.07 million. The previous year, during the pandemic, just 18,850 people arrived in the country.

However, Australian residents returning long-term declined by 12.6 per cent from 13,270 last year to 11,600 this year.

Arrivals: international students

^{▲ Includes international student visa holders whether it be for a short-term (less than a year) or long-term (a year or more) duration. (b) English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. Source: ABS}

Short-term residents returning continued to climb, up 48.2 per cent to 939,600 from 633,790.

Long-term Australian resident departures rose 21.2 per cent from 14,790 to 17,930, and short-term departures were up 47.1 per cent to 1,062,530 from last year’s 722,220 as Aussies’ wanderlust hit top gear after the pandemic downturn in overseas travel.

And in great news for the nation’s tourism industry, overseas visitor numbers climbed with long-term up 26.6 per cent from 43,930 to 55,590; and short-term up 57.5 per cent to 584,620 from 371,850.

The three leading countries visitors came from were New Zealand, 128,820 trips; China, 59,080; and the US, 36,400.