India Tops China in Australia Migration Boom: ABS Report

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hand with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before a meeting at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on March 10, 2023. MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images

India has overtaken China as the leading source country for migrants to Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data for 2023-24.

The top five countries of birth for overseas migrants during this period were India, China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

Migration from China began to decline as early as 2017, well before COVID-19.

In contrast, India has experienced a consistent rise, a trend linked to favourable policies, strong bilateral relations, and its burgeoning skilled workforce.

Overseas migration by nationality. Australian Bureau of Statistics

Factors Driving Indian Migration

Experts point to a range of socio-economic and political factors behind the surge in Indian migration.

Speaking to The Epoch Times Annathurai Gnanasambandam, director of Visa Help Australia, noted that India’s massive population growth and the rise of a prosperous middle class have pushed many Indians to seek opportunities abroad.

“India’s demographics, coupled with its skilled workforce and a high demand for international education, have made Australia a preferred destination,” she said.

This is evident in visa distribution statistics. Indian nationals dominated the Employer Sponsored visa category in 2022-23, securing 23.4 percent of the 35,000 allocated places, or nearly one in four spots.

Similarly, in the student visa category, Indian nationals received 102,696 visas, surpassing Chinese nationals, who were granted 98,506.

Skilled Migration Policies

Australia’s skilled migration programs have also favoured Indian professionals, who generally have high levels of English proficiency and advanced qualifications.

In 2022-23, Indian nationals received 25.5 percent of the 142,344 skill stream visas, compared to just 9.5 percent for Chinese nationals.

This growth in skilled and student visa categories has had a cascading effect, increasing family reunification visas for Indian-born residents.

“The expanding Indian community in Australia is itself a major draw for others seeking to migrate,” said Ramneek Madahar, a migration agent with The Great Learning Tree told The Epoch Times.

Bilateral Relations as a Catalyst

Experts highlight Australia-India bilateral relations have strengthened over the past decade through trade agreements and educational partnerships.

“Initiatives like the Australia-India Free Trade Agreement have facilitated smoother migration pathways for Indians,” Madahar said.

Conversely, Australia’s relationship with China faced diplomatic challenges during the same period, which may have dampened migration trends from China.

Migration Patterns Reflect Broader Shifts

The ABS data reveals broader trends in migration and departures. Migrant arrivals in 2023-24 fell to 667,000, down 10 percent from the 739,000 recorded the previous year.

This marks the first decline in arrivals since Australia reopened its borders post-pandemic.

Temporary visa holders made up the largest share of arrivals at 465,000, although this was a decrease from 557,000 the previous year.

Among them, international students formed the largest group, with 207,000 arrivals, down from 278,000 in 2022-23.

On the other hand, migrant departures increased by 8 percent to 221,000 in 2023-24. This uptick was largely driven by temporary visa holders, including international students completing their studies and returning home.

Departures among temporary student visa holders rose by 97 percent, reflecting a post-pandemic adjustment in migration flows.

Political Debate Over Migration Management

The shifting migration landscape has ignited political debate, with the Coalition criticising the Albanese government’s handling of migration policy.

Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan accused the government of failing to manage immigration effectively, leading to higher-than-anticipated net overseas migration figures.

“Labor has consistently overshot their migration forecasts because of their failure to manage immigration,” Tehan said, pledging to reduce permanent migration from 185,000 to 140,000 if elected.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor echoed these concerns, stating, “It’s not complicated: managing both arrivals and departures effectively is key. Labor has failed on both fronts.”

According to the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), net overseas migration for 2023-24 is now projected to reach 340,000—80,000 higher than initial estimates. However, the MYEFO forecasts moderation in net migration to 225,000 by 2026-27.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended the government’s migration strategy, saying that it is designed to ensure Australia’s migration system operates in the national interest.

“Net overseas migration has already decreased from its peak levels and is now at its lowest point since the pandemic,” he said.

He acknowledged, however, that departures are taking longer to stabilise than originally forecast in the Budget.

“We are beginning to observe a decline in overseas arrivals to more manageable levels. These numbers are expected to drop further as additional policies from our strategy take effect,” he added.