Overview - migration

Introduction and help

This page provides information about migrating to Australia (as a migrant or refugee), which means travelling to Australia with a visa that gives you the right to live permanently in Australia.

Please note:

If you apply from outside Australia, you will be applying to migrate. If you are applying in Australia, you will be applying for permanent residence. On these web pages, the term migrate covers both.
if you plan to visit Australia (that is, not stay permanently) and you want to work, please read the information about temporary residents.

To learn about migration options, scroll down the page, or go direct to one of these topics:

Migration program

There are two programs designed to help people wanting to come to Australia permanently. One is the migration program which is made up of:

a skill migration stream, which has a number of categories for people who have particular occupation skills, outstanding talents or business skills;
a family migration stream, where people can be sponsored by a relative who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
special eligibility migrants, who are former citizens or residents wanting to return to Australia, or certain New Zealanders.

The migration program for 2003-04 has 100,000 to 110,000 places available for migrants, plus a parent contingency reserve of 6,500 places for a full year.

Humanitarian program

The second program is the separate humanitarian program which is designed for refugees and others in special humanitarian need.

A major component of the humanitarian program is the offshore resettlement program, which assists people in humanitarian need overseas for whom resettlement in another country is the only option.

The onshore protection component is for those people already in Australia who arrived on temporary visas or in an unauthorised manner, and who claim Australias protection.

The size of the 2003-04 humanitarian program is 12,000 places. This will increase to 13,000 in 2004-05.

Website information

You can obtain detailed information about any of these categories from this website, by reading the pages about the category which applies to you.

Please read this information carefuly before making contact with us.

Migration costs

There are significant costs associated with migration. You must pay the relevant migration application charge when you apply.

Please remember that whatever the outcome of your application, this charge is non-refundable.

You will need to pay for a medical examination for each family member includedin an application, along with other costs such as obtaining a character clearance, or the cost of a certified translation of some documents.

Migration, humanitarian categories

To read migration information, go to: