The Department of Home Affairs in Australia has achieved a significant milestone by successfully clearing a large portion of the temporary visa backlog and delivering an exceptional Migration Program outcome for the year 2022-23.
In the financial year 2022-23, the department finalized an astounding 8.3 million visas, which is a staggering 190 percent more than the previous fiscal year (2021-22).
The Department’s efforts have led to a remarkable decrease in the backlog of temporary visa applications. On June 30, 2022, there were more than 600,000 on-hand temporary visa applications. Fast forward to June 30, 2023, and this number has plummeted by an impressive 73 percent to just over 161,000. This reduction has been observed across various visa categories, such as:
- Visitor visas decreased by a substantial 76 percent.
- Temporary Skill Shortage visas saw a significant 47 percent decrease.
- Student visas declined by an impressive 66 percent.
- Working Holiday Maker visas decreased by 58 percent.
This substantial decrease in the backlog signifies the department’s commitment to addressing the concerns of temporary visa applicants and streamlining the application process.
Total on-hand applications, including permanent visas subject to migration program planning levels, have also experienced a significant decline. In June 2022, there were nearly a million on-hand applications, but by June 2023, this number had reduced by almost 40 percent. Despite this remarkable reduction, the department continues to see a rise in the volume of new visa applications, with almost 7.9 million applications lodged in 2022-23. This represents a striking 152 percent increase compared to the 3.13 million applications lodged in 2021-22.
Another noteworthy aspect of the department’s achievements is that application lodgements in certain programs have surpassed pre-COVID levels. This is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Australia’s immigration system. Programs such as Student, Working Holiday Maker, and Temporary and Permanent Skilled visas have witnessed a resurgence in applications, indicating a growing interest in Australia as a destination for education, work, and skilled migration.
In 2022-23, the department received 224,000 applications, surpassing the previous record set in 2016-17 by a substantial 26.8 percent. This surge in skilled migration interest is a testament to Australia’s strong economy and the appeal of its immigration programs for skilled professionals.