The Department of Home Affairs have recently released statistics under a Freedom of Information request showing the number of travellers authorised to travel into and out of Australia between 2 February and 22 June 2020.
Data relates only to travel by temporary visa holders and excludes travel by Australian citizens, Permanent Residents and NZ Citizens usually resident in Australia. It is unclear whether the data includes temporary visa holders who are the immediate family members of Australian citizens (children, spouses) as information released by Home Affairs / Australian Border Force states these individuals do not require authorisation.
On 20 March 2020 the border was closed to all temporary visa holders with the exception of immediate family members of Australian citizens. The data shows that from closure of the border until 22 June the total number of temporary visa holders amounted to 10,440, or an average of 110 people per day.
However, the largest category of people included in the data is ‘transits’, meaning people who were not seeking to remain in Australia but rather travelling through Australia in order to reach a final destination (i.e., most likely coming from or going to New Zealand or the Pacific). This means the actual number of temporary visa holders who entered during this period was 3,759, or an average of 40 people per day.
The data from the chart is included below. People seeking to enter Australia should be aware that Australia is currently maintaining a high level of control over border crossings and requirements for entry are very strict.
To obtain authorisation to enter, anyone seeking to travel to Australia should read the information provided by the Australian Border Force here.
| Inwards discretions | 10,440 |
| Compassionate | 1740 |
| Critical Skill – Medical | 311 |
| Critical Skill – Other | 884 |
| Business Leaders | 83 |
| Diplomatic | 187 |
| Students | 145 |
| TPV/SHEV | 363 |
| Medevac Patients | 46 |
| Transits | 6681 |
The information released on outbound travel shows that a total of 10,004 people were approved to depart Australia during this period. The largest cohorts were approved on the basis of ‘Compassionate grounds’ (5438), ‘Personal business’ (2738) and ‘Critical Industry and Business’ (1455).
It is recommended that anyone seeking to leave should apply at least 4 weeks before anticipated travel and no more than three months prior.
Anyone seeking to depart Australia can find the grounds for approval and application information here.
| Outwards discretions | 10,004 |
| COVID-19 | 159 |
| Critical Industry and Business | 145 |
| Medical treatment | 157 |
| Personal business | 2738 |
| Compassionate | 5438 |
| National Interest | 57 |