This Department’s latest Admin Paper provides a detailed snapshot of how Australia’s migration and citizenship system performed in 2024–25, a year of strong policy reform and stabilisation after pandemic-era disruption.

Highlights
• 9.48 million visa applications were lodged, up 1.7 % from 2023-24, with 9.45 million finalised and a 7.3 % refusal rate
• Temporary visas in effect rose 3.5 % to 2.78 million, driven by strong demand for skilled and working-holiday programs
• Net Overseas Migration (NOM) eased to 316,000 to March 2025, down from the post-COVID peak of 556,000, with forecasts trending to 225,000 by 2028–29
• Student-visa reforms led to a 26 % drop in lodgements
• Skills in Demand (SID) and National Innovation visas launched 7 Dec 2024
• Working-Holiday Maker visas surged 37 %, while bridging visa holders rose 24 %
• The Migration Program (2024–25) delivered its full quota of 185,000 places, 71 % Skilled and 28 % Family
• Top source countries: India, China, Philippines, UK, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

Policy Themes
• Downward pressure on NOM through closure of pandemic visas
• Emphasis on integrity and quality in international education
• Targeted, faster processing for skilled migration
• Expansion of regional and labour-agreement pathways
• Focus on protecting migrant workers and community safety

Looking Ahead
2025-26 planning levels remain at 185,000 places (132,200 Skilled / 52,500 Family). Longer-term reforms include regional migration settings and essential-skills pathways.

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