Australia's permanent immigration program
Australia's permanent immigration program has two components:
- Migration, for Skilled, Family and Special Eligibility Stream migrants and
- Humanitarian, for refugees and others with humanitarian needs.
Migration Programme
On 1 May 2006, the Migration Programme planning levels for the 2006-07 year were announced by the Australian government.
The 2006-07 Migration Programme provides up to 144 000 places, comprising:
- 46 000 places for family migrants who are sponsored by family members already in Australia
- 97 500 places for skilled migrants who gain entry essentially because of their work or business skills
- 500 places for special eligibility migrants and persons who applied under the Resolution of Status category and have lived in Australia for 10 years.
The skill balance of the programme has been maintained with 67.7 per cent of places in the Skill Stream.