India tops list of skilled visa immigrants in Australia

Press Trust of India  |  Melbourne 

Nearly three migrated and settled in from 2000 to 2016, according to official figures, which said contributed the maximum number of individuals on skilled visa.

A majority of them are fluent in English and many of them have also bought their own homes in the country, it said.

The data came at a time when is witnessing fierce public debate on immigration amidst concern about jobs and overcrowding in major cities.

As many as 291,916 migrated to between 2000 and 2016, of which 154,012 individuals have acquired Australian citizenship, according to a data released by the (ABS) yesterday.

For those coming to Australia on the skilled visa, with 234,395 individuals (19 per cent) bagged the top rank, followed by England and at 160,558 (13 per cent) and 146,842 (12 per cent) people, respectively, it said.

Under the family visa programme, with 95,532 immigrants (14 per cent) ranked first, followed by UK at 60,108 (8.8 per cent) and at 56,406 (8.3 per cent), the figures revealed.

Of a total of 45,816 migrants who came to Australia under the humanitarian visa programme, there were only 1,097 topped the list in the category with 37,751 migrants, the data showed.

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First Published: Thu, July 19 2018. 19:50 IST