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China → Australia

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Australia
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
36,349
Change since 2018
+31.4%
Share of all arrivals in Australia, 2023
16.57%
Inflow 202336,349OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from China to Australia

Inflows of nationals of China recorded by Australia; stock of nationals of China living there; and acquisitions of Australia's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

18k36k200020032006200920122015201820212023
18k36k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20008,055
20018,295
20029,102
20039,374
200412,523
200515,193
200617,267
200721,085
200820,694
200922,297
201024,525
201128,718
201226,189
201329,170
201428,485
201529,366
201630,862
201731,141
201827,664
201927,188
202020,107
202120,988
202235,727
202336,349
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
202336,349—7,563
202235,727—7,213
202120,988—7,383
202020,107—17,008
201927,188—8,966
201827,664—1,990
201731,141—7,580
201630,862—7,999
201529,366—8,610
201428,485—10,613
201329,170—8,979
201226,189—6,876
201128,718—8,898
201024,525—11,109
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in China who live in Australia: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

328k656k19901995200020052010201520202024
328k656k19902000201020202024
Data table
199073,079
1995109,378
2000144,919
2005227,597
2010369,549
2015509,635
2020632,690
2024656,264
Estimate, 2024
656,264
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
8.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
3
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Australian skilled visas

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of China, by financial year ending 30 June and stream (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

1,8643,7282005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
1,8643,7282005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–062,086
2006–072,650
2007–083,372
2008–092,283
2009–101,418
2010–111,603
2011–122,589
2012–133,728
2013–143,358
2014–153,522
2015–162,847
2016–172,773
2017–181,699
2018–191,804
2019–201,059
2020–21813
2021–221,076
2022–231,637
2023–242,033
2024–252,727
2025–263,529
Financial yearAll streamsCore SkillsSpecialist SkillsLabour AgreementTSS medium-termTSS short-term
2025–263,5291,94646989699119
2024–252,727335164659819749
2023–242,03300532944557
2022–231,63700287985355
2021–221,0760056801202
2020–218130050545212
2019–201,05900275467296
2018–191,80400262700380
2017–181,699002646919
2016–172,7730028300
2015–162,8470021100
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
5.1%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Australia in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingchina.embassy.gov.au
Consulate-generalChengduchengdu.china.embassy.gov.au
Consulate-generalGuangzhouguangzhou.china.embassy.gov.au
Consulate-generalHong Konghongkong.china.embassy.gov.au
Consulate-generalShanghaishanghai.china.embassy.gov.au
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Australia, 2023; China ranks 2.

Inflows to Australia, 2023
  1. India55,277
  2. China36,349
  3. Nepal13,771
  4. Philippines13,083
  5. United Kingdom10,185
  6. Pakistan7,521
  7. Vietnam7,503
  8. Sri Lanka6,055
  9. South Africa5,217
  10. Afghanistan4,275
  11. Iran3,651
  12. Malaysia3,534
Other destinations for people from China, 2023
  1. South Korea132,855
  2. Japan106,717
  3. United States57,240
  4. Canada39,350
  5. New Zealand26,214
  6. Germany20,866
  7. Spain20,471
  8. Italy8,062
  9. Netherlands7,991
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more