Australian Student Visa Statistics – An Analysis - IDP Education

Australian Student Visa Statistics –
An Analysis
January to December, 2003
Presented by:
IDP Education Australia

TABLE OF CONTENTS
STUDENT VISA STATISTICS: JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2003 4
THREE IMPORTANT EXPLANATORY NOTES: 4
DIMIA e-visas 4
Reporting by Citizenship 4
July 2001 Visa Changes – Impact on Reported Visa Numbers 5
1.0 All Offshore Student Visas 6
1.1 Total Offshore Visas 6
1.2 All Off-shore Visas by Citizenship 7
2.0 Offshore Higher Education Visas 10
2.1 Total Number of Offshore Higher Education Visas 10
2.2 Offshore Higher Education Visas by Citizenship 11
3.0 Offshore Schools Visas 14
3.1 Total Number of Offshore School Visas 14
3.2 Offshore School Sector Visas by Citizenship 14
4.0 Offshore Independent ELICOS 16
4.1 Total Number of Offshore Independent ELICOS Visas 16
4.2 Offshore Independent ELICOS Visas by Citizenship 16
5.0 Offshore Vocational Education and Training (VET) 19
5.1 Total Number of Offshore VET Visas 19
5.2 Offshore VET Sector Visas Issued by Citizenship 19
6.0 Offshore E-visas 21
6.1 Total Number of Offshore E-Visas 21
6.2 E-visa Issued by Citizenship 21
7.0 Onshore Visas 22
7.1 Total Number of Onshore Visas 22
7.2 Onshore Visas Issued by Citizenship 22

STUDENT VISA STATISTICS: January to December 2003
The allocation of visas for study in Australia provides a crude indicator of trends in
international student enrolments. IDP Education Australia analyses these trends based on
visa figures supplied by Australia’s Department of Immigration and Multicultural and
Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).
DIMIA has supplied figures to the end of December 2003, enabling comparisons with
previous years. These comparisons are presented in the following analysis.
THREE IMPORTANT EXPLANATORY NOTES:
DIMIA e-visas
DIMIA has implemented a new form of service delivery available to clients who are seeking
new or replacement visas. This service is called e-visas. This service does not replace the
current existing ways of visa applications through Australian DIMIA offices (onshore) or
Australian Government offices overseas.
According to DIMIA, the ability to lodge visa applications on the Internet is currently limited
to a small number of temporary entry and permanent entry types. In some countries it
includes student visa applications for specific visa classes.
This report includes an analysis of student e-visas issued to prospective students offshore
(i.e. outside of Australia).
Information about e-visas can be found at: http://www.dimia.gov.au/e_visa/index.htm
Reporting by Citizenship
Previously IDP has reported visa statistics by the country in which the visa was issued (the
“visa issuing post”). After careful consideration IDP has decided to report the statistics by
the country of citizenship of the person to whom the visa was issued, which IDP believes
provides greater depth of information across a greater range of countries, and also allows
the accurate reporting of e-visas.
This will result in some changes in the results, compared to previous reports that IDP has
posted on www.idp.com. In particular, previously where a country did not have a visa issuing
post, the visas issued to the citizens of that country were reported under the issuing country.
For example: for the period July – September 2002, 411 student visas were issued to Czech
Republic citizens, of which the Austrian issuing post issued 410. Previously those visas were
included in the reporting for Austria. However, now that IDP is analysing by citizenship, they
will be included in the reporting for Czech Republic. There are several other similar cases
worldwide.
Consequently, within this report, where the word “country” is used, it refers to the citizens of
that country, unless otherwise specified.
For the period January-December 2003, DIMIA reported visa statistics for 81 visa issuing
posts and 187 citizenships.
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 4

July 2001 Visa Changes – Impact on Reported Visa Numbers
From July 2001, prospective students applying for visas under the regulations for
Assessment Levels 3 and 4 (see http://www.dimia.gov.au/students/assessment.htm) have
needed to package their courses together if they wished to study more than one course in
Australia. For such students, the visa is issued for the principal course which they will be
studying. An example would be a student from China wanting to come to Australia to study
an ELICOS course, followed by a vocational education course (such as a diploma), to enable
entry into a higher education course in Australia. The visa for this student would be included
under the category ‘Higher Education’, even though they are commencing their study in
other sectors. This leads to an under-reporting of the number of students going into ELICOS,
foundation and vocational education programs from these countries, from July 2001
onwards. Hence the annual change between 2001 (whole year) and 2002 (whole year) may
appear more negative than it actually is for these visa classes, and more positive than it
actually is for higher education.
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 5

1.0 All Offshore Student Visas
1.1 Total Offshore Visas
• The total number of visas issued offshore for all visa classes for the 2003 calendar
year was 110,504. This represents an increase of 14% over the same period in 2002.
Figure 1
Total Visas Issued Offshore
115000
110000
110,504
105000
100000
97,267
95000
90000
2002 2003
Figure 2
Visas Issued offshore by class
60000
50000
2002 2003
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
Higher
Education
Independent
ELICOS
Vocational
Education
Non-award/
Foundation
School
Secondary
Exchange
AusAID
Defence
• The number of visas issued increased for all visa classes excluding Vocational
Education, AusAID and Defence.
• The dramatic increase in the Non-award/Foundation studies sector can be attributed
to a change in the classification scheme utilized by DIMIA. While in the past,
students participating in Study Abroad and Higher Education Exchange programs
may have been classed as Higher Education students, they are now placed in the
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 6

Non-award/ Foundation Studies category. The implication of this amendment is to
elevate the number of Non-award visas in 2003, while simultaneously diminishing
growth in Higher Education visas.
Table 1
Visas issued offshore by class
Visa Class 2002
% of all
visas 2003
% of all
visas
%
Growth
Higher Education 50,290 52% 56,726 51% 13%
Independent ELICOS 16,277 17% 17,432 16% 7%
Vocational Education 11,615 12% 11,169 10% -4%
Non-award/foundation studies/ other 4,614 5% 10,245 9% 122%
School 9,619 10% 10,550 10% 10%
Secondary Exchange 2,256 2% 2,264 2% 0%
AusAID 2,219 2% 1,781 2% -20%
Defence 377 0% 337 0% -11%
Total All Visa Classes 97,267 100% 110,504 100% 14%
1.2 All Off-shore Visas by Citizenship
• Table 2 indicates the number (and growth) of visas issued to citizens of the top 20
countries for the period January-December 2003.
• The greatest numbers of student visas were granted to Chinese citizens, followed by
USA, South Korea, India and Malaysia.
• Of the top 20 countries, India (121%), Bangladesh (67%) and South Korea (54%)
experienced the highest growth.
• The countries with the largest increase in the actual number of visas issued were:
China (4634), India (4164), South Korea (2707), the United States (1055) and
Bangladesh (770).
• Although several countries in the top 20 experienced a decline, the largest occurred
in Hong Kong (976 or 14%), Taiwan (580 or 20%) and Singapore (445 or 10%).
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 7

Table 2
Visas issued by category
Offshore by citizenship
Top 20 Source Countries
Country 2002 2003 % Growth
China 12,519 17,153 37%
USA 9,435 10,490 11%
South Korea 4,993 7,700 54%
India 3,442 7,606 121%
Malaysia 7,385 7,530 2%
Japan 6,176 6,357 3%
Hong Kong 6,765 5,789 -14%
Thailand 5,296 5,385 2%
Indonesia 5,764 5,331 -8%
Singapore 4,317 3,872 -10%
Germany 2,123 2,868 35%
Taiwan 2,963 2,383 -20%
Bangladesh 1,157 1,927 67%
Canada 1,718 1,846 7%
Brazil 2,014 1,829 -9%
United Kingdom 1,101 1,680 53%
Norway 1,669 1,656 -1%
Sweden 1,526 1,418 -7%
France 1,261 1,262 0%
Viet Nam 902 1,094 21%
Total 97,267 110,504 14%
Figure 3 (below) illustrates trends in the top 15 source countries.
Figure 3
Offshore Visas by Citizenship
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
Jan - Dec 2002
Jan - Dec 2003
China
USA
South Korea
India
Malaysia
Japan
Hong Kong
Thailand
Indonesia
Singapore
Germany
Taiwan
Bangladesh
Canada
Brazil
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 8

• Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the countries with the greatest growth or decline
amongst the top 30 source countries.
140%
Figure 4a
Growth in Offshore Visas
Selected Countries by Citizenship
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
India
Bangladesh
0%
Sri Lanka
South Korea
United Kingdom
Pakistan
China
Germany
Mexico
Figure 4b
Decline in Offshore Visas
Selected Countries by Citizenship
Philippines
Viet Nam
Total
USA
Italy
Canada
Poland
Switzerland
Japan
-5%
Brazil
Taiwan
Sweden
Indonesia
Slovakia
Singapore
Hong Kong
Czech Republic
Colombia
-10%
-15%
-20%
-25%
-30%
-35%
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 9

2.0 Offshore Higher Education Visas
2.1 Total Number of Offshore Higher Education Visas
• The number of Higher Education visas issued over the period January to December
2003, increased by 13% relative to the same period in the previous year. However,
since many Study Abroad and Higher Education Exchange students now receive
‘Non-award/Foundation Studies’ visas instead of Higher Education visas, the growth
in the number of students receiving a visa for higher education award courses is
likely to be underestimated.
Figure 5
Total and Higher Education
Visas issued Offshore
120000
100000
80000
60000
All other sectors
Higher Education
46,977
53,778
40000
20000
50,290
56,726
0
2002 2003
• Despite a growth rate of 13%, the number of Higher Education visas as a proportion
of the total number of student visas issued was 1 percentage points lower in the
period January to December 2003, compared with the same period in 2002. This can
be largely attributed to the changes to DIMIA’s classification system detailed above.
Table 3
Visas Issued Offshore
Total and Higher Education
2002 2003
Higher Education 50,290 56,726
Total 97,267 110,504
% Higher Education 52% 51%
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 10

2.2 Offshore Higher Education Visas by Citizenship
• The largest source countries were China, India, Malaysia and USA.
• Since 2002, significant increases have occurred in India (132%), South Korea
(106%), Sri Lanka (70%) and China (67%).
• In 2003, the number of Higher Education visas issued to citizens of the United
States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada and Norway has been
influenced by changes to DIMIA’s classification of Study Abroad and Higher
Education Exchange students. While in the past such students were counted as
‘Higher Education’ students, they are now in the ‘Non-award/Foundation Studies’
category. The effect of these changes will be to artificially decrease the number of
Higher Education visas awarded in the source countries listed above. Therefore, a
more accurate portrayal of growth rates by citizenship may be obtained by including
the number of Non-Award/Foundation Studies visas (See Table 5).
• Nevertheless, declines in Higher Education visas were observed for citizens of Kenya
(-28%) and Zimbabwe (-22%) as well as Taiwan (-17%) and Singapore (-10%).
Figure 6
Higher Education Visas Issued
Offshore By Citizenship
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
China
India
2002 2003
Malaysia
USA
Indonesia
Singapore
Hong Kong
Thailand
Norway
Canada
Bangladesh
South Korea
Sweden
United Kingdom
The apparent decline in students from
the US, Norway, Sweden and Germany
may be attributed to changes in the way
DIMIA classifies Study Abroad/ HE
Exchange students.
Germany
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Japan
Viet Nam
Pakistan
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 11

Table 4
Higher Education Visas Issued
Offshore by Citizenship
Top 30 Countries
Country Name 2002 2003 % Change
China 6,591 11,018 67%
India 3,198 7,406 132%
Malaysia 5,676 6,048 7%
USA 8,114 4,791 -41%
Indonesia 4,199 4,030 -4%
Singapore 3,696 3,335 -10%
Hong Kong 2,467 2,333 -5%
Thailand 1,408 1,598 13%
Norway 1,494 1,422 -5%
Canada 1,249 1,291 3%
Bangladesh 805 1,276 59%
South Korea 509 1,051 106%
Sweden 1,143 827 -28%
United Kingdom 683 793 16%
Germany 1,041 769 -26%
Sri Lanka 444 757 70%
Taiwan 853 712 -17%
Japan 489 613 25%
Viet Nam 394 552 40%
Pakistan 328 499 52%
Zimbabwe 375 296 -21%
Colombia 306 280 -8%
Kenya 383 274 -28%
France 200 271 36%
Mauritius 275 232 -16%
Botswana 201 206 2%
Oman 162 206 27%
Zambia 141 201 43%
Netherlands 193 189 -2%
Iran, Islamic Republic of 96 178 85%
Total 50,290 56,726 13%
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 12

Table 5
Higher Education and Non-award/Foundation Studies Visas Issued
Offshore by Citizenship
Top 30 Countries
Country Name 2002 2003 % Change
China 6,660 11,071 66%
USA 8,703 9,540 10%
India 3,208 7,418 131%
Malaysia 6,291 6,565 4%
Indonesia 4,231 4,043 -4%
Singapore 3,972 3,606 -9%
Hong Kong 3,104 2,863 -8%
Germany 1,274 1,864 46%
Thailand 1,455 1,705 17%
Norway 1,577 1,569 -1%
Canada 1,399 1,532 10%
Bangladesh 809 1,277 58%
South Korea 641 1,214 89%
Sweden 1,285 1,167 -9%
United Kingdom 791 1,127 42%
Japan 886 954 8%
Taiwan 904 771 -15%
Sri Lanka 448 764 71%
France 547 562 3%
Viet Nam 396 555 40%
Pakistan 331 504 52%
Mexico 295 382 29%
Zimbabwe 379 299 -21%
Colombia 327 289 -12%
Kenya 389 284 -27%
Netherlands 207 247 19%
Mauritius 280 232 -17%
Denmark 271 227 -16%
Oman 173 212 23%
Botswana 205 206 0%
Total 54,904 66,971 22%
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 13

3.0 Offshore Schools Visas
3.1 Total Number of Offshore School Visas
• The number of school visas issued in January-December 2003 increased by 10% in
compared with the same period in the previous year. This is less than the total
growth in student visas, which was 14%.
Figure 7
Total and Schools
Visas issued offshore
120000
100000
All other sectors
School
80000
60000
40000
87,648
99,954
20000
0
9,619 10,550
2002 2003
• The number of student visas issued for the school sector as a percentage of the total
remained constant during Jan-Dec 2003, compared to the same period in 2002.
Table 6
Visas Issued Offshore
Total and School Sector
2002 2003
Schools 9,619 10,550
Total 97,267 110,504
% Schools 10% 10%
3.2 Offshore School Sector Visas by Citizenship
• In 2003 (Jan-Dec), Chinese students accounted for 53% of all school visas.
• The largest increases in visas issued amongst the top 20 countries occurred in
South Korea (601 or 132%), China (207 or 4%) and USA (184 or 151%).
• Significant declines occurred for Hong Kong (111 or 13%), Malaysia (69 or 17%),
Indonesia (56 or 15%) and Singapore (39 or 22%).
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 14

Figure 8
School Visas Issued
Offshore by Citizenship
6000
5000
4000
2002 2003
3000
2000
1000
0
China
South Korea
Hong Kong
Japan
Malaysia
Germany
Indonesia
USA
Thailand
Viet Nam
Taiwan
Singapore
United Kingdom
Papua New Guinea
Canada
Table 7
School Sector Visas Issued
Offshore by Citizenship
Top 20 Countries
2002 2003 % Growth
China 5,425 5,632 4%
South Korea 457 1,058 132%
Hong Kong 867 756 -13%
Japan 502 587 17%
Malaysia 401 332 -17%
Germany 268 311 16%
Indonesia 364 308 -15%
USA 122 306 151%
Thailand 250 283 13%
Viet Nam 159 193 21%
Taiwan 146 149 2%
Singapore 174 135 -22%
United Kingdom 58 63 9%
Papua New Guinea 53 46 -13%
Canada 26 30 15%
Switzerland 5 25 400%
Sweden 15 21 40%
France 17 19 12%
Portugal 25 16 -36%
Macau 24 15 -38%
Total 9,619 10,550 10%
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 15

4.0 Offshore Independent ELICOS
4.1 Total Number of Offshore Independent ELICOS Visas
• While the total number of student visas issued increased 14% from Jan-Dec 2002 to
Jan-Dec 2003, the ELICOS sector experienced an increase of 7%.
Figure 9
Total and ELICOS Sector
Visas issued offshore
120000
100000
All other sectors
Independent ELICOS
80000
60000
40000
80,990
93,072
20000
0
16,277 17,432
2002 2003
• The number of ELICOS visas issued as a proportion of the total for the 2003 (Jan-
Dec) decreased by 1 percentage points from 2002.
Table 8
Total and ELICOS Sector
Visas Issued Offshore
2002 2003
ELICOS 16,277 17,432
Total 97,267 110,504
% ELICOS 17% 16%
4.2 Offshore Independent ELICOS Visas by Citizenship
• Most visas for Independent ELICOS sector were issued to citizens of South Korea,
Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Brazil.
• The largest increases in visas issued occurred for citizens of South Korea (1666 or
47%), Japan (228 or 6%) and Indonesia (91 or 222%).
• The largest declines in visas issued occurred with citizens of Brazil (331 or 23%),
Thailand (225 or 9%), Colombia (160 or 57%) and Taiwan (141 or 10%).
• The top two source countries - South Korea and Japan - accounted for 53% of all
student visas issued in the ELICOS sector.
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 16

• It should also be noted that the majority of English language students are issued with
tourist visas and are therefore not captured in these statistics.
6000
Figure 10
ELICOS Visas Issued
By Citizenship
Top 20 Countries
5000
4000
2002 2003
3000
2000
1000
0
South Korea
Japan
Thailand
Taiwan
Brazil
Switzerland
France
Hong Kong
Poland
Spain
Italy
Germany
Indonesia
Hungary
Turkey
Colombia
Czech Republic
Mexico
Belgium
Saudi Arabia
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 17

Table 9
ELICOS Visas Issued
Offshore By Citizenship
2002 2003 % Growth
South Korea 3,580 5,246 47%
Japan 3,713 3,941 6%
Thailand 2,546 2,321 -9%
Taiwan 1,361 1,220 -10%
Brazil 1,432 1,101 -23%
Switzerland 568 610 7%
France 451 439 -3%
Hong Kong 399 355 -11%
Poland 310 292 -6%
Spain 154 204 32%
Italy 119 141 18%
Germany 122 133 9%
Indonesia 41 132 222%
Hungary 164 131 -20%
Turkey 133 125 -6%
Colombia 281 121 -57%
Czech Republic 131 95 -27%
Mexico 88 94 7%
Belgium 58 62 7%
Saudi Arabia 26 61 135%
USA 18 55 206%
Malaysia 31 43 39%
Slovakia 60 40 -33%
Chile 22 37 68%
Oman 7 36 414%
Russian Federation 45 35 -22%
China 48 34 -29%
Sweden 21 31 48%
Viet Nam 32 21 -34%
Austria 26 18 -31%
Total 16,277 17,432 7%
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 18

5.0 Offshore Vocational Education and Training (VET)
5.1 Total Number of Offshore VET Visas
• Although the total number of student visas issued increased 14% in the January to
December period compared with the previous year, the number of student visas
issued in the VET sector decreased by 4%.
Figure 11
Total and VET sector
Visas issued offshore
120000
100000
All other sectors
Vocational Education
80000
60000
40000
85,652
99,335
20000
0
11,615 11,169
2002 2003
• The proportion of all offshore student visas issued to the VET sector for the period
January to December, 2003 decreased by 2 percentage point from the previous
year.
Table 10
Total and VET Sector
Visas Issued Offshore
2002 2003
VET 11,615 11,169
Total 97,267 110,504
% VET 12% 10%
5.2 Offshore VET Sector Visas Issued by Citizenship
• The largest increases in VET sector visas occurred in the Bangladesh (360 or 145%),
the United Kingdom (222 or 91%), Brazil (86 or 66%), and Thailand (75 or 8%).
• The top five countries accounted for 43% of all VET sector visas issued.
• Of the top 20 countries, declines in student visas issued occurred to citizens of Hong
Kong (580 or 24%), Taiwan (290 or 55%), Czech Republic (203 or 22%), South
Korea (132 or 42%) and Japan (117 or 16%).
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 19

Figure 12
VET Visas Issued
Offshore By Citizenship
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
Hong Kong
Thailand
Czech Republic
2002 2003
Japan
Bangladesh
Slovakia
Malaysia
United Kingdom
USA
China
Table 11
VET Sector Visas Issued
Offshore by Citizenship
Top 20 Countries
Poland
Taiwan
Brazil
Canada
South Korea
Mauritius
India
Sweden
Indonesia
Sri Lanka
2002 2003 % Growth
Hong Kong 2,384 1,804 -24%
Thailand 911 986 8%
Czech Republic 941 738 -22%
Japan 749 632 -16%
Bangladesh 248 608 145%
Slovakia 658 585 -11%
Malaysia 639 560 -12%
United Kingdom 243 465 91%
USA 443 453 2%
China 337 368 9%
Poland 323 359 11%
Taiwan 529 239 -55%
Brazil 131 217 66%
Canada 209 215 3%
South Korea 312 180 -42%
Mauritius 158 172 9%
India 182 159 -13%
Sweden 136 149 10%
Indonesia 174 148 -15%
Sri Lanka 128 145 13%
Total 11,615 11,169 -4%
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 20

6.0 Offshore E-visas
• The offshore e-visa statistics below are included in the preceding analysis of visa
numbers. The following analysis is designed to provide an insight into the use of this
new visa-issuing method by students that are offshore.
• From July 2002, the number of countries and visa classes, that e-visas could be
issued for, was expanded. Previously to this time, e-visas had only been issued for
higher education, to citizens of the USA, Sweden and Norway.
6.1 Total Number of Offshore E-Visas
• The total number of offshore e-Visas issued for all classes in 2003 was 32,921.
• 48% of all offshore e-visas were issued in the Higher Education class.
Table 12
All Offshore E-visas issued
By Class
Visa Category 2002 2003
Higher Education 10,040 18,081
Independent ELICOS 245 4,733
Non_award foundation studies/other 942 6,862
School 108 470
Secondary Exchange 8 25
Vocational Education 1,217 2,752
Total 12,560 32,923
6.2 E-visa Issued by Citizenship
• In 2003, 58% of all offshore e-visas were issued to citizens of the USA, Malaysia and
Japan.
Table 13
All Offshore E-Visas Issued by Citizenship
Top 12 Countries for E-visas
Country 2002 2003
USA 7,396 9,024
Malaysia 385 5,259
Japan 244 4,766
Hong Kong 1,560 3,494
Singapore 399 2,723
Norway 1,115 1,524
Sweden 923 1,306
Canada 243 1,105
Germany 40 1,097
Switzerland 103 651
Total 12,560 32,923
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 21

7.0 Onshore Visas
• The following analysis of onshore visas issued includes visas that were issued to a
recipient who was resident in Australia at the time of application.
• The analysis includes e-visas to students issued onshore in Australia.
• The onshore visa numbers do not include Permission to Work or Change of Provider
visas.
7.1 Total Number of Onshore Visas
• The total number of onshore student visas issued between January and December
2003 was 51,387. This represents an increase of 5%
• Higher education accounted for 59% of all onshore student visas
Table 14
All Onshore visas issued by Visa Class
Visa Category 2002 2003
%
Growth
Higher Education 27,930 30,397 9%
Vocational Education 12,849 12,482 -3%
Independent ELICOS 4,266 4,792 12%
School 2,375 2,442 3%
Non_award foundation studies/other 868 872 0%
AusAID 357 337 -6%
Secondary Exchange 31 54 74%
Defence 38 11 -71%
Total 48,711 51,387 5%
7.2 Onshore Visas Issued by Citizenship
• The top five citizenships for onshore visas were China, Japan, South Korea, Hong
Kong and Thailand. These citizenships accounted for 54% of all onshore visas.
• Large increases in onshore visas issued occurred in China (1,213 or 16%), South
Korea (962 or 26%), Hong Kong (916 or 25%), Japan (744 or 15%) and Taiwan (352
or 14%).
• Among the top 30 countries significant decreases occurred in Indonesia (798 or
19%), India (565 or 28%), United Kingdom (352 or 40%), Brazil (262 or 22%) and
Pakistan (128 or 33%).
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 22

Table 15
All Onshore visas issued by Citizenship
Top 30 Countries
Citizenship 2002 2003 % Growth
China 7,619 8,832 16%
Japan 5,124 5,868 15%
South Korea 3,648 4,610 26%
Hong Kong 3,643 4,559 25%
Thailand 3,699 3,701 0%
Indonesia 4,228 3,430 -19%
Taiwan 2,449 2,801 14%
Malaysia 1,841 2,135 16%
India 2,036 1,471 -28%
Singapore 1,111 1,072 -4%
Brazil 1,186 924 -22%
Viet Nam 828 751 -9%
Bangladesh 737 736 0%
USA 746 705 -5%
Sri Lanka 748 644 -14%
Norway 535 608 14%
United Kingdom 886 534 -40%
Germany 371 466 26%
Colombia 526 450 -14%
Sweden 315 447 42%
Poland 304 424 39%
Czech Republic 385 411 7%
France 315 396 26%
Slovakia 358 377 5%
Canada 239 324 36%
Nepal 381 288 -24%
Kenya 274 258 -6%
Pakistan 385 257 -33%
Italy 205 214 4%
Mauritius 164 208 27%
Total 48,711 51,387 5%
IDP Education Australia Visa Report – Annual 2003 23