Database Specific
Database Specific Abstract AbstractNet overseas migration (NOM) is the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia and emigration from Australia. This dataset contains annual NOM estimates by age, sex, major groupings and visa at the state/territory and Australia level.
Source Source Contact person/organisation Contact person/organisationFor further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
Source metadata Source metadataSee Explanatory Notes 11 to 44.
Source Periodicity Source PeriodicityQuarterly.
Data source(s) used Data source(s) usedMain source of data on overseas migration is incoming and outgoing passenger cards, matched with data from passports and visa permits. This data is supplied by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
Data Characteristics Data Characteristics Date last updated Date last updated30 March 2016.
Link to Release calendar Link to Release calendarFor release of quarterly NOM data refer to Forthcoming Issues in the Notes page of Australian Demographic Statistics.
Other data characteristics Other data characteristicsThe visa category information represents the number of visas based on the visa type at the time of a traveller's specific movement. It is this specific movement that has been used to calculate NOM. Therefore, the number of visas should not be confused with information on the number of visas granted by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). Due to a restructure of the visa hierarchy by the DIBP, data for some visa categories have been revised.
Periodicity PeriodicityQuarterly.
Reference period Reference period2004 to 2013 calendar years, based on the improved '12/16 month rule' methodology. For earlier periods, NOM by age, sex and state is available based on the previous methodology back to 1981.
Unit of measure used Unit of measure usedPersons.
Variables collected Variables collectedFor preliminary NOM the following variables are available on request: Age; Reference quarter; Sex; State/territory and Australia; Type of traveller - arrivals or departures. For final NOM: Age; Citizenship (nationality); Country of birth; Initial category of travel; Marital status (not available for Australian and New Zealand citizens); Reference year (available from 2004 - final data only); Sex; Type of traveller, i.e. NOM Arrival or NOM Departure (based on actual recorded duration of stay in or out of Australia); Visa type; Australian residents: Country spent/intend to spend most time abroad; Main reason for journey (only available for temporary resident departures); State or territory of intended address/state or territory of residence; Overseas visitors: Country of residence; Main reason for journey (only available for temporary visitor arrivals); and State or territory of intended address/in which most time was spent.
Population & Scope Population & Scope Geographic coverage Geographic coverageThis dataset contains data presented at state/territory and Australia level only.
Population coverage Population coverageData obtained from DIBP encompasses all international travellers who cross Australia's international border. Statistics on overseas migration exclude: multiple movements; the movements of operational air and ships' crew; transit passengers who pass through Australia but are not cleared for entry; passengers on pleasure cruises commencing and finishing in Australia and undocumented arrivals. From 1 July 2006 onwards, foreign diplomatic personnel and their families are also excluded.
Statistical population Statistical populationNOM covers the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia (NOM arrivals) and emigration from Australia (NOM departures). NOM arrivals are all international travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months or more over a 16 month period, who are not currently counted within the population. NOM departures are Australian residents and long-term visitors to Australia who leave Australia for 12 months or more in a 16 month period, who are currently counted within the population. From 1 July 2006 onwards, foreign diplomatic personnel and their families are excluded from NOM. See Explanatory Notes 11 to 44.
Concepts & Classifications Concepts & Classifications Aggregation & consolidation Aggregation & consolidationIndividual visas have been aggregated into Visa Types.
Classification(s) used Classification(s) usedFor country of birth and citizenship, the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) is used. For more information and codes see the Country Classification spreadsheet in the 'Downloads' tab of this publication online, or refer to the link below.
Estimation EstimationEstimates from September quarter 2014 are preliminary. This is because complete traveller histories from this time period cannot yet be produced. Migration adjustments are calculated from changes in behaviour from final estimates one year earlier for the same groups of travellers. These migration adjustments are applied to travellers who are grouped according to their 'initial category of travel', age, country of citizenship and state/territory of usual/intended residence. The adjustments account for differences between their intended duration of stay and their actual duration of stay. See Explanatory Notes 29 to 34.
Key statistical concept Key statistical conceptConceptually, the term NOM is based on an international travellers' duration of stay being in or out of Australia for 12 months or more. It is the difference between the number of incoming travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months or more and are added to the population (NOM arrivals) and the number of outgoing travellers who leave Australia for 12 months or more and are subtracted from the population (NOM departures). With the introduction of the improved methods for estimating NOM, this 12 months does not have to be continuous and is measured over a 16 month reference period. It includes all travellers, regardless of nationality, citizenship or legal status, with the exception of foreign diplomatic personnel and their families.
Dissemination format(s) Dissemination format(s)On-line.
Validation ValidationFor information on the ABS Institutional Environment, see below.
Other Aspects Other Aspects Quality comments Quality commentsPlease refer to the Quality Declaration under the Explanatory Notes tab linked below.
Recommended uses and limitations Recommended uses and limitationsNOM, alongside natural increase, is a major component of the estimated resident population. This dataset can also be used to analyse net overseas migration, broken down by the variables of sex and age group. Other variables related to NOM data are available on request. See the 'Variables' section above.
Net overseas migration (NOM) is the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia and emigration from Australia. This dataset contains annual NOM estimates by age, sex, major groupings and visa at the state/territory and Australia level.
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
Main source of data on overseas migration is incoming and outgoing passenger cards, matched with data from passports and visa permits. This data is supplied by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
Quarterly.
See Explanatory Notes 11 to 44.
Persons.
For preliminary NOM the following variables are available on request: Age; Reference quarter; Sex; State/territory and Australia; Type of traveller - arrivals or departures. For final NOM: Age; Citizenship (nationality); Country of birth; Initial category of travel; Marital status (not available for Australian and New Zealand citizens); Reference year (available from 2004 - final data only); Sex; Type of traveller, i.e. NOM Arrival or NOM Departure (based on actual recorded duration of stay in or out of Australia); Visa type; Australian residents: Country spent/intend to spend most time abroad; Main reason for journey (only available for temporary resident departures); State or territory of intended address/state or territory of residence; Overseas visitors: Country of residence; Main reason for journey (only available for temporary visitor arrivals); and State or territory of intended address/in which most time was spent.
Quarterly.
2004 to 2013 calendar years, based on the improved '12/16 month rule' methodology. For earlier periods, NOM by age, sex and state is available based on the previous methodology back to 1981.
30 March 2016.
For release of quarterly NOM data refer to Forthcoming Issues in the Notes page of Australian Demographic Statistics.
The visa category information represents the number of visas based on the visa type at the time of a traveller's specific movement. It is this specific movement that has been used to calculate NOM. Therefore, the number of visas should not be confused with information on the number of visas granted by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). Due to a restructure of the visa hierarchy by the DIBP, data for some visa categories have been revised.
NOM covers the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia (NOM arrivals) and emigration from Australia (NOM departures). NOM arrivals are all international travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months or more over a 16 month period, who are not currently counted within the population. NOM departures are Australian residents and long-term visitors to Australia who leave Australia for 12 months or more in a 16 month period, who are currently counted within the population. From 1 July 2006 onwards, foreign diplomatic personnel and their families are excluded from NOM. See Explanatory Notes 11 to 44.
This dataset contains data presented at state/territory and Australia level only.
Data obtained from DIBP encompasses all international travellers who cross Australia's international border. Statistics on overseas migration exclude: multiple movements; the movements of operational air and ships' crew; transit passengers who pass through Australia but are not cleared for entry; passengers on pleasure cruises commencing and finishing in Australia and undocumented arrivals. From 1 July 2006 onwards, foreign diplomatic personnel and their families are also excluded.
Conceptually, the term NOM is based on an international travellers' duration of stay being in or out of Australia for 12 months or more. It is the difference between the number of incoming travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months or more and are added to the population (NOM arrivals) and the number of outgoing travellers who leave Australia for 12 months or more and are subtracted from the population (NOM departures). With the introduction of the improved methods for estimating NOM, this 12 months does not have to be continuous and is measured over a 16 month reference period. It includes all travellers, regardless of nationality, citizenship or legal status, with the exception of foreign diplomatic personnel and their families.
For country of birth and citizenship, the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) is used. For more information and codes see the Country Classification spreadsheet in the 'Downloads' tab of this publication online, or refer to the link below.
Individual visas have been aggregated into Visa Types.
Estimates from September quarter 2014 are preliminary. This is because complete traveller histories from this time period cannot yet be produced. Migration adjustments are calculated from changes in behaviour from final estimates one year earlier for the same groups of travellers. These migration adjustments are applied to travellers who are grouped according to their 'initial category of travel', age, country of citizenship and state/territory of usual/intended residence. The adjustments account for differences between their intended duration of stay and their actual duration of stay. See Explanatory Notes 29 to 34.
For information on the ABS Institutional Environment, see below.
On-line.
NOM, alongside natural increase, is a major component of the estimated resident population. This dataset can also be used to analyse net overseas migration, broken down by the variables of sex and age group. Other variables related to NOM data are available on request. See the 'Variables' section above.
Please refer to the Quality Declaration under the Explanatory Notes tab linked below.