Australian Temporary Visa Holder Statistics December 31, 2025

Matt Paff Australian Visas

The Australian Department of Home Affairs publishes data via the Australian Bureau of Statistics on temporary visa holders in Australia. The most recent data comes from December 31, 2025. The highlights include:

  • There were 2.98m visa holders in Australia as at the end of 2025, which appears to be a new record high across the ABS quarterly statistics;
  • Students (500) visa holders are sitting at 709,437 in Australia as at December 31 2025, which seasonally (to be expected) down on last quarter end, September 30 which was 736,306. This is marginally up on the end of 2024 number (701,280), despite new rules on CoEs and caps on international student numbers impacts the numbers, noting Student Visas granted is down significantly (see below);
  • Working Holiday Makers (417 and 462 visas) remain strong at 225,901, significantly up on the end of 2024 number which was 195,304, but seasonally down on the record September number of 239,324;
  • The 485 Graduate Visa Program has continued to be well received, with 225,751 at the end of 2025, up from 217,624 at September end, and same day last year 206,187;

Visas and the Australian workforce

Australia’s unemployment rate sits at 4.2% in December and remains low, highlighting our economy’s reliance on temporary visa holder labour.

Visitor Visas In Australia

Visitor visas, are down more than 8% on same period last year at 477,890 at year end 2025 vs 522,183 on year ended 2024. Even accounting for the boom in Working Holiday Visas (below), net visitors and working holidays is still down 2%. Not great for the tourism and hospitality industries.

Working Holiday Visas Australia

Looking at 417 and 462 working holiday visas, we had a new year end record high of 225,901 active working holiday visas in Australia as at 31 December 2025 – up from 195,304 on the same day in the previous year but seasonally down from September at 239,324.

Assessing the quarterly trend, we can see a consistent upward trend, seemingly disproportionally driven by the changes to working holiday rules for UK citizens under the Free Trade Agreement with Brits making up close to 25% of all working holiday visas:

Student Visas

Students (500) visa holders are sitting at 709,437 at year’s end, which seasonally is always a dip (compared with 736,306 in Australia as at September 30 2025), which is a new all time record, eclipsing last quarter end, June which was 736,231

2026 Student visa numbers remain uncertain given there have been a host of recent caps and changes to Student Visas which should see a slide from the 2025 peaks.

As you can see from the number of Student Visas granted, there was a massive influx post COVID in 2022-23, but visa grant numbers have since fallen. So far in financial year 2026 (July – December), there have been 205,382 student visas granted. We have multiplied by 2 for the project number below.

Bridging Visas

Bridging Visas numbers pulled bit slightl;y from record highs last quarter, to 387,572 as at year end 2025. This is up on 2024, when there were 342,506 active bridging visas as at year’s end.

Skilled employment visas

Then there’s the temporary resident, skilled employment visas, which are at 215,768 at year end 2025, seasonally down from a record high of 233,601 as at September 30. Skilled migration remains firmily on the current government’s agenda.

Where Australian Temporary Visa Numbers Have Landed

As you can see from the above and below, active temporary visa holder are still strong in Australia at all time highs. Working Holiday Makers are here in big numbers. Skilled visas are well and truly on the up and up (despite the usual seasonal dip). Bridging visas remain very high!

Data source data.gov.au