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Australian Visas
By Matt Paff · May 2026 · 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 March 31, 2026. The highlights include:
Australia’s unemployment rate remains low, highlighting our economy’s continued reliance on temporary visa holder labour. The total temporary visa cohort of nearly 2.97 million as at March 31, 2026 underlines the structural role temporary migrants play across industries from hospitality and agriculture to technology and education.
| Visa Category | Mar 2025 | Dec 2025 | Mar 2026 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student (500) | 720,692 | 709,437 | 732,210 | +11,518 (+1.6%) |
| Visitor | 672,982 | 477,890 | 609,678 | -63,304 (-9.4%) |
| Bridging | 379,804 | 387,572 | 432,300 | +52,496 (+13.8%) |
| Working Holiday Maker (417/462) | 222,190 | 225,901 | 258,974 | +36,784 (+16.6%) |
| Temporary Graduate (485) | 224,015 | 225,751 | 237,015 | +13,000 (+5.8%) |
| Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) | 204,812 | 215,768 | 255,821 | +51,009 (+24.9%) |
| Temporary Protection | 373,892 | 660,545 | 357,110 | -16,782 (-4.5%) |
| Temporary Resident (Other Employment) | 67,929 | 53,427 | 61,609 | -6,320 (-9.3%) |
| Crew and Transit | 21,200 | 21,777 | 21,289 | +89 (+0.4%) |
| Special Category | 5,698 | 3,536 | 5,341 | -357 (-6.3%) |
| Other Temporary | 3,792 | 1,726 | 1,710 | -2,082 (-54.9%) |
| Grand Total | 2,897,006 | 2,983,330 | 2,973,057 | +76,051 (+2.6%) |
Looking at 417 and 462 working holiday visas, there is now a new quarterly record of 258,974 active working holiday visas in Australia as at March 31, 2026. This is up from 225,901 at year end 2025, and a strong 16.6% increase on March 2025’s figure of 222,190. The upward trend continues to be driven in part by UK citizens accessing the program under the Free Trade Agreement, and the broader global mobility rebound post-COVID.
Student (500) visa holders are at 732,210 as at March 31, 2026. This is a healthy recovery from the expected seasonal dip to 709,437 at December 2025, and is above last year’s March figure of 720,692. The recovery shows resilience in Australia’s international education sector despite ongoing changes to Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) rules and caps on international student numbers at universities.
Looking at student visa grants data (see below), there was a massive influx post-COVID in 2022–23, but grant numbers have since moderated. So far in financial year 2026 (July 2025 – April 2026), there have been approximately 301,225 student visas granted — tracking below the FY2024 peak but still above pre-pandemic levels.
Bridging visa numbers have hit a new high of 432,300 as at March 31, 2026. This is up from 387,572 at year end December 2025, and up from 379,804 at March 2025 — representing a 13.8% year-on-year increase. The persistent growth in bridging visas reflects both the high volume of onshore visa applications and processing delays, keeping many holders on bridging arrangements for extended periods.
Temporary resident, skilled employment visas have rebounded strongly to 255,821 as at March 31, 2026 — up from a seasonal low of 215,768 at December 2025 and well above the 204,812 recorded in March 2025. This represents a 24.9% year-on-year increase and reflects sustained employer demand for skilled temporary workers, particularly in technology, engineering, and healthcare sectors. Skilled migration remains firmly on the current government’s agenda.
Visitor visas are at 609,678 as at March 31, 2026 — down from 672,982 in March 2025, a 9.4% year-on-year decline. While this is a seasonal recovery from the December 2025 trough of 477,890, the underlying trend remains softer than pre-pandemic levels. This continues to present challenges for the tourism and hospitality industries, which rely heavily on international visitor spend.
As at March 31, 2026, Australia’s temporary visa holder population remains near record highs at 2,973,057. Working Holiday Makers are at a new record. Skilled visas have bounced back strongly from their seasonal December low. Bridging visas have reached an all-time high. Student visas are recovering well from their seasonal dip. The overall picture is one of sustained and structural reliance on temporary migration across the Australian economy.
Data source: data.gov.au — Temporary Entrants / Visa Holders
Previous article: Australian Temporary Visa Holder Statistics December 31, 2025
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