34,000 Greeks arrive in Australia

The majority of total arrivals in Australia were Greek Australians returning for a short period.

The number of Greek people fleeing crisis-hit Greece to come to Australia, most of them on a short term basis, continues, with 33,951 Greeks arriving to Australia during the 2012-2013 financial year.

According to statistics released this month by the Department of Immigration, the total number includes Australians, Greek Australians, as well as Greek migrants and visitors.

The majority of total arrivals were short term residents returning – Australians who came from Greece to Australia for an intended duration of stay of less than one year, rather than for settlement or a long term return.

Only 501 Greeks entered the country as migrants in the 2012-2013 financial year, while 1,023 were Australian residents of Greek origin who returned to Australia with an intended duration of stay of one year or more.

The biggest category – 23,141 people – were those who came to Australia on short term resident return – less than one year – most likely to scan the situation in Australia and stay for some time or until the crisis in Greece is over.

Another big category of arrivals was visitor arrivals, with 9,286 Greeks entering Australia in 2012-2013. Of them, 465 entered the country as long term stay visitors – more than one year, and 8,821 for short term stay in Australia.

Out of that 740 were those on temporary resident visas, 363 were students and 6,957 tourists-visitors.

Compared to the 2011-2012 financial year, the number of Greeks arriving to Australia has slightly decreased, from 37,248 in 2011-2012, to 33,951 in 2012-2013.
The Department of Immigration data also showed significant number of visitors and other arrivals from Cyprus.

In total, 10,004 Cypriots arrived to Australia in the last financial year, only 35 as migrants and 7,372 as short term resident return. 2,417 visitors from Cyprus entered Australia, with 208 holding temporary residence visas and 31 students.

Neoskosmos.com