Australia's migration system at a glance

Some seven million permanent migrants have settled in Australia since 1945, the year the country's immigration department was established. 

Before that, some 700,000 "new settlers" arrived between 1901 and the beginning of World War II.

Australia has two highly regulated permanent migration programmes: one for skilled and family members and another for refugees and asylum-seekers.

A merit-based points system for immigration allows family members and skilled professionals to migrate. It is capped at 190,000 people per year, of which two-thirds are set aside for skilled workers.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump in his first address to Congress advocated for the US to adopt a similar points system.

Under this system in Australia, the migrants must have particular work skills, be nominated by local employers, or bring sufficient capital to establish a business or investment in the country. Proponents believe this system limits migration to select areas where workers are needed for the country, benefiting the local economy.

In the year 2015-16, 128,550 permanent skilled visas were issued, of which more than 40,000 were from India.

Some 57,000 additional visas were given to the family members of people already in Australia.

Meanwhile, Australia has a separate humanitarian programme that offers resettlement to refugees and displaced persons suffering discrimination that amounts to gross violations of human rights.

In 2014-15, Australia granted 17,555 visas under the humanitarian programme, which included 3,790 visas to people displaced by conflicts in Syria and Iraq.    (dpa)

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