Australia is a popular destination for Nepali students, workers, and migrants who want to pursue higher education, better career opportunities, and a multicultural lifestyle. However, getting an Australian visa is not always easy, as there are various requirements, criteria, and processes to follow. In this article, we will look at the visa success rate for Australia from Nepal in 2023, based on the latest data and trends available.
Types of Australian Visas for Nepali Applicants
There are different types of Australian visas that Nepali applicants can apply for, depending on their purpose, duration, and eligibility. Some of the most common ones are:
- Student visas: These visas allow Nepali students to study in Australia for up to five years, depending on their course level and length. There are different subclasses of student visas, such as subclass 500 (Student), subclass 590 (Student Guardian), and subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate).
- Skilled visas: These visas allow Nepali workers to live and work in Australia based on their skills, qualifications, and occupation. There are different subclasses of skilled visas, such as subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated), subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional), and subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage).
- Family visas: These visas allow Nepali citizens who have a spouse, partner, child, parent, or relative who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to join them in Australia. There are different subclasses of family visas, such as subclass 100 (Partner), subclass 101 (Child), subclass 103 (Parent), and subclass 300 (Prospective Marriage).
- Humanitarian visas: These visas allow Nepali citizens who are refugees or in need of humanitarian protection to resettle in Australia. There are different subclasses of humanitarian visas, such as subclass 200 (Refugee), subclass 201 (In-country Special Humanitarian), subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian), and subclass 866 (Protection).
The visa success rate for Australia from Nepal in 2023
The visa success rate for Australia from Nepal in 2023 is not yet available, as the data is usually released by the Department of Home Affairs after the end of each financial year. However, we can use the previous years’ data and the current trends to estimate the possible outcomes.
According to the latest visa statistics, in the financial year 2020-21, a total of 18,710 Australian visas were granted to Nepali applicants. This was a decrease of 44.6% from the previous year, when 33,760 visas were granted. The main reason for this decline was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel and migration.
The breakdown of the visa grants by type was as follows:
- Student visas: 13,450 grants (71.9% of the total)
- Skilled visas: 2,370 grants (12.7% of the total)
- Family visas: 1,920 grants (10.3% of the total)
- Humanitarian visas: 970 grants (5.2% of the total)
The visa success rate for each type can be calculated by dividing the number of grants by the number of applications lodged. However, this may not be accurate, as some applications may still be in progress or withdrawn at the end of the financial year. Therefore, we will use the visa grant rate instead, which is calculated by dividing the number of grants by the number of finalised applications (grants plus refusals).
The visa grant rate for each type was as follows:
- Student visas: 81.4%
- Skilled visas: 88.8%
- Family visas: 83.6%
- Humanitarian visas: 99.8%
These rates indicate that most Nepali applicants who applied for Australian visas in 2020-21 were successful in obtaining them. However, this may not reflect the actual difficulty or competitiveness of each visa type, as there may be other factors involved, such as eligibility criteria, processing times, quotas, and priority levels.
For example, student visas have a high grant rate but also a high number of applications and refusals. Skilled visas have a higher grant rate but also a lower number of applications and refusals. Family visas have a lower grant rate but also a lower number of applications and refusals. Humanitarian visas have a very high grant rate but also a very low number of applications and refusals.
Therefore, to estimate the visa success rate for Australia from Nepal in 2023, we need to consider the possible changes and trends that may affect the visa outcomes. Some of these are:
- COVID-19 recovery: The Australian government has announced its plan to reopen its borders and resume international travel and migration in 2022-23, as part of its COVID-19 recovery strategy. This may increase the demand and supply of Australian visas for Nepali applicants, as well as the competition and complexity of the visa process.
- Migration program changes: The Australian government has also announced some changes to its migration program for 2022-23 and beyond, such as increasing the permanent migration intake, introducing new visa pathways, and prioritising certain visa categories. These may create new opportunities and challenges for Nepali applicants, depending on their visa type and eligibility.
- Country-specific factors: The visa success rate for Australia from Nepal may also be influenced by some country-specific factors, such as the political, economic, social, and environmental situation in Nepal, the bilateral relations between Nepal and Australia, and the reputation and performance of Nepali applicants.
Based on these factors, we can expect that the visa success rate for Australia from Nepal in 2023 will vary depending on the visa type and the individual circumstances of each applicant. However, we can also assume that the overall trend will be positive, as both countries have a strong interest and commitment to enhance their cooperation and partnership in various fields, including education, trade, tourism, and development.