IMMIGRATION  PROGRAMS
                                                                                                                                         

There are two programs designed to help people wanting to come to Australia permanently. One is the migration program which is made up of:

• a skill migration stream, which has a number of categories for people who have particular occupation skills, outstanding talents or business skills;

• a family migration stream, where people can be sponsored by a relative who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident;

• special eligibility migrants, who are former citizens or residents wanting to return to Australia, or certain New Zealanders.

The migration program for 2004-05 has 120,000 places available for migrants, with a   strong focus on attracting skilled people and people who agree to live in regional areas of Australia.

The second program is the separate Humanitarian Program which is designed for refugees and others in special humanitarian need. A major component of the humanitarian program is the offshore resettlement program, which assists people in humanitarian need overseas for whom resettlement in another country is the only option. This component is for those people already in Australia who arrived on temporary visas or in an unauthorised manner, and who claim Australia’s protection.

The size of the 2004-05 humanitarian program is 13,000 places.