Country profile - Pakistan

​Population

At the end of June 2023, 120,440 Pakistani-born people were living in Australia. This is more than twice the number (46,910) at 30 June 2013. This makes the Pakistani-born population the 12th largest migrant community in Australia, equivalent to:

• 1.5% of Australia's overseas-born population
• 0.5% of Australia's total population.

For Australia's Pakistani-born migrants:

• The median age of 32.2 years was 6.1 years below that of the general population.
• Males outnumbered females—61.2% compared with 38.8%.

_{(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia’s Population by Country of Birth)}​

Permanent migration

Australia's permanent Migration Program incorporates economic and family migration and is the main pathway to permanent residence. It includes the Skill stream, Family stream and Special Eligibility visas. The only other way to obtain permanent residence is on humanitarian grounds.

Skill stream visas

The Skill stream is designed for workers who have the skills, qualifications and entrepreneurship most needed in the Australian economy. There are seven components:

1. Business Innovation and Investment
2. Distinguished Talent
3. Employer Sponsored
4. Global Talent (Independent)
5. Regional
6. Skilled Independent
7. State/Territory Nominated.

Family and Child stream visas

The Family stream allows the permanent migration of close family members, of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens. It focuses on partners and parents, but also provides the opportunity for additional family members, such as aged dependent relatives, carers, remaining relatives and orphan relatives, to join their family in Australia.

Child visas allow the permanent migration of children, of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens. The Child visa comprises two categories, namely Child and Adoption visas.

Special Eligibility visas

Special Eligibility visas allow former residents and certain people who served in the Australian Defence Force to live in Australia as permanent residents.

This table shows the size of permanent migration from Pakistan by migration category.

Temporary migration

People can come to Australia for a temporary stay for a range of purposes, for example, visiting Australia for tourism or attending a conference, or for more specific purposes, such as medical treatment, study, skilled work, working holidays or other specialist activities. There are six main categories of temporary residents, which can cover stays of more than three months in Australia.

Note: Not all categories apply to migrants from each country.

Visitor visas

Visitor visas are mostly used by people visiting Australia for holidays, tourism and recreation, or to see family and friends. People may also use Visitor visas for certain short-term business activities that do not entail working in Australia.

Working Holiday Maker Program

The Working Holiday Maker Program allows young adults to have an extended holiday and engage in short-term work and study.

Student visa

The Student visa program enables international students to come to Australia to study full-time in a registered course.

Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) visa

Allows a business to sponsor a skilled overseas worker if they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian citizen or permanent resident to fill a skilled position.

Other temporary visas

Other temporary visas include visas that allow people to undertake short-term, non-ongoing highly specialised work, enrich social and cultural development, strengthen international relations or provide training opportunities of benefit to Australia.

New Zealand citizens

Under the 1973 Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, New Zealand citizens can enter and leave Australia freely and live in Australia indefinitely on grant of a Special Category visa (subclass 444).

This table shows the number of visa grants to migrants from Pakistan for Visitor, Student and Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) visas.

Main occupations

This table shows the main occupations for nationals of Pakistan based on Skill stream migration outcomes and Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) visa grants.