22 May 2008

More British people opt for Australian immigration

More British people are choosing to enter into Australian immigration, according to figures from the UK government. The Independent reported that the view of Australia has changed dramatically since Victorian times with British people now seeing the country as a viable place to live and work.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the UK, found that 83,000 Britons have moved to Australia in the past decade, with a 300 per cent rise in levels over the past five years. Almost a third of all British emigrants leaving the country opted for visas to Australia and New Zealand. The weather, safety and lower crime levels were among the reasons cited for engaging in Australian immigration.

The ONS said: "For British citizens, there has been a noticeable upward trend of emigration in recent years. This coupled with lower numbers of immigration of British citizens, has resulted in increasing net emigration since 2000." The Independent reports this trend is set to continue as the Australian government looks to attract further immigration and has recently increased the number of Australian visas by 31,000. However, highly-skilled workers are being preferred over school leavers.

Australia needs skilled workers: Anyone applying for an Australian visa should begin by completing the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa application to see if they meet the Australian visa requirements.