Northern Territory

Visa Bureau is not affiliated with the Australian Government but is a website...

Australian visas are available from the Australian Government at a lower cost or for free when you apply directly. Our comprehensive visa and immigration information include immigration advice from registered migration agents, an exceptional success rate, document checking and visa processing.

The Northern Territory occupies much of the centre of the Australian continent, but despite its size it is sparsely populated with the majority of larger population centres outside of Darwin scattered along the sealed road that links that capital to southern Australia. It contains many national parks and a major contributor to its economy is tourism.

To live in Australia potential migrants will first need to complete an Australian visa assessment to get an understanding of the available migration opportunities.

Population

Despite its large area of over 520,902 sq miles – making it the third largest Australian federal division – the Northern Territory is sparsely populated.

With a population of 215,000, it is the least populous area in the country. The capital city is Darwin which has a population of 114,300.

As a territory, the Northern Territory is unusual in terms of where the population is concentrated. While most Australian states usually have a population concentrated along the coastal regions, the Northern Territory’s is mostly spread along the Stuart Highway which stretches from Darwin to South Australia.

Check If You Qualify For A Skilled Visa

Climate

Darwin has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season runs from May to September (the southern hemisphere winter), during which nearly every day is warm and sunny, and afternoon humidity averages around 30%.

There is very little rainfall between May and September, and in the coolest months of June and July the daily minimum temperature may dip as low as 14 °C, but very rarely lower and frost has never been recorded.

Economy and Primary Industries

The two largest economic sectors are mining and tourism. Mining and energy industry production exceeds $2.5 billion per annum. The military presence that is maintained both within Darwin and the wider Northern Territory is also a substantial source of employment.

The continued involvement of the Australian Army in the stabilisation of East Timor has swelled the military population of Darwin to over 11,000 individuals. Additionally, to help support the growing population, an increasing number of major construction projects are happening in Darwin.