Is Australia busier than ever? What a record year means for Vietnamese workers

News · 2026-08-22 · 3 min read

Australia has a new migration record. In the 2025–26 financial year, net permanent and long-term overseas arrivals reached 476,870 people. That is the highest yearly total ever recorded. Many Vietnamese workers ask the same question: is this good news for me? This guide gives a simple answer.

What do the numbers say?

Here are the main figures.

In June 2026, net arrivals were 27,030.
From January to June 2026, net arrivals were 275,810.
Over the whole 2025–26 year, the total was 476,870.

This growth did not happen overnight. Yearly net arrivals are up 96% from around 243,900 a decade ago. In the same financial year, about 205,249 homes were approved. That is lower than a decade ago. So Australia has a real challenge: more people, but not enough new housing.

Is this good news?

In many ways, yes. High arrival numbers show that employers still hire people from other countries. They also show that the visa system still moves many applicants through.

But there are two things to remember.

First, busy systems can be slow. When many people apply, some visa streams may have longer waiting times. A complete and early application helps.

Second, rules can change. When migration is a big public topic, governments sometimes change the occupation list, the quotas or the visa fees. Check official pages often. The Department of Home Affairs has a list of visas that you can read before you decide anything.

Also look at regional Australia. Big cities feel the housing and infrastructure pressure most. So governments may keep supporting pathways for regional areas and for places with a clear need for workers. These pathways may give you an advantage.

What can you prepare now?

Some papers take a long time. Start early.

Skills and qualifications. Vietnamese vocational certificates and degrees are usually assessed again in Australia. This is called a skills assessment. Keep your certificates, results and work letters together.
English test. Some visas or employers ask for an IELTS or PTE result. Check what your pathway needs.
Police clearance. If a police certificate is requested, Vietnamese citizens usually need the Judicial Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2).
Translations. Where the visa rules ask for it, use certified English translations of your Vietnamese documents.

Stay safe while you plan

A busy migration season brings people who want your money. Please deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a job or a visa. A real process uses official government information, and you can read that yourself.

The simple message

Australia still welcomes many new arrivals, and employers still look overseas. That is encouraging. Your best step is a calm one: choose your pathway, learn the rules from official pages, and get your documents ready. Small steps now can save you a lot of stress later.

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