India-Born Migrants Top Australia For First Time Ever Up For the first time in Australia’s history, people born in India have become the country’s largest overseas-born population group, overtaking migrants born in England, according to newly released national population figures. As reported by Bloomberg News, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 971,020 Australian residents were born in India, accounting for 5.2% of the country’s population. The figure narrowly surpasses the number of England-born residents, which now stands at 970,950 after gradually declining from more than one million in 2013. The milestone reflects a major demographic shift in modern Australia and highlights the growing contribution of Indian migrants to the country’s economy, education system, workforce and multicultural identity. Over the past decade, Indian migration to Australia has increased significantly, driven largely by skilled migration programmes, international education pathways and employment opportunities across sectors such as healthcare, technology, engineering and hospitality. The data also revealed that people born in China now make up Australia’s third-largest overseas-born group, with around 732,000 residents, followed by approximately 638,000 people born in New Zealand. Immigration has long played a critical role in Australia’s economic growth, helping the country avoid recession for decades except during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although border closures caused a temporary population decline in 2021, overseas migration has since rebounded strongly. According to the ABS, overseas-born residents now account for 32% of Australia’s population in 2025, up from 29.5% in 2022. However, the rapid pace of migration has also intensified political debate. Australia is currently grappling with a severe housing shortage, rising rents and increasing property prices, leading some political groups to argue that migration levels are placing additional pressure on infrastructure and housing supply. The issue has contributed to growing support for the populist One Nation party, led by Pauline Hanson, who has campaigned against high immigration levels for decades. Despite the political tensions, the latest figures underline the increasingly central role Indian migrants play in shaping Australia’s future, economy and cultural landscape. FAQs Why are Indians now Australia’s largest migrant group? Strong skilled migration, student migration and work opportunities have driven significant growth in the Indian-born population over the past decade. How many India-born residents live in Australia? According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are now 971,020 India-born residents in Australia. Which migrant group was previously the largest? People born in England were previously Australia’s largest overseas-born group for many decades. What percentage of Australia’s population is overseas-born? Overseas-born residents now make up 32% of Australia’s population in 2025. Why is immigration becoming a political issue in Australia? Concerns around housing shortages, rising rents and infrastructure pressure have made migration a key political debate. Read More: https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/news/indians-top-australias-migrant-list-overtaking-brits

NZ Passport Expiring Soon? Renew Early to Beat Rush Is your New Zealand passport nearing its expiry date? If so, now is the time to act. With a major surge in passport renewals expected over the next two years, travellers are being urged to renew early to avoid unnecessary stress and travel disruptions. According to Brooke van Velden, Minister of Internal Affairs, more than 1.3 million New Zealand passports are forecast to expire between now and 2027. This spike is largely due to the shift made in November 2015, when New Zealand passports moved from a five-year to a ten-year validity period. As a result, many passports issued in 2015 and 2016 are now approaching expiry. The Department of Internal Affairs is predicting around 622,000 renewal applications in 2026, followed by 759,000 in 2027. That means if your passport is due for renewal soon, hundreds of thousands of others will be applying at the same time. The good news? Processing times have improved dramatically. What once took up to 25 days in 2023 has now been reduced to just three working days for all applications, not only urgent ones. This upgrade in service delivery is expected to benefit families and frequent travellers alike. Still, officials warn that waiting until the last minute could lead to delays once demand peaks. Renewing early can help ensure your travel plans stay on track and free from last-minute complications.