Australia has steadily shifted away from being a country that wanted immigrants and their families and subsequent generations to stay and become part of nation building to a country that prefers temporary migrants.

I wrote on the this forum last year that the OECD’s report on global migration confirmed this trend. The report states that  Australian immigration in the past two decades strongly suggest that Australia can no longer be regarded as a settler immigration nation. 2012-13 immigration data shows that 190,000 arrived under the permanent immigration program (or 192,599 when Trans-Tasman migrants are included).

In the same year, 725,043 – or 766,273 including Trans-Tasman migrants – migrants arrived on temporary immigration visas. This included 258,248 on working holiday visas, 259,278 on international student visas and 126,350 on temporary work (skilled) visas.

With permanent migration quotas amounting to about a quarter of the temporary migrant visa grants (excluding tourists), the figures roughly translate to mean that for every 4 hopeful temporary entrants, only 1 will have a chance of getting permanent residency.

The government has a clear preference for temporary migration over permanent migration. This forces tough competition in the capped permanent visa program as the government’s stated objective is to only let through the ‘best and the brightest’.

Prospective migrants need a long-term well-considered strategy if they want to have a realistic chance of obtaining permanent migration to Australia. Rising costs, tougher rules, a stricter enforcement regime and a tight job market could easily derail poorly considered migration plans.

The latest population/migration models developed by the government's inter-generational report and the MCA's independent assessment and modelling may differ on several aspects but, they however agree on one thing: Australia's migration programme will remain an integral part of Australia's economy. Future migration programs are thus going to pretty much remain the same if not increase.

This forum has received several complaints from readers who can’t seem to understand why on the one hand Australia has a relatively large migration intake and on the other hand, individuals are finding it virtually impossible to gain residency or a job after obtaining that residency. Even those who have toiled for years and paid good taxes are discarded once their employers don’t need them. Unfortunately, this is exactly how the programme is framed.

I am sorry to hear of the circumstances of these individuals, but my opinion has always been that for individuals requiring specific migration advice - on planning their migration pathway or otherwise - to invest in good quality advice from a registered migration advisor. Start with the professional advice. If you don’t, then I can only conclude that Australian permanent residency is not as important as you make it out to be.

The reality of course is that you will have to meet stringent criteria to gain residency. With good advice you will at least know your chances and what you need to do to improve on them.

Follow this link to find an RMA: http://migrationalliance.com.au/find/rma/. It can potentially make the difference you are looking for.