There has been an increase in the number of Greeks who choose Australia for university studies by approximately 500%.
According to data from the Australian Department of Immigration, while only 102 young people from Greece got a student visa for the period 2011-12, the number has now risen to 587 people.
However, despite the significant increase of student visas for studies in Australia, the number of permanent residence permits issued to Greeks has declined from 325 people in 2010-11, to 134 in 2011-2012, perhaps due to the stricter relevant regulations.
Visas granted to Greeks for simple visits (tourist visas) increased by 14%, reaching 7,938, within the period of 2011-12.
Greeks who illegally stayed in Australia after their visa expired, amounted to 440 people. In the category of illegal residence, the Chinese take the lead with 7,800 illegal citizens at the same time that American citizens for the same period amounted to 5,000.
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