AIR ARRIVALS
The debate about asylum seeker laws and policies in Australia has been dominated by the means of arrival, largely focusing on boat arrivals. Historically, though, most asylum seekers in Australia have arrived by air. This Explainer compares the number of air arrivals and boat arrivals, and explains their respective treatment under Australian law. Importantly, the 1951 Refugee Convention states that asylum seekers should not be penalised for irregular entry or stay, subject to limited exceptions. This applies regardless of how asylum seekers arrive in the country.
Comparing air arrivals and boat arrivals
In 2013-2014, at the peak of boat arrivals, the number of boat arrivals and air arrivals was roughly even. In the intervening decade, the majority of asylum seekers arrived by plane, landing in Australia with valid visas and seeking asylum while living in the community.
Between 7 September 2013 and 21 May 2022, 143,749 people arrived by plane and made an application for a permanent Protection visa at their initial arrival in Australia. From 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2025, approximately 26,374 permanent protection visas were granted for asylum seekers arriving by air. In comparison, between 18 September 2013 to 31 October 2025, around 2,518 people attempted to reach Australia by boat. Of these boat arrivals, 1,125 asylum seekers were taken to regional processing centres while the others were turned back to their country of departure or taken back to their country of origin.
The majority of air arrivals seeking asylum since September 2013 have originated from China, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and Vietnam. The countries of origin of the majority of boat arrivals have been Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, along with a significant number of stateless people.
How are air arrivals treated under Australian law?
The majority of asylum seekers arriving by plane have valid visas and apply for a permanent Protection visa on arrival or in the community (see our Explainer on Visas for people living in Australian communities). People arriving by plane without a valid visa or those were not immigration cleared on arrival may only be eligible to apply for a Temporary Protection visa (TPV) or a Safe Haven Enterprise visa (SHEV). This small number of people must be ‘screened in’ at the airport and must apply for the bar on visa applications to be lifted.
Whether they arrive by boat or by air, all unauthorised arrivals (that is, people who arrive without a valid visa) are subject to mandatory immigration detention. Air arrivals who seek asylum are placed in closed immigration detention in centres throughout Australia or in community detention while awaiting the determination of their claim for refugee status. As at 31 December 2025, there were 57 air arrivals in immigration detention facilities.
Our statistics page provides the latest data available on the number of refugees and people seeking asylum on different visas in the Australian community as well as people in detention.
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Last updated 8 June 2026