New UK visa figures reveal Australian's moving to Blighty

June 15 2009 by Gareth McConnell

UK immigration specialist www.globalvisas.com can reveal record numbers of Australian skilled workers are moving to the UK in search of investment opportunities in the wake of the weak pound against the Australian dollar.

According to its expert team, enquiries are up 63% on the same time last year, with record numbers emigrating from Australia, as well as enquiries from North America up 52%.

Liam Clifford, the managing director of www.globalvisas.com commented "With the £50 billion bank bailout and the falling value of the pound against the Australian dollar and other currencies, investment opportunities in the UK haven’t gone unnoticed around the world.”

He adds, “We’ve seen a phenomenal increase in the number of Australian’s applying for a UK visa via the tier 1 entrepreneur, investor and ancestry routes as well as a steady increase in enquiries from North America, it’s a good indicator the economy is back on the right track and the UK is through the worst.”

The most recent figures released by the Office of National Statistics show the number of Australian nationals on a UK visa has increased from 86,000 in 2004 to 95,000 in September 2008.

Additionally the number of Australians with dual-nationality has increased from 112,000 in 2004 to 123,000 in September 2008.

“The recent widespread speculation that UK visa holders from Australia were returning home is exposed as speculation. The fact is UK immigration is facing a fresh wave of overseas investors because the UK is an even more attractive place to do business than it was this time last year, there are vast sums of money to be made.”

Ends

Notes to editors

Global Visas is registered to provide immigration advice in the UK, Australia, USA, Canada, India and South Africa, with offices in five countries.

Last year, the company received over one million visitors to the website www.globalvisas.com