Bilateral relations
Australia and Portugal have a good bilateral relationship. Portugal has an Embassy in Canberra and a Consulate-General in Sydney as well as Honorary Consulates in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. Australia has an Embassy in Lisbon.

According to the 2016 census, 61,886 Australians claim Portuguese ancestry while 15,804 are Portuguese-born. These community links have produced a steady flow of family visits and cultural exchanges in recent decades.

Portugal is Australia’s 60th largest inbound market by short-term visitor arrivals. In the year ended June 2017, there were 6,600 short-term visitor arrivals from Portugal (up 11.6 per cent on the previous year).

Over the last five years, the average annual growth rate in arrivals from Portugal was 10 per cent. Portugal is Australia’s 53rd most popular short-term destination. In the year ended June 2017, there were 15,400 short-term resident departures from Australia to Portugal (up 16.7 per cent on the previous year). In the last five years, the average annual growth rate in departures to Portugal was 12.9 per cent.

Portuguese student enrolments in Australian education institutions totaled 1,127 in 2016 and included higher education (336), vocational education and training (375), schools (33), English Language Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) (308) and non-award courses (75).