More than 630 Irish people were deported from Australia over the last two years.

Figures released to RTÉ News by the Australian Department of Home Affairs show that 636 Irish nationals were deported from the beginning of 2016 to the end of August 2018.

Overstaying a visa, having a visa cancelled or invalid visas were common reasons for their removal.

Irish nationals were removed from onshore immigration detention facilities from all states and territories across Australia, according to the Department of Home Affairs in Australia.

A group that helps support Irish people in Australia during times of crisis has said it was "not surprised" by the figures.

The Irish Australian Support Association in Queensland (IASAQ) said that changes to visas have left people in grey areas.

This year, Australia scrapped its skilled 457 visa programme, which had allowed tens of thousands of Irish workers to enter the country legally.

The programme had become mired in controversy with allegations the visa was being misused by employers to import workers on the cheap and not to fill genuine skill shortages.

Thousands of Irish construction and healthcare workers availed of the visa following the economic crash ten years ago.

The then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull made the visa changes announcement in 2017, stating he wanted to put "Australians first".

The 457 visa was replaced with a new temporary visa, the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (TSS).

The list of occupants that qualify for TSS, compared to the 457, was significantly reduced.

The new visa has also limited availability and is only obtainable as a short-term visa, for a maximum two years, or a medium-term visa up to four years.

An applicant must also be sponsored by an employer to avail of the TSS.

A spokesperson for IASAQ, Paddy Farrelly, said the changes came as a "shock" and some Irish people in Australia have "fallen between stools".

Mr Farrelly said the transition from the 457 to TSS can be difficult as the new visas are limited, expensive and have an intimidating amount of paper work.

He said dozens of people are turning to the Irish Australian Support Group looking for help with visa issues.

According to one immigration lawyer in Melbourne, many people are said to be taking a risk and living undocumented in Australia.

Immigration law expert Rick Gunn said there has also been a crackdown on immigrants in Australia, especially in relation to character-based visa cancellations.

He said the Australian government is deporting immigrants if they believe they do not have "good character".

Mr Gunn, who works for Carina Ford Immigration, said he recently represented an Irish man who was in immigration detention for two months after authorities discovered he did not disclose a minor conviction in Ireland.

He said the incident was very upsetting for the man and his family.

Mr Gunn urged people to be upfront and honest about prior convictions, no matter how minor, when entering Australia.

The Irish Australian Support Group has urged those in Australia to contact it and its counterparts in other states and territories if they are experiencing any visa problems.