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Visa Processing Times
- Due to COVID-19, some visa processing times have been affecte​d and applications may take longer to finalise. Processing times are not available for all visa subclasses. The Department is prioritising processing of visa applications for travellers who are exempt from our travel restrictions to help those who need urgent travel. For more information on travel restrictions and visa information, visit the Home Affairs’ COVID website.
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Overview
Circumstances that affect processing times
How to view processing times
Capped and queued visas
Visa application processing times
Global visa processing times will be updated monthly, providing you with an indicative timeframe for processing applications. Processing times are available for the majority of visa subclasses products, but will exclude a few subclasses such as those closed to new entrants, subject to capping and queueing, or which have a low volume of applications. Two processing times are displayed in calendar days, indicating how long it is taking to finalise 75 and 90 per cent of applications submitted globally.
Processing times are impacted each month by changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, complex cases, and incomplete applications. Processing times include applications lodged online and by paper. Where available, you should lodge your application online as it helps streamline processing arrangements.​
Circumstances that affect processing times
We assess applications on a case-by-case basis, and actual processing times can vary due to individual circumstances including:
- whether you have lodged a complete application, including all necessary supporting documents
- how promptly you respond to any requests for additional information
- how long it takes to perform required checks on the supporting information provided
- how long it takes to receive additional information from external agencies, particularly in relation to health, character, and national security requirements
- for permanent migration visa applications, how many places are available in the migration program​
How to view processing times
You can view current processing times on the page for specific visa subclasses. You should check regularly to ensure you remain aware of the current processing times for your visa as these may change over time.
To assist in processing, you need to submit a complete application. The checklists provided on ImmiAccount will assist in making sure you include all required documents in your application.​
Capped and queued visas
All Parent and Other Family visas are capped and queued. Applicants, who are placed in a queue, may wait for a number of years before their application is released from the queue. For information related to queue release dates and visa processing times, see Parent visas-queue release dates or Other Family visas-queue release dates.​
Visa application processing times​​​​
Due to COVID-19, some visa processing times have been affected and applications may take longer to finalise. Processing times are not available for all visa subclasses.
Last updated: ​18 June 2021 (for month ending May 2021).​
| Visa | Stream | 75% Of Visas Processed | 90% Of Visas Processed | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 – Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100) | 13 months | 22 months | ​Processing time for subclass 801 Partner (permanent) visa and 100 Partner (permanent) visa is from date of eligibility (2 years after the 820/801 or 309/100 application is lodged) to finalisation. | |
| 101 – Child (subclass 101) | 15 months | 19 months | ||
| 102 – Adoption (subclass 102) | 16 months | 25 months | ||
| 117 – Orphan Relative (subclass 117) | 45 months | 55 months | ||
| 124 – Distinguished Talent (subclass 124) | 22 months | 25 months | ||
| 132 – Business Talent (subclass 132) | Significant Business History | 30 months | 32 months | |
| 132 – Business Talent (subclass 132) | Venture Capital Entrepreneur | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | |
| 151 – Former resident (subclass 151) | Less than 1 day | Less than 1 day | ||
| 155 – Resident Return 5 Year (subclass 155) | 3 months | 3 months | ​Generally, applications that meet the residence requirements will be processed within 5 working days from lodgement. Applications that do not meet the residence requirement will take longer to finalise, as published here.​ | |
| 157 – Resident Return 3mth (subclass 157) | 4 months | 4 months | ||
| 159 – Provisional Resident Return (subclass 159) | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | ||
| 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) | Direct Entry Pathway | 6 months | 11 months | |
| 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) | Agreement Pathway | 7 months | 11 months | |
| 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) | Transition Pathway | 14 months | 18 months | |
| 187 – Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187) | Direct Entry Pathway | 31 months | 39 months | |
| 187 – Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187) | Transition Pathway | 6 months | 12 months | |
| 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) | Business Innovation | 31 months | 33 months | |
| 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) | Investor | 25 months | 32 months | |
| 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) | Significant Investor | 17 months | 27 months | |
| 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) | Premium Investor | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available |
| 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) | Entrepreneur | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | |
| 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) | Business Innovation Extension | 15 months | 17 months | |
| 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) | Significant Investor Extension | 15 months | 16 months | |
| 189 – Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | Points-Tested | 15 months | 25 months | |
| 189 – Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | New Zealand | 14 months | 17 months | |
| 190 – Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | 14 months | 17 months | ||
| 300 – Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) | 23 months | 28 months | ||
| 309 – Partner (Provisional) (subclass 309) | 18 months | 23 months | ||
| 400 – Temporary Work (short stay) (subclass 400) | 8 days | 24 days | ||
| 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) | Government Agreement | 75 days | 5 months | |
| 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) | Foreign Government Agency | 83 days | 7 months | |
| 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) | Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | |
| 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) | Seasonal Worker Program | 9 days | 14 days | |
| 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) | Privileges and Immunities | 76 days | 4 months | |
| 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) | Pacific Labour Scheme | 8 days | 12 days | |
| 407 – Training visa (subclass 407) | 7 months | 13 months | ||
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Entertainment Activities | 13 days | 37 days | |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Research Activities | 7 months | 21 months | |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Religious Work | 7 months | 8 months | |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Special Programs | 3 months | 4 months |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity | 6 days | 14 days | |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Australian Government Endorsed Events | 3 months | 6 months | |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Exchange Arrangements | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Superyacht Crew | 24 days | 38 days | |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Domestic Work for Executives | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | |
| 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) | Sporting Activities | 30 days | 77 days | |
| 417 – Working Holiday (subclass 417) | 4 months | 6 months | ||
| 445 – Dependent Child (subclass 445) | 9 months | 23 months | ||
| 461 – NZ Citizen Family Relationship (subclass 461) | 35 months | 39 months | ||
| 462 – Work and Holiday (subclass 462) | 86 days | 4 months | ||
| 476 – Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) | 14 months | 17 months | ||
| 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) | Short-term | 9 months | 10 months | |
| 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) | Medium-term | 7 months | 9 months | |
| 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) | Labour Agreement | 7 months | 11 months | |
| 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) | Sponsorship | 7 days | 35 days | |
| 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) | Nomination | 34 days | 9 months | |
| 485 – Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) | Graduate Work | 8 months | 9 months | |
| 485 – Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) | Post-Study Work | 8 months | 9 months | |
| 489 – Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (subclass 489) | 23 months | 28 months | ||
| 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) | State/Territory Government Nominated Regional | 11 months | 14 months |
| 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) | Family Sponsored Regional | 8 months | 10 months | |
| 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) | Employer Sponsored | 71 days | 4 months | |
| 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) | Labour Agreement | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | |
| 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) | Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector | 72 days | 4 months | |
| 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) | Postgraduate Research Sector | 5 months | 12 months | |
| 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) | Independent ELICOS Sector | 5 months | 8 months | |
| 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) | Schools Sector | 5 months | 6 months | |
| 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) | Vocational Education and Training Sector | 4 months | 6 months | |
| 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) | Higher Education Sector | 83 days | 4 months | |
| 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) | Non-Award Sector | 4 months | 10 months | |
| 590 – Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) | 5 months | 6 months | ||
| 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) | Tourist | 5 months | 8 months | ​ |
| 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) | Sponsored Family | 6 months | 12 months | |
| 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) | Business Visitor | 5 days | 21 days | |
| 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) | APEC Business Visitor | 11 months | 13 months | |
| 602 – Medical Treatment (subclass 602) – outside Australia | 49 days | 3 months | ||
| 651 – eVisitor (subclass 651) | 1 Day | 17 days | ||
| 771 – Transit (subclass 771) | 11 days | 37 days | ||
| 801 – Partner (subclass 801) | 11 months | 19 months | ​Processing time for subclass 801 Partner (permanent) visa and 100 Partner (permanent) visa is from date of eligibility (2 years after the 820/801 or 309/100 application is lodged) to finalisation. | |
| 802 – Child (subclass 802) | 14 months | 18 months |
| 808 – Confirmatory (Residence) (subclass 808) | 28 days | 36 days | ||
| 820 – Partner (subclass 820) | 21 months | 26 months | ||
| 837 – Orphan Relative (subclass 837) | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | ||
| 858 – Global Talent (subclass 858) | Global Talent Pathway | 66 days | 85 days | |
| 858 – Global Talent (subclass 858) | Distinguished Talent Pathway | 18 months | 22 months | |
| 870 – Sponsored Parent (temporary) visa (subclass 870) | Sponsorship | 62 days | 90 days | |
| 870 – Sponsored Parent (temporary) visa (subclass 870) | 4 months | 5 months | ||
| 887 – Skilled-Regional (subclass 887) | 14 months | 20 months | We are currently assessing applications submitted before September 2020 | |
| 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) | Business Innovation | 21 months | 23 months | |
| 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) | Investor | 20 months | 24 months | |
| 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) | Premium Investor | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | |
| 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) | Significant Investor | 23 months | 24 months | |
| 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) | Entrepreneur | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | |
| 890 – Business Owner (subclass 890) | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | ||
| 891 – Investor (subclass 891) | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | ||
| 892 – State Sponsored Business Owner (subclass 892) | 26 months | 30 months | ||
| 893 – Sponsored Investor (subclass 893) | Processing times are not available | Processing times are not available | ||
| 988 – Maritime Crew (subclass 988) | 3 days | 8 days |