Variations in processing times
Processing times vary for many reasons, including:
- If applications have all necessary supporting documents.
- If applications are lodged online or as a paper applications – applying online helps streamline processing.
- How quickly responses for further information are provided.
- How long it takes to receive information from external agencies, particularly relating to health, character and national security requirements.
- For permanent visa applications, the number of places available in the migration program.
- The complexity of a visa application.
- The number of visa applications increases or decreases.
- Changes to Ministerial Directions.
- Deciding older applications increases processing times.
Median processing times for key programs
The information below shows the median visa processing times for key visa categories. This is the most accurate way to show the amount of time it is taking most visa applications to be finalised.
Visa processing times vary between different visas within these categories. In some cases it may take longer for those visas to be finalised.
Processing Times by visa category (median)
Permanent Visa Program
| Visa Category | June
2026
| Comments |
|---|
| Skilled (Permanent) | 11 Months | Skilled (Permanent) visa processing times are affected by several factors including:
This means we may decide some applications more quickly than others. We do not always process applications in the order we receive them.
Lodging a
complete application helps avoid delays. For employer-sponsored visas, submitting complete nomination and visa applications at the same time can support more efficient processing.
|
| Partner (Provisional/Temporary) | 17 Months | We process Partner visa applications according to Ministerial Direction 117. This gives highest priority to visa applications made while the primary applicant was in Australia, for a visa that can be granted while the applicant is in Australia. We generally assess applications in date order within each priority group. Processing times vary for each Partner visa subclass. For more information visit visa processing times guide.
|
Temporary Visa Program
| Visa Category | June
2026
| Comments |
|---|
| Skilled (Temporary) | 47 Days | Skilled (Temporary) visa processing times are affected by several factors including:
This means we may decide some applications more quickly than others. We do not always process applications in the order we receive them.
Lodging a
complete application helps avoid delays. Lodging complete nomination and visa applications together can support more efficient processing.
|
| Student | 17 Days |
We process Student visa applications:
For more information see Student visa processing priorities. We recommend you lodge your application well in advance of course commencement and include all supporting documentation.
|
| Visitor | Less than 1 Day | Visitor processing times provided in this table are the combined processing times for subclasses 600, 601 and 651. Processing times for the subclass 600 visa can vary significantly when compared with the Subclass 601 and Subclass 651 visas, which generally have shorter processing times. If we request additional information for any visa subclass, the final decision may take longer while we assess this information. We encourage applicants to review the
visa processing times guide for the specific visa subclass that they applied for. We also encourage that you apply for your visa well in advance of travel. For more information see
Applying for a visitor visa.
While the department strives to maintain global consistency in processing times, some processing locations are currently experiencing delays. As a result, it may take longer than the published times for us to finalise your application.
|
| Working Holiday Maker | Less than 1 Day
| The Working Holiday Maker processing time in this table is the combined processing times for both subclass 417 and 462. Processing times vary for each subclass. We encourage applicants to review the
visa processing times guide for the specific visa subclass that they applied for. We also encourage that you apply for your visa well in advance of travel.
|
How to view processing times
If you have made a visa application you can check processing times information using the visa
processing times guide.
Information on processing times for visas is updated regularly as new data is available.
Processing times are available for most visas, except:
- visas that are closed to new applications
- family visas that are
capped and queued
- visas that have too few decisions in the month to provide a reliable indicator of processing times.
To help us process applications as quickly as possible submit all necessary supporting documents at the time of applying.
