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, and in some cases it may take longer for those visas to be finalised.
Processing Times by visa category (median)
Permanent Visa Program
| Visa Category | January 2026
| Comments |
|---|
| Skilled (Permanent) | 11 Months | Skilled visa applications are subject to an annual planning level and are processed in accordance with government policy priorities. The current Ministerial Direction (No. 105) affords priority to employer sponsored visa applicants working in positions carried out in a designated regional area, visa applicants working in a healthcare or teaching occupation, employer sponsored applicants who have been nominated by an accredited sponsor, permanent and provisional visas that count towards the migration program (excluding subclass 188), and all other visa applications (in that order). Therefore, some applications will be processed more quickly than others, and oldest lodged applications won’t necessarily be processed first. For further information, see Skilled visa processing priorities.
As we are deciding both new and older applications, processing times will change each month. |
| Partner (Provisional/Temporary) | 17 Months | We are focusing on reducing processing times for all Partner visas, with a particular focus on deciding older and complex applications. As we are deciding older applications this will effect processing times and will continue as we work through the oldest applications in the Partner Visa Program.
|
Temporary Visa Program
| Visa Category | January 2026
| Comments |
|---|
| Skilled (Temporary) | 113 Days | We are focused on reducing processing times for all skilled (temporary) visas. Incomplete applications, where we need to request further information, delays the processing of applications. For tips on lodging a complete application, see
Sponsored skilled visa tips and
Check twice, submit once. Where possible, we also encourage the simultaneous lodgement of complete nomination and visa applications which results in more efficient processing.
|
| Student | 29 Days | Student visa applications lodged outside Australia are processed in accordance with a Ministerial Direction. Applications lodged before 14 November 2025 are processed according to Ministerial Direction 111, and applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025 are processed according to Ministerial Direction 115. For more information see Student visa processing priorities. We recommend applications be lodged well in advance of course commencement and with all supporting documentation.
|
| Visitor | Less than 1 Day | Visitors processing time provided in this table is the combined processing times for subclasses 600, 601 and 651. Please note that 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. We strongly 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 (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, your application may take longer to be finalised than the published times.
|
| Working Holiday Maker | Less than 1 Day | Working Holiday Maker processing times in this table is the combined processing times for both subclass 417 and 462. Please note that processing times vary for each subclass. We strongly 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.
