Family visa processing priorities
Family migration applications are processed in line with Ministerial Directions:
-
Ministerial Direction No. 102 - Order for considering and disposing of Family visa applications under sections 47 and 51 of the Migration Act 1958 (Direction 102), and
-
Ministerial Direction No. 103 - Order for considering and disposing of visa applications under section 91 of the Migration Act 1958 (Direction 103).
The processing priorities (with highest priority first) as outlined in Ministerial Direction 102 are below.
- family migration applications that have been subject to ministerial intervention
- applications by a partner or a dependent child
- applications by an orphan relative
- applications by a contributory parent or a contributory aged parent
- applications by a carer
- applications by a parent, aged parent, remaining relative or aged dependant relative.
Direction 102 removed the lowest processing priority imposed under Direction 80 (revoked on 9 February 2023) for applications where the sponsor is a permanent visa holder who entered Australia as an unauthorised maritime arrival.
Family stream visa applicants who were previously affected by the lowest processing priority do not need to contact the Department or take any further action to ensure their application is processed. The Department is working through the large number of affected applications in lodgement date order, with the oldest applications generally being progressed first. The Department will contact affected applicants if any further information is required to process an application.
Note:
For more information on processing Family visa applications for Afghan citizens previously affected by the lowest processing priority see
Afghanistan update.
Summary of family migration visas subject to processing priority directions
The following family migration visas are subject to Ministerial Directions:
- 100 – Partner
- 101 – Child
- 102 – Adoption
- 103 – Parent
- 114 – Aged Dependent Relative
- 115 – Remaining Relative
- 116 – Carer
- 117 – Orphan Relative
- 143 – Contributory Parent
- 173 – Contributory Parent (Temporary)
- 300 – Prospective Marriage (Temporary)
- 309 – Partner (Provisional)
- 445 – Dependent Child
- 801 – Partner (Permanent)
- 802 – Child
- 804 – Aged Parent
- 820 – Partner (Temporary)
- 835 – Remaining Relative
- 836 – Carer
- 837 – Orphan Relative
- 838 – Aged Dependent Relative
- 864 – Contributory Aged Parent
- 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary).
Processing times
Processing times will vary according to the individual circumstances of each case.
Applications may be prioritised in limited circumstances.
Under Ministerial Direction 102 an application may be prioritised if it involves compassionate and compelling circumstances. Decisions to prioritise a Family stream visa application are made on a case by case basis after considering the individual circumstances of the case.
Child and Partner visa processing times are available in the Processing times guide.
Information on seeking priority processing of a Partner visa application can be found at
Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Contributory Parent, Parent and Other Family visa applications are subject to capping and queueing.
See Parent visas - queue release dates and processing times
See Other family visas - queue release dates and processing times
