Updated 17 May 2026 · Source: Home Affairs Global Visa Processing Times
Australian visa processing times, 2026
Current published 25th, 50th (median) and 90th percentile processing times for every major Australian visa subclass. These figures are guidance, not a commitment; individual applications can vary significantly based on documentation, country of passport and case complexity.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Processing times below reflect Department of Home Affairs Global Visa Processing Times as at January 2026. Last reviewed for this guide 17 May 2026.
- ✓482 Specialist Skills (high-income threshold) has 7-day median targets. Visitor visas (600, 651, 601) are usually 1–20 days.
- ✓Skilled migration (189, 190, 491) runs 6–18 months median. Employer-sponsored 482 Core 1–6 months. Partner visas 12–24 months to first stage.
- ✓Parent visas remain extreme: Contributory Parent (143) 5–12 years; non-contributory (103) often 20–30 years. Use 870 Sponsored Parent (temporary) for parents needing immediate visits.
- ✓Published times are 25th, 50th and 90th percentile of applications finalised in the last published month, not a guarantee. Individual applications can vary significantly.
Group
Skilled (points-tested)
| Subclass | Visa name | 25% | 50% (median) | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | Skilled Independent | 8 months | 13 months | 22 months |
| 190 | Skilled Nominated | 6 months | 11 months | 18 months |
| 491 | Skilled Work Regional Provisional | 4 months | 9 months | 16 months |
| 191 | Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) | 5 months | 8 months | 14 months |
Group
Employer-sponsored
| Subclass | Visa name | 25% | 50% (median) | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 482 Specialist Skills | Skills in Demand | 7 days | 14 days | 60 days |
| 482 Core Skills | Skills in Demand | 1 month | 3 months | 7 months |
| 494 | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | 2 months | 5 months | 10 months |
| 186 TRT | Employer Nomination Scheme (Temp Residence Transition) | 4 months | 8 months | 14 months |
| 186 DE | Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry) | 6 months | 11 months | 20 months |
Group
Partner and family
| Subclass | Visa name | 25% | 50% (median) | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 820 | Partner (onshore temporary) | 6 months | 18 months | 36 months |
| 801 | Partner (onshore PR) | 4 months | 11 months | 24 months |
| 309 | Partner (offshore provisional) | 8 months | 15 months | 24 months |
| 100 | Partner (offshore PR) | 5 months | 12 months | 24 months |
| 300 | Prospective Marriage | 14 months | 20 months | 30 months |
| 143 | Contributory Parent | 5 years | 7 years | 12 years |
| 103 | Parent (non-contributory) | 20 years | 29+ years | 30+ years |
Group
Student and graduate
| Subclass | Visa name | 25% | 50% (median) | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | Student visa | 1 month | 2 months | 6 months |
| 485 PHEW | Temporary Graduate (Post-Higher Education Work) | 2 months | 4 months | 10 months |
Group
Visitor
| Subclass | Visa name | 25% | 50% (median) | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 Tourist | Visitor visa | 1 day | 20 days | 3 months |
| 600 Business | Visitor (Business) | 1 day | 14 days | 8 weeks |
| 651 | eVisitor | 1 day | 4 days | 14 days |
| 601 | Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) | Instant | 1 day | 5 days |
Group
Talent and innovation
| Subclass | Visa name | 25% | 50% (median) | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 858 | National Innovation (Global Talent) | 2 months | 5 months | 14 months |
Group
Bridging
| Subclass | Visa name | 25% | 50% (median) | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BVA | Bridging Visa A (auto on substantive lodgement) | Same day | 1 day | 5 days |
| BVB | Bridging Visa B (travel) | 7 days | 14 days | 6 weeks |
| BVE | Bridging Visa E (no substantive) | 14 days | 1 month | 3 months |
Practical
What can speed up or slow down your application
Speeds up: lodging decision-ready (every required document up front, English certificate current, skills assessment current, AFP and overseas police checks attached, medical examination booked or done), high-trust passport (UK / EU / NZ / US / Canada), uncomplicated history (no prior refusals or cancellations), employer / sponsor providing strong supporting evidence, paying VAC1 in full on lodgement.
Slows down: missing core evidence (Department issues a Section 56 request and waits 28+ days for response), health flags (TB exposure, undeclared significant medical), character flags (any criminal record needs police clearances and may be referred to character branch), AUSTRAC referrals for high-value visa applications, complex sponsorship arrangements, peak processing periods (June / July around year-end), and country-specific verification (especially for some Indian, Pakistani and Vietnamese passport holders where document verification can take longer).
Watch the ImmiAccount inbox. The Department sends most communications via the ImmiAccount portal, not by email. A Section 56 request for further documents has a 28-day deadline. Miss it and the Department may decide on the available material, which usually means refusal.
Don’t follow up too early. Most processing-time enquiries before the 90th percentile mark slow processing rather than accelerate it. The case officer interpretation is that the file has been recently touched and can be cycled back to the bottom of the queue.
Common questions
Visa processing – common questions
Why is my visa taking longer than the published time?
Published times are guidance, not commitment. Common reasons applications take longer than the 50th percentile: incomplete decision-ready documentation, health or character checks pending (especially for high-risk countries), skills assessment review, AUSTRAC / character agency referrals, peak-period processing, or case officer rotation.
How can I check my visa status?
Log into ImmiAccount (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au). Your application status, any document requests, and any decision notification appear there. The Department generally does not email or post substantive updates – ImmiAccount is the primary channel.
When can I follow up on a slow application?
Generally not until your application is past the 90th percentile published time for your subclass. Earlier follow-ups rarely accelerate processing and can sometimes flag the application for review. If documentation requests have come and gone with no further movement after 4 weeks, you can submit an enquiry via ImmiAccount.
Are processing times updated monthly?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs publishes Global Visa Processing Times monthly on its website. Times are 25th, 50th and 90th percentile of applications finalised in the previous month. They reflect the recent past, not the current queue, so an application lodged today may take longer than the published times if the queue is growing.
Which visas are processed fastest in 2026?
Electronic Travel Authority (601) is near-instant. eVisitor (651) is usually 1–14 days. 482 Specialist Skills stream has a 7-day median target. Most other employer-sponsored visas (482 Core, 494) are 1–6 months median. Partner visas remain the slowest non-parent category at 12–24 months.
Will my application speed up if I get a migration agent involved mid-process?
No. The Department processes applications on their merits; agent involvement does not affect priority. However, an agent can identify whether the application is at risk of refusal (e.g. missing evidence, weak GS submission for a student visa) and provide additional submissions while the application is still pending, which can save the application from refusal.
Source
Where these numbers come from
All times on this page are derived from the Department of Home Affairs Global Visa Processing Times publication. Times are 25th, 50th and 90th percentile of applications finalised in the most recent published month. Times are guidance only and can vary by individual application.