Australian Visa Processing Times
The Department of Home Affairs publishes visa processing times by visa type and updates them every month. In the official guide updated on 2 November 2026, 90% of Higher Education student visas were finalised within 7 months, 485 Post-Higher Education Work applications within 33 days, 189 points-tested applications within 9 months and onshore 820 partner visas within 30 months.
These times describe recently decided applications. They are not a commitment for any single application. Complete documents, how quickly requests for information are answered, health and character checks, and the processing order set by Ministerial Directions all make an individual case faster or slower than the published time. Newstars prepares documents against the official requirements before lodging and follows up requests for information and health notices after lodgement, to reduce avoidable waiting.
Nine in ten applications finalised within this time. Source: Department of Home Affairs visa processing times guide, updated 2 November 2026; figures are current as at the build date.
What do 50% and 90% mean in visa processing times?
Home Affairs publishes processing times as percentiles: 50% is the time within which half of applications of that type were finalised, and 90% the time within which nine in ten were finalised. The figures are based on recently decided applications, so they change every month.
The 90% figure is the safer planning assumption. The Department states that the time does not guarantee an application will be decided within it, and the online tool does not check the details of any individual application.
50%: half of applications
Half of applications of that type were finalised within this time; the other half took longer.
90%: nine in ten applications
The usual planning reference. One in ten still took longer.
Updated monthly
The Department recalculates the figures each month from recent decisions. Quote them with their date.
How long do student visas and 485 graduate visas take?
Student visas are measured by education sector: half of Higher Education applications were finalised within 25 days and nine in ten within 7 months; nine in ten Vocational Education and Training (VET) applications within 7 months. Nine in ten 485 Post-Higher Education Work applications were finalised within 33 days, and Post-Vocational Education Work within 4 months.
| Visa and stream | 50% within | 90% within |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa 500 · Higher Education | 25 days | 7 months |
| Student visa 500 · Vocational Education and Training | 4 months | 7 months |
| Student visa 500 · Schools | 24 days | 7 months |
| Student visa 500 · Postgraduate Research | 25 days | 66 days |
| Student visa 500 · Independent ELICOS | 11 days | 49 days |
| Student Guardian visa 590 | 34 days | 8 months |
| 485 visa · Post-Higher Education Work | 16 days | 33 days |
| 485 visa · Post-Vocational Education Work | 52 days | 4 months |
Source: Department of Home Affairs visa processing times guide, updated 2 November 2026. 50% / 90% = the time within which half / nine in ten recently decided applications were finalised. Figures are current as at the build date.
Student visas lodged outside Australia are processed in the priority order of Ministerial Direction 111 (lodged before 14 November 2025) and Ministerial Direction 115 (lodged on or after that date); onshore student visas are generally assessed in order of lodgement.
The Newstars study and visa team checks enrolment, financial and English evidence against current requirements before lodging, and lodges 485 applications inside the post-graduation window, so that cases do not stall waiting for further documents.
How long do skilled and employer sponsored visas take?
Nine in ten 189 points-tested applications were finalised within 9 months, 190 within 16 months and 491 state or territory nominated within 30 months. Nine in ten 482 Core Skills applications were finalised within 9 months and Specialist Skills within 3 months; 186 Direct Entry and Transition applications within 24 months.
| Visa and stream | 50% within | 90% within |
|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent · points-tested | 90 days | 9 months |
| 189 Skilled Independent · New Zealand | 56 months | 62 months |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | 8 months | 16 months |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional · state or territory nominated | 17 months | 30 months |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional · family sponsored | 4 months | 7 months |
| 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) | 7 months | 11 months |
| 482 Skills in Demand · Core Skills | 6 months | 9 months |
| 482 Skills in Demand · Specialist Skills | 59 days | 3 months |
| 482 Skills in Demand · Labour Agreement | 6 months | 10 months |
| 482 nomination | 36 days | 9 months |
| 482 sponsorship | 15 days | 4 months |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme · Direct Entry | 22 months | 24 months |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme · Transition | 22 months | 24 months |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme · Labour Agreement | 44 days | 13 months |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional · Employer Sponsored | 10 months | 20 months |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional · Labour Agreement | 86 days | 13 months |
Source: Department of Home Affairs visa processing times guide, updated 2 November 2026. 50% / 90% = the time within which half / nine in ten recently decided applications were finalised. Figures are current as at the build date.
Since 19 September 2026, 482 applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 121, and 186, 189, 190, 191, 491, 494 and related visas under Ministerial Direction 122: applications in construction, health, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, resources, law enforcement and defence come first, for the 482, Specialist Skills stream applications come next; then applicants who were in Australia at lodgement, then applicants who were outside Australia (those whose application is not combined with another person’s first, all others after).
Which lodgement month are skilled visas up to now?
According to the visa pages updated by Home Affairs on 2 November 2026, priority-sector 189 points-tested and 190 applications are being processed from October 2026 lodgements; 189 applications outside the priority sectors lodged in Australia are at June 2026 lodgements.
| Visa | Priority sectors | Lodged onshore | Offshore, not combined | Other offshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent · points-tested | October 2026 | June 2026 | December 2025 | December 2025 |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | October 2026 | April 2026 | February 2025 | February 2025 |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional | June 2025 | March 2025 | February 2025 | February 2025 |
| 482 Skills in Demand | June 2026 | January 2026 | October 2025 | October 2025 |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | November 2025 | March 2025 | November 2024 | July 2024 |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | December 2025 | September 2025 | September 2025 | October 2025 |
Months shown are the lodgement months each group is being processed from, as published on the Home Affairs visa pages on 2 November 2026. “Offshore, not combined” means the primary applicant was outside Australia at lodgement and the application is not combined with another person’s application. 482 Specialist Skills is a separate group, at July 2026 lodgements. The Department notes that published months can fluctuate as applications are reprioritised. Figures are current as at the build date.
Before lodging, Newstars confirms the facts that decide the processing group — the sector of the nominated occupation and where the applicant will be at lodgement — and plans lodgement and responses to requests around the published groups.
How long is your application likely to take?
The free Newstars assessment covers eligibility and documents, and explains the official processing time, priority order and what to prepare for your visa type.
How long do partner and child visas take?
Half of onshore 820 partner visas were finalised within 21 months and nine in ten within 30 months; nine in ten offshore 309 partner visas within 35 months. For the permanent stage (801 / 100), processing time runs from the date of eligibility, which is 2 years after the temporary and permanent partner applications were lodged.
| Visa | 50% within | 90% within |
|---|---|---|
| 820 Partner (temporary, onshore) | 21 months | 30 months |
| 801 Partner (permanent, onshore) | 6 months | 19 months |
| 309 Partner (provisional, offshore) | 21 months | 35 months |
| 100 Partner (migrant, offshore) | 9 months | 18 months |
| 300 Prospective Marriage | 18 months | 31 months |
| 101 Child (offshore) | 29 months | 33 months |
| 802 Child (onshore) | 21 months | 31 months |
| 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) · visa application | 7 months | 9 months |
| 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) · sponsorship | 4 months | 4 months |
Source: Department of Home Affairs visa processing times guide, updated 2 November 2026. 50% / 90% = the time within which half / nine in ten recently decided applications were finalised. Figures are current as at the build date.
Family visas are processed under Ministerial Direction 117: applications made while the primary applicant was in Australia, for a visa that can be granted in Australia, have the highest priority.
Partner visas take a long time, so the relationship evidence needs to be complete at lodgement. The Newstars partner visa team organises evidence across the financial, household, social and commitment aspects of the relationship and follows up requests during processing.
Why are there no processing times for parent visas?
Parent visas (103, 143, 173, 804, 864, 884) are capped and queued, so Home Affairs publishes queue progress instead of percentile processing times. The Department estimates that a Contributory Parent visa lodged now will take about 18 years, and a Parent or Aged Parent visa about 42 years.
| Visa | Released up to (lodged or queued) |
|---|---|
| 143 / 173 Contributory Parent | November 2018 |
| 864 / 884 Contributory Aged Parent | November 2020 |
| 103 Parent | March 2014 |
| 804 Aged Parent | October 2014 |
Source: Home Affairs parent visa queue page (as at 31 August 2026, updated 6 October 2026). The Department notes it cannot give exact timeframes for capped and queued visas. Figures are current as at the build date.
Parents can join family in Australia on several pathways: permanent parent visas, the 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa and visitor visas each have their own conditions and waiting times. Newstars compares the viable pathways and timing for each family.
How long do visitor, working holiday and resident return visas take?
Nine in ten 600 Tourist stream applications were finalised within 31 days, Sponsored Family within 89 days and Business Visitor within 23 days. Nine in ten 155 Resident Return visas were finalised within 6 days.
| Visa and stream | 50% within | 90% within |
|---|---|---|
| 600 Visitor · Tourist | 21 days | 31 days |
| 600 Visitor · Sponsored Family | 40 days | 89 days |
| 600 Visitor · Business Visitor | 7 days | 23 days |
| 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) | less than 1 day | less than 1 day |
| 651 eVisitor | less than 1 day | less than 1 day |
| 417 Working Holiday | 58 days | 80 days |
| 462 Work and Holiday | 7 days | 74 days |
| 155 Resident Return (5 years) | less than 1 day | 6 days |
| 157 Resident Return (3 months) | 12 days | 62 days |
Source: Department of Home Affairs visa processing times guide, updated 2 November 2026. 50% / 90% = the time within which half / nine in ten recently decided applications were finalised. Figures are current as at the build date.
Home Affairs is prioritising Working Holiday applications lodged in Australia; some offshore applications may take about three months to finalise.
How long does an Australian citizenship application take?
Half of citizenship by conferral applications were decided within 42 days and nine in ten within 5 months; from lodgement to the citizenship ceremony, nine in ten took up to 11 months.
| Application and stage | 50% within | 90% within |
|---|---|---|
| Conferral · lodgement to decision | 42 days | 5 months |
| Conferral · approval to ceremony | 4 months | 6 months |
| Conferral · lodgement to ceremony | 7 months | 11 months |
| Citizenship by descent · lodgement to decision | 37 days | 4 months |
| Evidence of citizenship · lodgement to decision | 4 days | 15 days |
Source: Home Affairs citizenship processing times page (updated 16 October 2026). Figures are current as at the build date.
What makes a visa application take longer?
The main factors Home Affairs lists are whether the application has all supporting documents, how quickly requests for further information are answered, how long health, character and national security checks take, and, for permanent visas, the places available in the migration program. The complexity of the application, changes in application numbers and changes to Ministerial Directions also affect timing.
Missing documents
If required evidence is missing at lodgement, the case waits until it is provided.
Slow responses
The later a request for further information is answered, the later the decision.
Health and character checks
Health, police and national security checks depend on external agencies and are outside the applicant’s control.
Places and demand
Permanent visas depend on annual migration program places; more applications of a type mean longer waits.
Processing order
Ministerial Directions decide which applications come first, so cases are not always decided in lodgement order.
Complexity
Previous refusals, health or character issues and larger family groups take longer to assess.
Newstars checks documents item by item against the official checklist before lodging, schedules health examinations and police certificates so they are valid at the right time, and follows up requests for information within the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the published processing time a commitment?
No. Home Affairs states that the time is based on recently decided applications and does not guarantee that an application will be decided within it.
My application has passed the 90% time. Why is there no decision yet?
One in ten applications take longer, usually because a request for information, a health or character check is still open, or the application sits in a later processing group. Once the published time has passed, the application status can be checked in ImmiAccount.
Are visa applications processed in order of lodgement?
Not always. Home Affairs states it does not always process applications in the order received: skilled, student and family visas each follow the priority order set by Ministerial Directions.
Why can’t I find processing times for parent visas?
Parent visas are capped and queued. Home Affairs publishes queue progress and estimated waiting years for new applications, not percentile processing times.
When does processing time start for a permanent partner visa (801 / 100)?
From the date of eligibility, which is 2 years after the temporary and permanent partner applications were lodged.
How often are processing times updated?
Home Affairs updates its visa processing times guide every month; the latest update was on 2 November 2026. Always plan against the latest official figures.
Know the requirements and timing of your visa before you lodge
Whether in Australia or overseas, contact any Newstars office or send an online enquiry. The initial assessment is free.
