Visa Application Processing Times

Visa Type

Stream (if available)

75% of applications processed in

90% of applications processed in

Visitor visas

651 eVisitor

1 day

2 days

600 Visitor

Tourist*

16 days

28 days

600 Visitor

Business Visitor

8 days

16 days

600 Visitor

Frequent Traveller

11 days

12 days

600 Visitor

Sponsored Family

47 days

67 days

600 Visitor

Approved Destination Status

3 days

4 days

771 Transit

5 days

8 days

*Processing times for the Tourist stream range from 48 hours to more than 20 days depending on factors such as peak processing periods in a particular location.

Work and skilled visas

124 Distinguished Talent

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

132 Business Talent

Significant Business History

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

132 Business Talent

Venture Capital Entrepreneur

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

186 Employer Nomination Scheme

Agreement

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

186 Employer Nomination Scheme

Direct Entry

9 months

12 months

186 Employer Nomination Scheme

Temporary Residence Transition

7 months

9 months

187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

Temporary Residence Transition

8 months

11 months

187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

Direct Entry

13 months

15 months

187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

Agreement

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)

Significant Investor

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)

Investor

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)

Business Innovation

15 months

20 months

188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)

Premium Investor

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)

Entrepreneur

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

189 Skilled – Independent

Points-tested

8 months

11 months

189 Skilled – Independent

New Zealand

Unavailable due to low volume of applications

Unavailable due to low volume of applications

190 Skilled – Nominated

9 months

13 months

400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity)

Australia’s Interest

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity)

Short Stay Specialist

10 days

18 days

400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity

Invited Participant

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

403 Temporary Work (International Relations)

Seasonal Worker Programme

4 days

7 days

403 Temporary Work (International Relations)

Government Agreement

30 days

59 days

403 Temporary Work (International Relations)

Foreign Government Agency

21 days

28 days

403 Temporary Work (International Relations)

Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular)

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

403 Temporary Work (International Relations)

Privileges and Immunities

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

405 Investor Retirement

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

407 Training

89 days

4 months

408 Temporary Activity

Australian Government Endorsed Events

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

408 Temporary Activity

Domestic Work for Executives

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

408 Temporary Activity

Exchange Arrangements

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

408 Temporary Activity

Superyacht Crew

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

408 Temporary Activity

Special Programmes

55 days

79 days

408 Temporary Activity

Religious Work

 79 days

5 months

408 Temporary Activity

Research Activities

56 days

77 days

408 Temporary Activity

Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity

11 days

20 days

408 Temporary Activity

Sporting Activities

19 days

71 days

408 Temporary Activity

Entertainment Activities

7 days

12 days

417 Working Holiday

10 days

 36 days

457 Temporary Work (Skilled)

61 days

6 months

462 Work and Holiday*

15 days

50 days

476 Skilled – Recognised Graduate

67 days

90 days

485 Temporary Graduate

Graduate Work

4 months

4 months

485 Temporary Graduate

Post-Study Work

79 days

4 months

489 Skilled – Regional (Provisional)

Skilled Regional – GSM

6 months

9 months

489 Skilled – Regional (Provisional)

State/Territory Nominated Visa Classes – GSM

8 months

14 months

858 Distinguished Talent

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

887 Skilled – Regional

8 months

11 months

888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent)

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

890 Business Owner

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

891 Investor

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

892 State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner

14 months

15 months

893 State/Territory Sponsored Business Investor

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

*Due to high demand for subclass 462 Work and Holiday visas in the period of July – September, global processing times during these months are expected to increase and may exceed 30 days.

Student visas

500 Student

Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector

9 days

30 days

500 Student

Postgraduate Research Sector

42 days

74 days

500 Student

Non-Award Sector

8 days

21 days

500 Student

Schools Sector

22 days

39 days

500 Student

Independent ELICOS Sector

28 days

47 days

500 Student

Vocational Education and Training Sector

42 days

90 days

500 Student

Higher Education Sector

23 days

48 days

590 Student Guardian

48 days

73 days

Family and partner visas

100 Partner*

21 months

37 months

101 Child

13 months

19 months

102 Adoption

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

117 Orphan Relative

28 months

31 months

143 Contributory Parent (Migrant)

33 months

35 months

173 Contributory Parent (Temporary)

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

300 Prospective Marriage

14 months

19 months

309 Partner (Provisional)

13 months

19 months

445 Dependent Child

9 months

12 months

461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary)

9 months

12 months

801 Partner*

18 months

22 months

802 Child

8 months

10 months

820 Partner

18 months

21 months

837 Orphan Relative

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

864 Contributory Aged-Parent (Residence)

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

884 Contributory Aged-Parent (Temporary)

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

*Processing time for subclass 801 Partner (permanent) visa and 100 Partner (permanent) visa is from date of eligibility (2 years after the 820/801 or 309/100 application is lodged) to finalisation.

Other visas

602 Medical Treatment

13 days

33 days

151 Former Resident

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

155 Five Year Resident Return

4 days

8 days

157 Three Month Resident Return

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

159 Provisional Resident Return

Unavailable due to a low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

808 Confirmatory (Residence)

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

988 Maritime Crew Visa

2 days

5 days

Citizenship Applications Processing Times

Australian Citizenship application type

75% of applications processed in

90% of applications processed in

Conferral (lodgement to ceremony**)

11 months

16 months

Descent (lodgement to a decision)

88 days

5 months

Evidence (lodgement to decision)

6 days

18 days

**A small proportion of applicants for Australian citizenship by conferral are not required to attend a ceremony. For Descent and Evidence applications, allow an additional 10 days for printing and postage of your certificate. If you applied from outside Australia, postage will take longer.