The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Giles, released a media statement this week outlining preliminary steps being taken to speed up visa processing. These include:
- Officers previously focused on travel exemptions have been redirected to visa processing, with nearly 140 new staff in visa processing roles since May 2022.
- A further a surge capacity to work overtime, drawn from across the Department and the Australian Border Force has been established.
745,000 visa applications have been finalised since the beginning of June 2022, including over 645,000 offshore visa applications. This includes 388,000 visitor visas, 62,000 student visas and 9,550 temporary skilled visas.
The number of applications received in June 2022 is 6.5% higher than May 2022 and there was a 10.6% increase in finalised applications.
Processing will prioritise key offshore caseloads, temporary skilled, student and visitor to ensure more people can travel to Australia and contribute to economic growth, and assist with labour shortages.
- AAT processing times
- Business Visas Processing Times
- Citizenship processing times
- Employer Sponsored Visa Processing Times
- Partner visa processing times
- Processing times (Family visas)
- Skilled Visa Processing Times
- Student visa processing times
Related:
Visa Type |
Stream (if available) |
75% of applications processed in |
90% of applications processed in |
| Visitor visas | |||
| 651 eVisitor | Less than 1 day | 10 days | |
| 600 Visitor | Tourist* | 20 days | 33 days |
| 600 Visitor | Business Visitor | 26 days | 4 months |
| 600 Visitor | Sponsored Family | 4 months | 10 months |
| 771 Transit | 14 days | 26 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 | 24 months | 27 months | |
| 132 Business Talent | Significant Business History | 26 months | 35 months |
| 132 Business Talent | Venture Capital Entrepreneur | 36 months | 40 months |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | Agreement | 6 months | 13 months |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | Direct Entry | 7 months | 12 months |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | Transition Pathway | 15 months | 18 months |
| 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) | Significant Investor | 18 months | 26 months |
| 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) | Investor | 36 months | 38 months |
| 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) | Business Innovation | 29 months | 35 months |
| 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) | Premium Investor | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. |
| 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) | Entrepreneur | 5 months | 8 months |
| 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) | Business Innovation Extension | 12 months | 19 months |
| 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) | Significant Investor Extension | 11 months | 14 months |
| 189 Skilled – Independent | Points-tested | 24 months | 35 months |
| 189 Skilled – Independent | New Zealand | 18 months | 24 months |
| 190 Skilled – Nominated | 9 months | 19 months | |
| 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) | 31 days | 45 days | |
| 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) | Highly Specialised Work | 23 day | 46 days |
| 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) | Seasonal Worker Programme | 9 days | 14 days |
| 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) | Government Agreement | 59 days | 12 months |
| 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) | Foreign Government Agency | 8 months | 15 months |
| 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) | Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) | Processing time are not available. | Processing times are not available. |
| 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) | Privileges and Immunities | 27 days | 82 days |
| 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) | Pacific Labour Scheme | 8 days | 11 days |
| 407 Training | 4 months | 10 months | |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Australian Government Endorsed Events | 4 months | 6 months |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Domestic Work for Executives | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Exchange Arrangements | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Superyacht Crew | 6 months | 8 months |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Special Programmes | 11 months | 14 months |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Religious Work | 8 months | 14 months |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Research Activities | 3 months | 12 months |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity | 8 days | 19 days |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Sporting Activities | 32 days | 3 months |
| 408 Temporary Activity | Entertainment Activities | 53 days | 24 months |
| 417 Working Holiday | 28 days | 3 months | |
| 462 Work and Holiday* | 10 months | 20 months | |
| 476 Skilled – Recognised Graduate | 35 months | 35 months | |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | Graduate Work | 11 months | 17 months |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | Post-Study Work | 11 months | 12 months |
| 489 Skilled – Regional (Provisional) | First Provisional | 28 months | 32 months |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) | State/Territory Government Nominated Regional | 9 months | 18 months |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) | Family Sponsored Regional | 7 months | 14 months |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) | Employer Sponsored | 6 months | 10 months |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) | Labour Agreement | 5 months | 7 months |
| 858 Distinguished Talent | Global Talent Pathway | 80 days | 5 months |
| 858 Distinguished Talent | Distinguished Talent | 23 months | 24 months |
| 887 Skilled – Regional | 21 months | 22 months | |
| 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) | Business Innovation | 24 months | 27 months |
| 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) | Investor | 23 months | 24 months |
| 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) | Premium Investor | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. |
| 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) | Significant Investor | 26 months | 27 months |
| 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) | Entrepreneur | 41 days | 41 days |
| 890 Business Owner | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. | |
| 891 Investor | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. | |
| 892 State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. | |
| 893 State/Territory Sponsored Business Investor | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. | |
| *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. ^Due to the recent introduction of the New Zealand pathway stream of the subclass 189 visa global processing times are not yet available. |
|||
| Student visas | |||
| 500 Student | Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector | 75 days | 4 months |
| 500 Student | Postgraduate Research Sector | 3 months | 6 months |
| 500 Student | Non-Award Sector | 19 days | 29 days |
| 500 Student | Schools Sector | 87 days | 4 months |
| 500 Student | Independent ELICOS Sector | 44 days | 14 months |
| 500 Student | Vocational Education and Training Sector | 7 months | 12 months |
| 500 Student | Higher Education Sector | 43 days | 6 months |
| 590 Student Guardian | 89 days | 4 months | |
| Family and partner visas | |||
| 100 Partner* | 19 months | 29 months | |
| 101 Child | 25 months | 36 months | |
| 102 Adoption | 20 months | 29 months | |
| 117 Orphan Relative | 68 months | 110 months | |
| 300 Prospective Marriage | 24 months | 33 months | |
| 309 Partner (Provisional) | 21 months | 31 months | |
| 445 Dependent Child | 6 months | 9 months | |
| 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) | 24 months | 33 months | |
| 801 Partner* | 12 months | 20 months | |
| 802 Child | 10 months | 24 months | |
| 820 Partner | 21 months | 34 months | |
| 837 Orphan Relative | 15 months | 20 months | |
| *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 | 27 days | 88 days | |
| 155 Five Year Resident Return | 6 days | 43 days | |
| 157 Three Month Resident Return | 3 months | 5 months | |
| 159 Provisional Resident Return | Processing times are not available. | Processing times are not available. | |
| 808 Confirmatory (Residence) | 35 days | 81 days | |
| 988 Maritime Crew Visa | 5 days | 10 days | |
Citizenship application processing times
| Australian Citizenship application type | 75% of applications processed in | 90% of applications processed in |
|---|---|---|
| Conferral (lodgement to ceremony**) | 19 months | 27 months |
| Descent (lodgement to decision) | 64 days | 5 months |
| Evidence (lodgement to decision) | 16 days | 27 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.
Important
Visa processing times were significantly delayed due to the impacts of COVID-19 and international border restrictions and closures. As a result of Australia’s border reopening to all fully vaccinated travellers from 21 February 2022, the visa processing times are now slowly reducing as processing has resumed.
Circumstances that affect processing times
We assess applications on a case-by-case basis, and actual processing times can vary due to individual circumstances including:
- whether you have lodged a complete application, including all necessary supporting documents
- how promptly you respond to any requests for additional information
- how long it takes to perform required checks on the supporting information provided
- how long it takes to receive additional information from external agencies, particularly in relation to health, character, and national security requirements
- for permanent migration visa applications, how many places are available in the migration programme
- for citizenship applications, the time taken to attend a Citizenship Ceremony or receive a Citizenship Certificate.
Contact us today for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.
