Check your visa processing time in two steps: choose a visa category, then your visa and stream. You will see how long Home Affairs took to decide 50% and 90% of recently finalised applications.
Figures are as at October 2026 (Home Affairs global processing times, last updated 29 September 2026), with the 186 visa updated on 9 November 2026. Times are a guide only: your own application may be faster or slower.
Want every visa on one page? See the full list of Australian visa processing times, with tables for every visa category, closed and replaced visas, and the processing priorities.
Visa processing times by category
Each category page explains the processing times for that group of visas in more detail.
How visa processing times work
The figures describe what has already happened to other applicants. Home Affairs publishes global processing times based on applications it decided recently, and generally updates them each month. They are not a promise or a service standard.
- 50% processed in: half of the recently decided applications were finalised within this time. Think of it as the typical wait for a straightforward application.
- 90% processed in: nine out of ten applications were finalised within this time. If your case involves extra checks, a request for more information or a complex history, plan around this figure.
Times run from the date the application was lodged to the date it was decided (the permanent stage of partner visas is measured from the date you become eligible for it). Because they are worked out from recent decisions, they can rise or fall sharply from one month to the next.
What can slow an application down
- Missing documents, or documents that are unclear, expired or not translated.
- Health examinations or police certificates arranged late.
- Not answering a request for more information within the time given.
- Inconsistent information, such as dates or employment history that differ between forms and evidence.
- Character or security concerns that need further checks.
- For permanent visas, the number of places left in the migration program for the year.
Priority processing
For most visas, including skilled, employer sponsored, partner, family and student visas, you cannot pay to have your application processed faster. The order is set by Ministerial Directions: from 19 September 2026, Direction 121 sets the priorities for the 482 visa and Direction 122 for other skilled visas such as the 186, 189, 190, 491 and 494, with priority sectors such as health care, teaching and construction decided first. Read more on our order of consideration page.
Staying in Australia while you wait
If you lodge a valid application in Australia while you hold a substantive visa, you will usually be granted a bridging visa that lets you stay until a decision is made. Work rights depend on your current visa and the bridging visa conditions, and you may need a bridging visa B before you travel. Read more about bridging visas.
Visa processing times: frequently asked questions
How long does an Australian visa take to process?
It depends on the visa. Visitor, student and working holiday visas are often decided in days or weeks, while employer sponsored, skilled and partner visas can take many months or more than a year. Use the tool above to see the current 50% and 90% figures for your visa and stream, or see the full list of visa processing times.
What do the 50% and 90% figures mean?
The 50% figure is the time within which half of recently decided applications were finalised, and the 90% figure is the time within which nine out of ten were finalised. The remaining applications took longer, often because of extra checks or a request for more information.
How accurate are these processing times?
They are a guide only. They show how long recently decided applications took, not how long yours will take. A complete, straightforward application is often decided around the 50% figure, while one that needs more checks can take longer than the 90% figure. Home Affairs updates its figures regularly, so check again close to the time you lodge.
My application is taking longer than the 90% figure. What should I do?
Check your online account for any request for information you may have missed, and make sure your contact details and circumstances are up to date. Do not lodge a second application for the same visa, as this does not speed things up. You can make an enquiry with Home Affairs once your application is outside the published times, or book a video consultation with one of our registered migration agents.
Why is there no processing time for my visa?
Some visas are not included in the Home Affairs global processing times, such as capped and queued parent visas and protection visas, and closed visas no longer take new applications. For these, the tool shows the visa status instead, and the full list explains each one.
Does the processing time include the nomination or sponsorship?
No. For employer sponsored visas such as the 482, 186 and 494, the sponsorship and nomination are assessed separately from the visa application, and each has its own processing time. Allow for all of them when you plan a start date.
Related guides
- All Australian visa processing times
- 186 visa processing time
- 189 visa processing time
- 190 visa processing time
- 491 visa processing time
- 482 visa processing time
- 494 visa processing time
- 485 visa processing time
- Partner visa processing times
- Order of consideration and processing priorities
- Bridging visas while you wait
Book a video consultation with our registered migration agents to find out more about your visa options.
This page is general information only and is not legal advice for your situation.
