Processing times · Official figures
Australian visa processing times
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports 75% of onshore Partner visas (820) finalised within 26 months, employer-sponsored PR (186, TRT) within 23 months, Skills in Demand (482 Core Skills) within 8 months, Skilled Independent (189) within 4 months, Student visas (500, higher education) within 61 days and Visitor visas (600 Tourist) within 27 days. The full table by visa and stream is below, with the change since the previous month once two months of figures are recorded.
Processing times by visa and stream
| Visa | Stream | 75% within | 90% within | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child visa (Subclasses 101, 802 & 445) · details | — | 31 months | 33 months | 30 months |
| Resident Return visa (Subclasses 155 and 157) · details | — | 4 days | 6 days | no change |
| Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) · details | Direct Entry Pathway | 23 months | 24 months | 24 months |
| Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) · details | Agreement Pathway | 12 months | 13 months | no change |
| Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) · details | Transition Pathway | 23 months | 24 months | 24 months |
| Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188) · details | Business Innovation Extension | 10 months | 11 months | 9 months |
| Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) · details | Points-Tested | 4 months | 9 months | 8 months |
| Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) · details | New Zealand | 59 months | 62 months | 58 months |
| Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) · details | — | 14 months | 16 months | 15 months |
| Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191) · details | Regional Provisional Visa | 8 months | 11 months | 9 months |
| Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) · details | — | 22 months | 31 months | 20 months |
| Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400) · details | — | 23 days | 41 days | 20 days |
| MATES scheme — Temporary Work visa (Subclass 403, MATES stream) · details | Government Agreement | 28 days | 41 days | 29 days |
| MATES scheme — Temporary Work visa (Subclass 403, MATES stream) · details | Foreign Government Agency | 85 days | 4 months | no change |
| MATES scheme — Temporary Work visa (Subclass 403, MATES stream) · details | Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) | 41 days | 3 months | 57 days |
| MATES scheme — Temporary Work visa (Subclass 403, MATES stream) · details | Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme | 18 days | 29 days | no change |
| MATES scheme — Temporary Work visa (Subclass 403, MATES stream) · details | Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) | 3 months | 3 months | 4 months |
| Training visa (Subclass 407) · details | — | 18 months | 19 months | no change |
| Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) · details | Entertainment Activities | 33 days | 40 days | 36 days |
| Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) · details | Research Activities | 3 months | 14 months | 17 months |
| Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) · details | Religious Work | 8 months | 10 months | 4 months |
| Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) · details | Special Programs | 13 days | 30 days | 34 days |
| Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) · details | Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity | 13 days | 34 days | 11 days |
| Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) · details | Exchange Arrangements | 41 days | 50 days | no change |
| Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) · details | Superyacht Crew | 12 days | 15 days | 9 days |
| Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) · details | Sporting Activities | 28 days | 56 days | 32 days |
| Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417) · details | — | 71 days | 80 days | 12 days |
| New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (Subclass 461) · details | — | 6 months | 7 months | 5 months |
| Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) · details | — | 27 days | 74 days | 11 days |
| Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) · details | Labour Agreement | 7 months | 10 months | no change |
| Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) · details | Core Skills | 8 months | 9 months | no change |
| Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) · details | Specialist Skills | 72 days | 3 months | 51 days |
| Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) · details | Nomination | 7 months | 9 months | 6 months |
| Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) · details | Sponsorship | 56 days | 4 months | 28 days |
| Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) · details | Post-Vocation Education Work | 3 months | 4 months | 4 months |
| Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) · details | Post-Higher Education Work | 24 days | 33 days | 13 days |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) · details | State/Territory Government Nominated Regional | 19 months | 30 months | 16 months |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) · details | Family Sponsored Regional | 5 months | 7 months | no change |
| Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) · details | Employer Sponsored | 13 months | 20 months | 11 months |
| Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) · details | Labour Agreement | 4 months | 13 months | 11 months |
| Student visa (Subclass 500) · details | Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector | 5 days | 25 days | 10 days |
| Student visa (Subclass 500) · details | Postgraduate Research Sector | 48 days | 66 days | 50 days |
| Student visa (Subclass 500) · details | Independent ELICOS Sector | 29 days | 49 days | 34 days |
| Student visa (Subclass 500) · details | Schools Sector | 6 months | 7 months | 57 days |
| Student visa (Subclass 500) · details | Vocational Education and Training Sector | 7 months | 7 months | no change |
| Student visa (Subclass 500) · details | Higher Education Sector | 61 days | 7 months | 49 days |
| Student visa (Subclass 500) · details | Non-Award Sector | 4 days | 23 days | 18 days |
| Visitor visa (Subclass 600) · details | Tourist | 27 days | 31 days | 26 days |
| Visitor visa (Subclass 600) · details | Sponsored Family | 54 days | 89 days | 61 days |
| Visitor visa (Subclass 600) · details | Business Visitor | 14 days | 23 days | 13 days |
| Partner visa (Subclasses 820/801 & 309/100) · details | — | 26 months | 30 months | no change |
| National Innovation visa (Subclass 858) · details | Distinguished Talent / Global Talent (Independent) | 19 months | 24 months | no change |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) · details | Visa Application | 8 months | 9 months | no change |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) · details | Sponsorship | 4 months | 4 months | no change |
| Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) · details | Business Innovation | 10 months | 11 months | 9 months |
| Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) · details | Investor | 8 months | 9 months | 5 months |
| Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) · details | Significant Investor | 5 months | 6 months | 6 months |
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Figures cover applications finalised in the previous month and are a guide only. Download this table (CSV).
What changed since September 2026
- Child visa (Subclasses 101, 802 & 445): 75% within 30 months in September 2026, now 31 months
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) (Direct Entry Pathway): 75% within 24 months in September 2026, now 23 months
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186) (Transition Pathway): 75% within 24 months in September 2026, now 23 months
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188) (Business Innovation Extension): 75% within 9 months in September 2026, now 10 months
- Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) (Points-Tested): 75% within 8 months in September 2026, now 4 months
- Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) (New Zealand): 75% within 58 months in September 2026, now 59 months
- Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190): 75% within 15 months in September 2026, now 14 months
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191) (Regional Provisional Visa): 75% within 9 months in September 2026, now 8 months
- Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300): 75% within 20 months in September 2026, now 22 months
- Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400): 75% within 20 days in September 2026, now 23 days
- MATES scheme — Temporary Work visa (Subclass 403, MATES stream) (Government Agreement): 75% within 29 days in September 2026, now 28 days
- MATES scheme — Temporary Work visa (Subclass 403, MATES stream) (Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular)): 75% within 57 days in September 2026, now 41 days
- MATES scheme — Temporary Work visa (Subclass 403, MATES stream) (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)): 75% within 4 months in September 2026, now 3 months
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) (Entertainment Activities): 75% within 36 days in September 2026, now 33 days
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) (Research Activities): 75% within 17 months in September 2026, now 3 months
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) (Religious Work): 75% within 4 months in September 2026, now 8 months
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) (Special Programs): 75% within 34 days in September 2026, now 13 days
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) (Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity): 75% within 11 days in September 2026, now 13 days
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) (Superyacht Crew): 75% within 9 days in September 2026, now 12 days
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) (Sporting Activities): 75% within 32 days in September 2026, now 28 days
- Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417): 75% within 12 days in September 2026, now 71 days
- New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (Subclass 461): 75% within 5 months in September 2026, now 6 months
- Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462): 75% within 11 days in September 2026, now 27 days
- Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) (Specialist Skills): 75% within 51 days in September 2026, now 72 days
- Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) (Nomination): 75% within 6 months in September 2026, now 7 months
- Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) (Sponsorship): 75% within 28 days in September 2026, now 56 days
- Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) (Post-Vocation Education Work): 75% within 4 months in September 2026, now 3 months
- Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) (Post-Higher Education Work): 75% within 13 days in September 2026, now 24 days
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) (State/Territory Government Nominated Regional): 75% within 16 months in September 2026, now 19 months
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) (Employer Sponsored): 75% within 11 months in September 2026, now 13 months
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) (Labour Agreement): 75% within 11 months in September 2026, now 4 months
- Student visa (Subclass 500) (Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector): 75% within 10 days in September 2026, now 5 days
- Student visa (Subclass 500) (Postgraduate Research Sector): 75% within 50 days in September 2026, now 48 days
- Student visa (Subclass 500) (Independent ELICOS Sector): 75% within 34 days in September 2026, now 29 days
- Student visa (Subclass 500) (Schools Sector): 75% within 57 days in September 2026, now 6 months
- Student visa (Subclass 500) (Higher Education Sector): 75% within 49 days in September 2026, now 61 days
- Student visa (Subclass 500) (Non-Award Sector): 75% within 18 days in September 2026, now 4 days
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600) (Tourist): 75% within 26 days in September 2026, now 27 days
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600) (Sponsored Family): 75% within 61 days in September 2026, now 54 days
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600) (Business Visitor): 75% within 13 days in September 2026, now 14 days
- Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) (Business Innovation): 75% within 9 months in September 2026, now 10 months
- Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) (Investor): 75% within 5 months in September 2026, now 8 months
- Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) (Significant Investor): 75% within 6 months in September 2026, now 5 months
How to read these numbers
- 75% / 90% — the time within which three-quarters / nine-tenths of applications were finalised last month.
- Times are not a queue position: complete, decision-ready applications are generally faster; requests for more information add time.
- Employer-sponsored visas have separate sponsorship and nomination steps with their own processing times.
- The Department sets processing priorities (for example by occupation or location), so averages can hide big differences between applicants.
Sponsoring a worker? The employer stages come first
For employer-sponsored visas, Home Affairs reports the business's applications separately from the worker's visa, and the visa can't be granted until the nomination is approved. As at 2 November 2026, 75% of 482 sponsorship applications were decided within 56 days and 75% of 482 nominations within 7 months, against 8 months for the Core Skills visa itself. Lodging the nomination and the visa together lets them run side by side.
- Skills in Demand (482) processing times, plus what the employer pays
- Employer Nomination Scheme (186) processing times, plus nomination and SAF levy costs
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494) processing times, plus employer costs
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Australian Partner visa take?
For the onshore Partner visa (820), Home Affairs reports 75% of applications finalised within 26 months and 90% within 30 months (official figures as at 2 November 2026).
How long does the 186 visa take?
For the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream, 75% of applications are finalised within 23 months and 90% within 24 months, as at 2 November 2026.
How long does a 482 visa take?
For the 482 Core Skills stream, 75% of visa applications are finalised within 8 months and 90% within 9 months. The Specialist Skills stream is much faster. The employer's sponsorship and nomination applications are processed separately.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of applications in the previous month: three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure, and one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, often because the application was complex or incomplete.
How often are processing times updated?
Home Affairs updates global visa processing times monthly. This page refreshes from the official data every time the site updates, and keeps a history so you can see whether times are rising or falling.
Also see: Australian visa fees (every visa application charge).