Processing times · Subclass 101
How long does the subclass 101 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Child visa (Subclasses 101, 802 & 445) applications were finalised within 31 months, and 90% within 33 months. In September 2026 the 75% figure was 30 months. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 101 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All applications | 31 months | 33 months | 30 months |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 101
How the application moves
- The sponsoring parent lodges the application for the child from outside Australia, with proof of the parent-child relationship and custody or consent from any other parent.
- Home Affairs confirms identity, relationship and dependency, then requests health examinations and, for children aged 16 or over, police certificates.
- A decision is made once every family member included has met health and character; the child must be outside Australia at grant.
What most often slows a 101 application
- Missing or unclear consent from a parent who is not migrating, or court orders that do not clearly give the sponsor the right to remove the child.
- Birth certificates and name changes that do not match passports, needing extra evidence or DNA testing.
- Health examinations started late, especially where a child needs specialist follow-up.
What to have ready before lodging
- Certified birth certificate, passports, and evidence of the sponsor's Australian status.
- Signed consent (Form 1229 or equivalent) or court orders from the other parent.
- For children 18 to 25, proof of full-time study and financial dependence; for adopted children, the adoption order.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 101 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Child visa (subclass 101) applications were finalised within 31 months and 90% within 33 months, as at 2 November 2026.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 101 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 101. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Partner visa (Subclasses 820/801 & 309/100): processing times · fees
- Parent visa (Contributory & non-contributory): fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 101 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: Child Visa Australia (101, 802, 445): Rules & Fee. General information only, not migration advice.