Global visa and citizenship processing times will be updated monthly, providing you with an indicative timeframe for processing applications. Processing times are available for the majority of visa subclasses and citizenship products but will exclude a few subclasses such as those closed to new entrants, capped and queued, or which have a low volume of applications. Two processing times are displayed, indicating how long it is taking to finalise 75 and 90 percent of applications submitted globally.
Processing times are impacted each month by changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, complex cases, and incomplete applications. Processing times include applications lodged online and by paper. Where available, you should lodge your application online as it helps streamline processing arrangements.
Visa Application Processing Times
| VISA TYPE | DESCRIPTION | 75% OF APPLICATIONS PROCESSED IN | 90% OF APPLICATIONS PROCESSED IN |
| 400 | Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) (Short Stay Specialist) | 9 days | 16 days |
| 403 | Temporary Work (International Relations) (Government Agreement) | 32 days | 43 days |
| 403 | Temporary Work (International Relations) (Foreign Government Agency) | 28 days | 43 days |
| 403 | Temporary Work (International Relations) (Seasonal Worker Programme) | 9 days | 13 days |
| 407 | Training | 65 days | 77 days |
| 408 | Temporary Activity (Entertainment Activities) | 7 days | 16 days |
| 408 | Temporary Activity (Sporting Activities) | 22 days | 32 days |
| 408 | Temporary Activity (Religious Work) | 67 days | 76 days |
| 408 | Temporary Activity (Research Activities) | 47 days | 69 days |
| 408 | Temporary Activity (Special Programmes) | 66 days | 75 days |
| 408 | Temporary Activity (Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity) | 8 days | 14 days |
| 417 | Working Holiday | 14 days | 34 days |
| 457 | Temporary Work (Skilled) | 86 days | 6 months |
| 461 | New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) | 8 months | 11 months |
| 462 | Work and Holiday | 7 days | 19 days |
| 476 | Skilled – Recognised Graduate | 4 months | 4 months |
| 485 | Temporary Graduate (Graduate Work) | 5 months | 6 months |
| 485 | Temporary Graduate (Post-Study Work) | 71 days | 90 days |
| 500 | Student (Independent ELICOS Sector) | 55 days | 71 days |
| 500 | Student (Schools Sector) | 55 days | 86 days |
| 500 | Student (Vocational Education and Training Sector) | 43 days | 76 days |
| 500 | Student (Higher Education Sector) | 24 days | 52 days |
| 500 | Student (Postgraduate Research Sector) | 48 days | 4 months |
| 500 | Student (Non-Award Sector) | 29 days | 46 days |
| 500 | Student (Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector) | 15 days | 35 days |
| 590 | Student Guardian | 71 days | 4 months |
| 600 | Visitor (Tourist) | 20 days* | 30 days |
| 600 | Visitor (Sponsored Family) | 41 days | 58 days |
| 600 | Visitor (Business Visitor) | 6 days | 15 days |
| 600 | Visitor (Approved Destination Status) | 3 days | 5 days |
| 600 | Visitor (Frequent Traveller) | 5 days | 12 days |
| 602 | Medical Treatment | 25 days | 56 days |
| 651 | eVisitor | 1 day | 3 days |
| 771 | Transit | 6 days | 9 days |
| 988 | Maritime Crew Visa | 4 days | 6 months |
| 100 | Partner | 15 months | 23 months |
| 101 | Child | 9 months | 15 months |
| 117 | Orphan Relative | 22 months | 26 months |
| 143 | Contributory Parent (Migrant) | 32 months | 33 months |
| 155 | Five Year Resident Return | 2 days | 6 days |
| 173 | Contributory Parent (Temporary) | 32 months | 32 months |
| 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry Pathway) | 9 months | 11 months |
| 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme (Transition Pathway) | 8 months | 9 months |
| 187 | Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Direct Entry Pathway) | 11 months | 12 months |
| 187 | Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Transition Pathway) | 8 months | 9 months |
| 188 | Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (Business Innovation) | 16 months | 18 months |
| 189 | Skilled – Independent | 4 months | 6 months |
| 190 | Skilled – Nominated | 4 months | 7 months |
| 300 | Prospective Marriage | 12 months | 17 months |
| 309 | Partner (Provisional) | 11 months | 15 months |
| 489 | Skilled – Regional (Provisional) (Skilled Regional – GSM) | 5 months | 6 months |
| 489 | Skilled – Regional (Provisional) (State/Territory Nominated visa classes – GSM) | 5 months | 7 months |
| 801 | Partner | 16 months | 20 months |
| 802 | Child | 7 months | 8 months |
| 820 | Partner | 18 months | 20 months |
| 864 | Contributory Aged-Parent (Residence) | 15 months | 15 months |
| 887 | Skilled – Regional | 7 months | 10 months |
| 892 | State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner | 15 months | 17 months |
*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.
Last updated: 14 March 2017
| AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION TYPE | 75% OF APPLICATIONS PROCESSED IN | 90% OF APPLICATIONS PROCESSED IN |
| Conferral (lodgement to ceremony**) | 10 months | 12 months |
| Descent (lodgement to decision) | 63 days | 4 months |
| Evidence (lodgement to decision) | 5 days | 12 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.
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.
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