Australian visa processing times as at 28th July 2026 range from as little as one day to more than two years, depending on the visa subclass and application stream. Temporary visas such as the Subclass 400, 417 and specialist stream of the Subclass 482 are generally processed faster, while Subclass 101, 190 and 491 applicants face considerably longer waits. These figures are indicative rather than guaranteed, and complete, decision-ready applications are less likely to suffer avoidable delays. Applicants should always check the Australian Department of Home Affairs processing-times guide before making travel, employment or relocation plans.
The latest indicative timeframes provide applicants with a useful guide when planning employment, travel, study or relocation to Australia.
Current Australian visa processing times
Family visas
Child Visa (Subclass 101): 20 to 30 months
Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa (Subclass 870):
Sponsorship application: 82 days to 4 months
Visa application: 82 days to 4 months
Skilled and employer-sponsored visas
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186):
Labour Agreement stream: 8 to 11 months
Direct Entry stream: 9 to 12 months
Temporary Residence Transition stream: 9 to 14 months
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): 6 to 8 months
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): 13 to 17 months
Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 191): Approximately 9 months
Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482):
Core Skills stream: 83 days to 10 months
Labour Agreement stream: 5 to 8 months
Specialist Skills stream: 10 to 57 days
Nomination application: 17 days to 9 months
Standard Business Sponsorship application: 12 to 67 days
Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491): 15 to 23 months
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494):
Employer Sponsored stream: 5 to 11 months
Labour Agreement stream: 89 days to 10 months
Temporary work and holiday visas
Temporary Work Short Stay Specialist Visa (Subclass 400): 7 to 28 days
Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417): 1 to 38 days
Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462): 21 to 70 days
Student visas
Student Visa (Subclass 500): 16 days to 7 months
Processing times for student visas can differ substantially according to the education sector, the applicant’s circumstances and the processing priority of the education provider.
Visitor visas
Visitor Visa (Subclass 600):
Tourist stream: 16 to 33 days
Business Visitor stream: 6 to 26 days
Sponsored Family stream: 42 to 86 days
Resident Return visas
Resident Return Visa: 26 to 68 days
Why do processing times vary so widely?
The published timeframes are based on recently decided applications. They are not guaranteed decision dates and cannot predict exactly how long an individual application will take.
Processing can be affected by:
Whether the application was complete when lodged
How quickly the applicant responds to requests for further information
Health, character and national security checks
The complexity of the applicant’s circumstances
Verification of employment and supporting documents
Annual migration programme availability
Government processing priorities
Changes in application volumes
The Department of Home Affairs currently gives priority to certain skilled applications, including employer-sponsored positions in designated regional areas and applicants working in specified healthcare and teaching occupations. Lower-priority applications may take longer than the published global timeframes.
Can an applicant speed up the process?
There is generally no option to pay for priority processing. However, avoidable delays can often be reduced by lodging a complete and properly prepared application from the outset.
Applicants should ensure that all required identity, employment, qualification, skills assessment, English-language, health and character documents are supplied at the appropriate stage. Documents should also be accurate and consistent across the application.
Submitting incomplete evidence in the hope of adding it later can cause delays and may, in certain circumstances, place the application at risk.
Information updated in July 2026. Processing times are indicative and subject to change. Applicants should consult the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ official processing-times guide before making important travel or employment decisions.