Australia Visa Processing Times 2026: Every Main Visa
Australia publishes two processing figures for each visa: how long it took to decide half of recent applications, and how long it took to decide 90% of them. The gap between the two is often months. These are the figures the Department of Home Affairs showed in its processing times guide on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
Home Affairs' median processing times for August 2026 were: Visitor visas less than 1 day, Working Holiday Maker 2 days, Student 22 days, temporary skilled 134 days, permanent skilled 8 months and Partner 23 months. By visa, its guide shows half of Student visas in the higher education sector decided in 16 days and 90% in 4 months; the Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream, at 4 months and 9 months; the Tourist stream of the Visitor visa at 21 days and 33 days; and the Partner visa (subclass 820) at 22 months and 30 months. Home Affairs says the guide is an indication based on recently decided applications, not a guarantee.
The headline numbers
Home Affairs publishes a median for each main visa category, which it calls the most accurate way to show how long most applications are taking. These are for August 2026.
| Visa category | Median processing time |
|---|---|
| Visitor (subclasses 600, 601 and 651 combined) | Less than 1 day |
| Working Holiday Maker | 2 days |
| Student | 22 days |
| Skilled (temporary) | 134 days |
| Skilled (permanent) | 8 months |
| Partner (provisional or temporary) | 23 months |
Two warnings come with them. The visitor figure blends the Visitor visa (subclass 600) with the Electronic Travel Authority and eVisitor, which generally have shorter processing times. And Home Affairs is prioritising Working Holiday Maker applications made in Australia, so applications made outside Australia may take about three months in some cases.
Visitor and working holiday visas
| Visa | 50% decided in | 90% decided in |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) | Less than 1 day | Less than 1 day |
| eVisitor (subclass 651) | Less than 1 day | Less than 1 day |
| Visitor (subclass 600), Business Visitor stream | 7 days | 19 days |
| Visitor (subclass 600), Tourist stream | 21 days | 33 days |
| Visitor (subclass 600), Sponsored Family stream | 40 days | 3 months |
| Working Holiday (subclass 417) | 2 days | 58 days |
| Work and Holiday (subclass 462) | 3 days | 44 days |
Student and graduate visas
| Visa | 50% decided in | 90% decided in |
|---|---|---|
| Student (subclass 500), higher education | 16 days | 4 months |
| Student, postgraduate research | 17 days | 55 days |
| Student, independent ELICOS (English language) | 22 days | 53 days |
| Student, schools | 28 days | 7 months |
| Student, vocational education and training | 53 days | 7 months |
| Temporary Graduate (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work | 5 days | 55 days |
| Temporary Graduate (subclass 485), Post-Vocation Education Work | 52 days | 5 months |
Home Affairs recommends lodging a student application well before the course starts and with all supporting documents. See our Australia Student visa guide for the requirements.
Work and skilled visas
| Visa | 50% decided in | 90% decided in |
|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Specialist Skills stream | 37 days | 78 days |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Core Skills stream | 4 months | 9 months |
| Skills in Demand, Sponsorship (as listed in the guide) | 11 days | 57 days |
| Skills in Demand, Nomination (as listed in the guide) | 64 days | 9 months |
| Temporary Work, Short Stay Activity (subclass 400) | 8 days | 43 days |
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189), points-tested | 61 days | 8 months |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | 4 months | 16 months |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491), state or territory nominated | 5 months | 18 months |
| Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) | 8 months | 12 months |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Direct Entry | 21 months | 25 months |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Transition | 21 months | 25 months |
For employer-sponsored visas, Home Affairs says lodging complete nomination and visa applications at the same time supports faster processing. It also states that it does not always process skilled applications in the order received, because Ministerial Directions set priorities. Our Australia work visa guide explains each visa.
Partner and family visas
| Visa | 50% decided in | 90% decided in |
|---|---|---|
| Partner (subclass 820) | 22 months | 30 months |
| Partner (subclass 801) | 8 months | 19 months |
| Partner, provisional (subclass 309) | 21 months | 32 months |
| Partner (subclass 100) | 9 months | 21 months |
| Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) | 14 months | 26 months |
| Child (subclass 101) | 24 months | 33 months |
| Sponsored Parent, temporary (subclass 870), Sponsorship | 89 days | 4 months |
Partner applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 117, which gives highest priority to family visa applications made while the applicant was in Australia for a visa that can be granted in Australia. Within each priority group they are generally assessed in date order. No processing time is published for family visas that are capped and queued.
Why your application may be slower
Home Affairs lists the reasons processing times vary:
- whether the application has all necessary supporting documents;
- whether it was lodged online or on paper; applying online helps streamline processing;
- how quickly you respond to requests for more information;
- how long external agencies take, particularly on health, character and national security checks;
- for permanent visas, the number of places available in the migration program;
- the complexity of the application, and rises or falls in application numbers;
- changes to Ministerial Directions.
What you can do
- Lodge a complete application, with every supporting document, at the start.
- Apply online where you can.
- Answer requests for information quickly.
- Plan around the 90% figure, not the median. Half of applications take longer than the median.
- Do not book flights early. For working holiday visas, Home Affairs recommends not booking flights or making travel, work or study commitments until the visa is granted.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Australian tourist visa take?
In Home Affairs' guide on 13 October 2026, half of Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream applications were decided in 21 days and 90% in 33 days. The Electronic Travel Authority and eVisitor were decided in less than 1 day.
How long does an Australian Student visa take?
The median across student visas was 22 days in August 2026. In the higher education sector half were decided in 16 days and 90% in 4 months; in vocational education and training, 53 days and 7 months.
How long does a 482 visa take?
For the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), half of Core Skills stream applications were decided in 4 months and 90% in 9 months. The Specialist Skills stream was at 37 days and 78 days.
How long does an Australian partner visa take?
The Partner visa (subclass 820) showed 22 months for half of applications and 30 months for 90%. The Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) showed 21 months and 32 months.
How long does a Working Holiday visa take?
Half of Working Holiday (subclass 417) applications were decided in 2 days and 90% in 58 days. Home Affairs says applications made outside Australia may take about three months in some cases.
How long does Australian permanent residency take?
The median for permanent skilled visas was 8 months in August 2026. By visa, the Skilled Independent visa showed 61 days for half and 8 months for 90%, and the Employer Nomination Scheme 21 months and 25 months.
Are Australian visa processing times guaranteed?
No. Home Affairs says its guide gives an indication based on recently decided applications and does not guarantee that an application will be decided within that timeframe.
Sources (official only)
- Department of Home Affairs — Visa processing times
- Department of Home Affairs — Visa processing times guide
All figures read from the Home Affairs pages above on 13 October 2026. They are updated regularly, so check the guide for your visa and stream before you plan. Information, not legal advice.