AUSTRALIA PROCESSING TIME FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF VISA AND CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION

AUSTRALIA PROCESSING TIME FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF VISA AND CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION AS LAST UPDATED ON 20TH JULY 2017

Global visa and citizenship processing times

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 in calendar days, indicating how long it is taking to finalise 75 and 90 per cent 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

Last updated: 20 July 2017 (for month ending 30 June 2017)
Visa Type Stream (if available) 75% of applications processed in 90% of applications processed in
Visitor visas
651 eVisitor 1 day 2 days
600 Visitor Tourist* 16 days 28 days
600 Visitor Business Visitor 8 days 16 days
600 Visitor Frequent Traveller 11 days 12 days
600 Visitor Sponsored Family 47 days 67 days
600 Visitor Approved Destination Status 3 days 4 days
771 Transit 5 days 8 days
*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.
Work and skilled visas
124 Distinguished Talent Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
132 Business Talent Significant Business History Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
132 Business Talent Venture Capital Entrepreneur Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
186 Employer Nomination Scheme Agreement Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
186 Employer Nomination Scheme Direct Entry 9 months 12 months
186 Employer Nomination Scheme Temporary Residence Transition 7 months 9 months
187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Temporary Residence Transition 8 months 11 months
187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Direct Entry 13 months 15 months
187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Agreement Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Significant Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Business Innovation 15 months 20 months
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Premium Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Entrepreneur Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
189 Skilled - Independent Points-tested 8 months 11 months
189 Skilled - Independent New Zealand Unavailable due to low volume of applications Unavailable due to low volume of applications
190 Skilled - Nominated
9 months 13 months
400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) Australia's Interest Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) Short Stay Specialist 10 days 18 days
400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity Invited Participant Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
403 Temporary Work (International Relations) Seasonal Worker Programme 4 days 7 days
403 Temporary Work (International Relations) Government Agreement 30 days 59 days
403 Temporary Work (International Relations) Foreign Government Agency 21 days 28 days
403 Temporary Work (International Relations) Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
403 Temporary Work (International Relations) Privileges and Immunities Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
405 Investor Retirement Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
407 Training 89 days 4 months
408 Temporary Activity Australian Government Endorsed Events Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
408 Temporary Activity Domestic Work for Executives Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
408 Temporary Activity Exchange Arrangements Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
408 Temporary Activity Superyacht Crew Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
408 Temporary Activity Special Programmes 55 days 79 days
408 Temporary Activity Religious Work 79 days 5 months
408 Temporary Activity Research Activities 56 days 77 days
408 Temporary Activity Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity 11 days 20 days
408 Temporary Activity Sporting Activities 19 days 71 days
408 Temporary Activity Entertainment Activities 7 days 12 days
417 Working Holiday 10 days 36 days
457 Temporary Work (Skilled) 61 days 6 months
462 Work and Holiday* 15 days 50 days
476 Skilled - Recognised Graduate 67 days 90 days
485 Temporary Graduate Graduate Work 4 months 4 months
485 Temporary Graduate Post-Study Work 79 days 4 months
489 Skilled - Regional (Provisional) Skilled Regional - GSM 6 months 9 months
489 Skilled - Regional (Provisional) State/Territory Nominated Visa Classes - GSM 8 months 14 months
858 Distinguished Talent Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
887 Skilled - Regional 8 months 11 months
888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
890 Business Owner Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
891 Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
892 State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner 14 months 15 months
893 State/Territory Sponsored Business Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
*Due to high demand for subclass 462 Work and Holiday visas in the period of July - September, global processing times during these months are expected to increase and may exceed 30 days.
Student visas
500 Student Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector 9 days 30 days
500 Student Postgraduate Research Sector 42 days 74 days
500 Student Non-Award Sector 8 days 21 days
500 Student Schools Sector 22 days 39 days
500 Student Independent ELICOS Sector 28 days 47 days
500 Student Vocational Education and Training Sector 42 days 90 days
500 Student Higher Education Sector 23 days 48 days
590 Student Guardian 48 days 73 days
Family and partner visas
100 Partner* 21 months 37 months
101 Child 13 months 19 months
102 Adoption Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
117 Orphan Relative 28 months 31 months
143 Contributory Parent (Migrant) 33 months 35 months
173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
300 Prospective Marriage 14 months 19 months
309 Partner (Provisional) 13 months 19 months
445 Dependent Child 9 months 12 months
461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) 9 months 12 months
801 Partner* 18 months 22 months
802 Child 8 months 10 months
820 Partner 18 months 21 months
837 Orphan Relative Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
864 Contributory Aged-Parent (Residence) Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
884 Contributory Aged-Parent (Temporary) Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
*Processing time for subclass 801 Partner (permanent) visa and 100 Partner (permanent) visa is from date of eligibility (2 years after the 820/801 or 309/100 application is lodged) to finalisation.
Other visas
602 Medical Treatment 13 days 33 days
151 Former Resident Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
155 Five Year Resident Return 4 days 8 days
157 Three Month Resident Return Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
159 Provisional Resident Return Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
808 Confirmatory (Residence) Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
988 Maritime Crew Visa 2 days 5 days
Citizenship application processing times

Last updated: 20 July 2017 (for month ending 30 June 2017)
Australian Citizenship application type 75% of applications processed in 90% of applications processed in
Conferral (lodgement to ceremony**) 11 months 16 months
Descent (lodgement to decision) 88 days 5 months
Evidence (lodgement to decision) 6 days 18 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.

How to view processing times

You can view current processing times on the page for the specific visa subclass or citizenship type you are applying for. You should check regularly to ensure you know the current processing times for your visa.

To ensure your application falls within the published processing times, you need to submit a complete application. The checklists provided on ImmiAccount will assist in making sure you include all required documents in your application.

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