Commonwealth of Australia
Australia visa processing times
How long does each Australia visa take? Below are the typical decision windows for all 9 routes we track, each sourced directly from Department of Home Affairs (Australia). Click any route to see the full breakdown, including what drives the timeline and whether a priority service is available.
Quick facts: The fastest route is the Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462) at 7 days – 2 months. The slowest is the Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100) at 15 months – 2.5 years.
| Route | Typical wait | Reality check | Sponsor needed? | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)# Short-term work-and-travel visa for young people from participating countries. | 7 days – 2 months | Official window only Delay trigger: After 2 months | No | 2026-06-01 |
| Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)# Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled roles an Australian employer cannot fill locally. | 2 weeks – 8 weeks | Published percentile available Delay trigger: After 7 weeks (published percentile) | Yes | 2026-06-01 |
| Australian Student visa (subclass 500)# Study visa for international students enrolled at CRICOS-registered institutions. | 4 weeks – 4 months | Official window only Delay trigger: After 112 days | Yes | 2026-06-01 |
| National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)# Permanent residence for globally recognised high achievers in target sectors — replacement for the former Global Talent visa. | 3 months – 12 months | Official window only Delay trigger: After 365 days | No | 2026-06-01 |
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)# Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship. | 6 months – 12 months | Official window with caveat Delay trigger: After 365 days | No | 2026-06-01 |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)# State-nominated permanent residence visa providing a 5-point SkillSelect boost. | 6 months – 12 months | Official window only Delay trigger: After 365 days | No | 2026-06-01 |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)# Provisional 5-year regional visa leading to permanent residence via subclass 191. | 6 months – 12 months | Official window only Delay trigger: After 365 days | No | 2026-06-01 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)# Employer-nominated permanent residence for workers sponsored through Direct Entry, TRT, or Labour Agreement streams. | 6 months – 14 months | Official window with caveat Delay trigger: After 14 months | Yes | 2026-06-01 |
| Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)# Residence visa for spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. | 15 months – 2.5 years | Official window only Delay trigger: After 2.5 years | No | 2026-06-01 |
Source authority: Department of Home Affairs — Immigration and citizenship. Processing times are indicative and change without notice — always confirm before applying.
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Commonwealth of Australia processing times dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/australia. Last verified 1 June 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest Australia visa to get?+
Among the 9 routes we track, the Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462) has the shortest published decision window at 7 days – 2 months. Processing times are indicative and depend on case complexity, so always confirm the current figure on Department of Home Affairs (Australia).
Which Australia visa takes the longest to process?+
Of the routes we track, the Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100) carries the longest published window at 15 months – 2.5 years. Permanent-residence and family routes typically sit at the slower end, while short-term and points-tested routes tend to be quicker.
Are these Australia processing times official?+
Yes. Every window on this page is the figure published by Department of Home Affairs (Australia), shown with the date it was last checked. The figures are indicative rather than guarantees, and the linked source is authoritative on the day you apply.