Processing times · Official figures
Australian visa processing times
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 29 September 2026, Home Affairs reports 75% of onshore Partner visas (820) finalised within 26 months, employer-sponsored PR (186, TRT) within 24 months, Skills in Demand (482 Core Skills) within 8 months, Skilled Independent (189) within 8 months, Student visas (500, higher education) within 49 days and Visitor visas (600 Tourist) within 26 days. The full table by visa and stream is below, with the change since the previous month once two months of figures are recorded.
Processing times by visa and stream
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Global visa processing times, as at 29 September 2026. Figures cover applications finalised in the previous month and are a guide only. Download this table (CSV).
How to read these numbers
- 75% / 90% — the time within which three-quarters / nine-tenths of applications were finalised last month.
- Times are not a queue position: complete, decision-ready applications are generally faster; requests for more information add time.
- Employer-sponsored visas have separate sponsorship and nomination steps with their own processing times.
- The Department sets processing priorities (for example by occupation or location), so averages can hide big differences between applicants.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Australian Partner visa take?
For the onshore Partner visa (820), Home Affairs reports 75% of applications finalised within 26 months and 90% within 30 months (official figures as at 29 September 2026).
How long does the 186 visa take?
For the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream, 75% of applications are finalised within 24 months and 90% within 25 months, as at 29 September 2026.
How long does a 482 visa take?
For the 482 Core Skills stream, 75% of visa applications are finalised within 8 months and 90% within 9 months. The Specialist Skills stream is much faster. The employer's sponsorship and nomination applications are processed separately.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of applications in the previous month: three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure, and one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, often because the application was complex or incomplete.
How often are processing times updated?
Home Affairs updates global visa processing times monthly. This page refreshes from the official data every time the site updates, and keeps a history so you can see whether times are rising or falling.
Also see: Australian visa fees (every visa application charge).