Processing times · Subclass 155
How long does the subclass 155 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Resident Return visa (Subclasses 155 and 157) applications were finalised within 4 days, and 90% within 6 days. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 155 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All applications | 4 days | 6 days | 4 days |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 155
How the application moves
- Most Resident Return visa applications are lodged online and decided quickly where the residence requirement (2 of the last 5 years in Australia as a permanent resident) is clearly met from movement records.
- Where the residence test is not met, the case moves to a manual assessment of substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties, or compelling reasons for absence.
What most often slows a 155 application
- Applications relying on ties rather than residence, which need documents and officer assessment rather than an automated check.
- Former permanent residents and former citizens, whose status history has to be reconstructed.
What to have ready before lodging
- A clear record of your time in and out of Australia and your current permanent visa grant details.
- If you are short on residence, evidence of your ties: employment, business, property, family in Australia, and the reasons you were away.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 155 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Resident Return visa (subclass 155) applications were finalised within 4 days and 90% within 6 days, as at 2 November 2026.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 155 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 155. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 155 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: Resident Return Visa 155: Renew Your PR Travel. General information only, not migration advice.