Partner visa processing times
On this page
See the official times by visa below. The Home Affairs group median for Partner (Provisional/Temporary) was 23 months in August 2026. In 2026 ImmiAccount also added live queue position tracking, and the Department said in April that incomplete applications may go to the back of the queue.
Priority
Ministerial Direction 117 gives highest priority to family applications lodged while the primary applicant was in Australia, for visas that can be granted onshore.
What slows it
Missing evidence, health and character checks, and slow replies. See relationship evidence and partner visa.
Official times by visa
The first column is the time within which half of recent applications were decided (50%). The second is the time within which nine in ten were decided (90%). They come from the Home Affairs processing times guide for an application lodged on 26 October 2026, and they change each month.
| Visa | Half decided in | 9 in 10 decided in |
|---|---|---|
| Partner (820), onshore first stage | 22 months | 30 months |
| Partner (801), onshore second stage | 8 months | 19 months |
| Partner (309), offshore first stage | 21 months | 32 months |
| Partner (100), offshore second stage | 9 months | 21 months |
| Prospective Marriage (300) | 14 months | 26 months |
| Child (101) | 24 months | 33 months |
| Child (802) | 21 months | 31 months |
| Adoption (102) | 8 months | 19 months |
| Dependent Child (445) | 25 months | 32 months |
| Orphan Relative (117) | 75 months | 97 months |
FAQ
Is there a bridging visa while I wait?
For onshore applicants, see bridging visas.
How do I check the official time?
Home Affairs global processing times tool.
What does a refusal mean for timing?
See visa refused.