Compare visa processing times
On this page
How do the visa groups compare?
| Visa group | Median processing time (August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Visitor (600, 601 and 651 combined) | Less than 1 day |
| Working Holiday Maker | 2 days |
| Student | 22 days |
| Skilled (Temporary) | 134 days |
| Skilled (Permanent) | 8 months |
| Partner (Provisional/Temporary) | 23 months |
Home Affairs calls the median "the most accurate way to show" how long most applications take. Times differ between visas in the same group.
What affects my wait?
Missing documents, paper lodgement, slow replies to requests, health and character checks, the number of places in the migration program and Ministerial Directions all matter. See how processing times work.
Where is the live figure for my visa?
Home Affairs has a global processing times tool that gives an indication based on recently decided applications. It does not check your own application. For detail on each group see skilled, partner and student.
FAQ
Is this the official tool?
No. Use the Home Affairs global processing times tool for your visa.
Why are some visas missing?
Home Affairs does not publish times for closed, capped or low-volume visas.
Does this predict my wait?
No. It reports past medians.