Australian DIAC Visa Processing time service standards

Australian DIAC Visa Processing time service standards © immi.gov.au

The tables below show the 2008-09 processing time service standards for different types of visa applications.

These service standards are linked to the 2008-09 Portfolio Budget Statements. We aim to process 75 per cent of cases within these service standards, however actual processing times may vary from these standards as the following notes explain.

The service standards are indicative only. Individual cases may be decided in longer or shorter periods than the service standard, depending on a range of factors, individual circumstances and the complexity of each case.
The service standards apply to visa applications lodged with complete documentation. You can expect your application to take longer than the processing time service standard if it was lodged without all the required documentation.
The service standards do not include the time taken to process nominations and/or sponsorship applications.
Processing times vary by location, reflecting the differing circumstances of national and regional caseloads.
If you submit your application for a visa online through our website the processing times may be different from those shown below. Please see the general information in the e-visa online services for more information.

Visiting for tourism or medical treatment

	Applicant in Australia at time application is lodged		Applicant outside Australia at time application is lodged
	Low Risk*	High Risk	Low Risk*	High Risk
Sponsored Visitors	n/a	n/a	n/a	1.5 months
Non-Sponsored Visitors (short stay)	1 working day	1 week	1 working day	1 month
Non-Sponsored Visitors (long stay)	1 working day	1 month	1 working day	1.5 months

The standard processing times are applicable provided all documents are submitted with the application form. The process may be delayed if additional information is required, including health examination and character checks.
Note: Low risk applies to nationals from countries which issue Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or eVisitor eligible passports. A list of these can be found on the department's website. High risk countries are those which are not ETA or eVisitor eligible.

Visas for studying in Australia

	Applicant in Australia at time application is lodged		Applicant outside Australia at time application is lodged
Assessment Level*	Level 1/2*	Level 3/4*	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3/4
Students	14 days	30 days	14 days	21 days	90 days
Students: permission to work	7 days	7 days	n/a

Note: Student visa applications are assessed, among other things, according to an assessment level, which is determined by the passport held and the visa subclass.

Working in Australia - short business visits

	Applicant in Australia at time application is lodged		Applicant outside Australia at time application is lodged
	Low Risk*	High Risk	Low Risk*	High Risk
Sponsored Business visitors	n/a	n/a	n/a	1 month
Non-Sponsored Business Visitors	n/a	n/a	1 working day	1 month

Working as a sponsored employee or living in Australia as a temporary resident

	Applicant in Australia at time application is lodged		Applicant outside Australia at time application is lodged
	Low Risk*	High Risk*	Low Risk	High Risk
Business (Long Stay) Subclass 457	2 months	3 months	2 months	3 months
Other Sponsored Temporary Residents	2 months	3 months	2 months	3 months

Note: Low risk applies to nationals from countries which issue Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) eligible passports. A list of these can be found on the department's website. High risk countries are those which are not ETA eligible.

Working on a Working Holiday visa

	First Working Holiday visa	Second Working Holiday visa
Working Holiday visa holders	6 days	21 days

Visas for migrating to Australia as a skilled person

Application processing times

For complete applications, the department will aim to process 75 per cent of applications in the time listed in the table below.

Processing times for applications lodged on or after 1 September 2007
			Non Priority Processing
Visa Type	Visa Subclass	Priority Processing #	Applications lodged on, or before 23 September 2009	Applications lodged after 23 September 2009
Provisional	Skilled - Regional Sponsored (onshore) Subclass 475	7 months from date of lodgement	Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012	3 years from date of lodgement
Provisional	Skilled - Regional Sponsored (offshore) Subclass 487	5 months from date of lodgement	Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2011	2 years from date of lodgement
Temporary	Skilled - Recognised Graduate (offshore) Subclass 476	7 months from date of lodgement	7 months from date of lodgement	7 months from date of lodgement
Temporary	Skilled - Regional Sponsored Graduate (onshore) Subclass 485*	6 months from date of lodgement *	12 months from date of lodgement	12 months from date of lodgement
Permanent	Onshore Skilled – Independent Subclass 885 Skilled – Sponsored Subclass 886	6 months from date of lodgement	Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2011	2 years from date of lodgement
	Offshore Skilled Independent Subclass 175 Skilled Sponsored Subclass 176	15 months from date of lodgement	Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012	3 years from date of lodgement
	All Skilled - Regional Subclass 887	5 months from date of lodgement	5 months from date of lodgement	5 months from date of lodgement

# Applications which fall into the first three priorities
* Applications which fall into the first three priorities

Subsequent entrants for provisional GSM visas are processed in the order in which the application is lodged. The priority processing order for GSM visas is available on our website.

Visas for migrating to Australia - as family

Migrating as a spouse, de facto partner, fiancé, child or parent.

	Applicant in Australia at time application is lodged		Applicant outside Australia at time application is lodged
	Low Risk*	High Risk*	Low Risk	High Risk
Spouse/De facto partner (temporary)	6 months	6 months	5 months	10 months
Prospective Spouse	n/a	n/a	5 months	10 months
Spouse/De facto partner (permanent)	6 months	8 months	Numbers statistically insignificant
Child	6 months	7 months	3 months	10 months
Contributory Parent category¹ (temporary)	9 months	9 months	9 months	9 months
Contributory Parent category² (permanent)	9 months	9 months	9 months	9 months

¹ This includes visa subclasses 173 and 884

² This includes visa subclasses 143 and 864

Note: Contributory Parent category visas may be subject to queuing which would extend processing times. Refer to Fact Sheet 39 – Family Stream Migration: Contributory Parent Category Visas.
For more information about migrating to Australia as a family member
Note: Low risk applies to nationals from countries which issue Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) eligible passports. A list of these can be found on the department's website. High risk countries are those which are not ETA eligible.

Comment on this post

Sumit - November 15, 2011 02:55:52

Respected sir/mam I have applued for TR a year ago & now my file is open and i have been aloted a case officer i have been asked to provide police clearence of india and australia which i have done i wanted to ask that how long will it take to make desesion on my status for TR?

angus - September 27, 2011 22:49:31

i have a permanent residence and applied for my parents on Contributory Parent category1 (temporary) 173 Lodgement date is 15 december 2010 and i havenot heard anything from immigration yet how long more would it take?? thanks.

Dr. James D. Wesley - March 14, 2011 17:02:22

I wondered what are the -Requirements - for a NY Liscensed Chiropractor to immigrate to Austailia ? I seeking to move there and find employment? Serious answers Greatly appreciated James D. Wesley DC.,CCSP

midhun lal - October 30, 2010 07:37:40

Dear sir/Madam i had lodged my application on 29 september 2008 ,skilled sponsered subclass 886 when will my application will be finalised? thanking you midhun

nisu paaatel - October 09, 2010 00:47:37

i made online application in april-2009 to DIAC for VF-475 visa with state sponsorship of NSW in catagory of production manager.. i have submitted medical.P.C.C. And all other documents. but still today after 16 months time period has been passed and no case officer alloted or no any communication recieved from DIAC.now aussie government changed rules and stop work on VF-475 VISAS of APRIL -2009 only. they r issuing visas to may-june-july-august-2009 applicants-i have seen many cases of it, why this kind of partiality is done by DIAC?,why DIAC not issuing VF-475 visa to applicant of april-2009?,i sell my house to pay fees to DIAC,where poor people like us will go?,if DIAC not issue visas to me i have nooption remain to live, i m fed up with country like this-known as developed country,which have no humanity towards its applicants.its a purely dectatorship in form of democracy.its true its a country of buthchers and looters. time goes but mentality does not changed from pass over the years.is there any meaning to stop so many huge application money and applications?

anil mehra - September 23, 2010 20:16:34

Hi, I have applied under the VE-176 subclass on 29th june 2009. My skill fall under the 4941-17 (Apparel Cuter). As per my view that Australian Govt. Not made good rules for immigration. Policatal parties make the issues for the Votes. Why not the process the application ASAP, So that the candidate/applicant will think for other oppication also. 1. When will i get the CO. 2. How much time is more they will take as more than 15 monthes are passed. Best Regards Anil Mehra

alireza amiri - September 09, 2010 00:42:40

Dear Sir/Madam My lodgment date is 7/May/2010 .subclass 176.my skill is in csl and adelaide is my sponser .how long does it take for coming to visit the company which i work in it. Kind Regards. Alireza Amiri

mohammad arif - April 25, 2010 15:21:45

i love australia i want Visas for migrating to Australia - as family

Anil Mehra - April 14, 2010 16:17:54

Hi, I have applied under the VE-176 subclass on 29th june 2009. My skill fall under the 4941-17 (Apparel Cuter). Aprox. 10 moths are passed. how much more time they will take. 1. When will i will get the CO. 2. What will be the aprox. Timw line 3. Pls replay to me on my mail address -ddsnoida@yahoo.com

Anil Mehra - March 20, 2010 15:41:32

Hi, I have applied under the VE-176 subclass on 29th june 2009. My skill fall under the 4941-17 (Apparel Cuter). As per the new Priority Processing system my application will final on 2012. Is there any other way so that we can change the CLASS and the get the visa on less time. As per my view that Australian Govt. Not made the new rule good. This is the Best way of making the Money BY AUSTRALIAN GOVT. ---- making the low as \\\" Applications lodged ON, or before 23 September 2009\\\" if the Low as \\\"Applications lodged or before 23 September 2009\\\" than is make the sence and looks good. Again there is change on 8 Feb, 2010 and there will be some chnage in the month of july-2010, So they always make changes in there system. We all have to make the complant to Govt. for this new LOW and thay must have to change it. Can you pls tel me that how much more time to get the CO.\"Case Officer\". in my case application. Best Regards Anil Mehra

Australian Immigration Visas - November 04, 2009 16:04:51

With the new priority processing direction for certain skilled migration visas, DIAC is endeavouring to forecast what the future skills shortages are going to be. Under the Ministerial Direction, the following processing priorities (with highest priority listed first) apply: 1. Applications from people who are employer sponsored under the ENS and the RSMS. 2. Applications from people who are nominated by a State/Territory government and whose nominated occupation is listed on the Critical Skills List (CSL). 3. Applications from people who are sponsored by family and whose nominated occupation is listed on the CSL. 4. Applications from people who are neither nominated nor sponsored but whose nominated occupation is listed on the CSL. 5. Applications from people who are nominated by a State/Territory government whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL 6. (i) Applications from people whose occupations are listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). and (ii) Applications from people who are sponsored by family and whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL. 7. All other applications are to be processed in the order in which they are received. You don\'t mention whether your are sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government. Also it would be unlikely for you to provided documentary evidence of your occupation being different from what you have already submitted. If you do not wish to wait until the end of 2012 as what is currently expected, you may need to find a willing employer sponsor for the ENS or RSMS Permanent Residency Visas or the Subclass 457 – Business (Long Stay) visa – Standard Business Sponsorship. You may also wish to complete the Free Online Australian Visa Assessment http://www.australianimmigrationvisas.com/free-visa-assessment

Anil Mehra - November 04, 2009 14:39:21

Hi, I have applied under the VE-176 subclass on 29th june 2009. My skill fall under the 4941-17 (Apparel Cuter). As per the new Priority Processing system my application will final on 2012. Is there any other way so that we can change the CLASS and the get the visa on less time. As per my view that Australian Govt. Not made the new rule good. This is the Best way of making the Money BY AUSTRALIAN GOVT. ---- making the low as \" Applications lodged ON, or before 23 September 2009\" if the Low as \"Applications lodged or before 23 September 2009\" than is make the sence and looks good. We all have to make the complant to Govt. for this new LOW and thay must have to change it. Now the Cananda processing time is less.