Australian Visa Processing Times March 2020

Australian visa processing times are produced monthly by the Immigration Department, to give an idea of how long a visa application might take, assuming things do not change.  They are NOT guarantees of how long Current or Future applications will take.

These times will vary month to month based on many factors, and may be very different to the actual times that an applicant experiences, especially those applications that take many months or years.

Individual processing times can be affected by the numbers of complex cases and incomplete applications, locations of processing offices for offshore applications, together with changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, etc.

Processing Times for March 2020.

• 100 – Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100) . 21-34 : 75% were finalised in 21 months or less, and 10% took over 34 months.
• 101 – Child (subclass 101) . 10-14 : 75% were finalised in 10 months or less, and 10% took over 14 months.
• 143 – Contributory Parent (subclass 143) . 51-53 : 75% were finalised in 51 months or less, and 10% took over 53 months.
• 155 – Resident Return 5 Year (subclass 155) . 32-45 : 75% were finalised in 32 days or less, and 10% took over 45 days.
• 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) Direct Entry Pathway. 4-6 : 75% were finalised in 4 months or less, and 10% took over 6 months.
• 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) Transition Pathway. 7-8 : 75% were finalised in 7 months or less, and 10% took over 8 months.
• 187 – Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187) Direct Entry Pathway. 25-37 : 75% were finalised in 25 months or less, and 10% took over 37 months.
• 189 – Skilled Independent (subclass 189) Points-Tested. 12-12 : 75% were finalised in 12 months or less, and 10% took over 12 months.
• 189 – Skilled Independent (subclass 189) New Zealand. 13-17 : 75% were finalised in 13 months or less, and 10% took over 17 months.
• 190 – Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) . 7-9 : 75% were finalised in 7 months or less, and 10% took over 9 months.
• 300 – Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) . 13-17 : 75% were finalised in 13 months or less, and 10% took over 17 months.
• 309 – Partner (Provisional) (subclass 309) . 13-21 : 75% were finalised in 13 months or less, and 10% took over 21 months.
• 400 – Temporary Work (short stay) (subclass 400) . 14-21 : 75% were finalised in 14 days or less, and 10% took over 21 days.
• 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Seasonal Worker Program. 7-9 : 75% were finalised in 7 days or less, and 10% took over 9 days.
• 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Pacific Labour Scheme. 10-15 : 75% were finalised in 10 days or less, and 10% took over 15 days.
• 407 – Training visa (subclass 407) . 4-5 : 75% were finalised in 4 months or less, and 10% took over 5 months.
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Entertainment Activities. 36-41 : 75% were finalised in 36 days or less, and 10% took over 41 days.
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Research Activities. 27-45 : 75% were finalised in 27 days or less, and 10% took over 45 days.
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Religious Work. 37-4 : 75% were finalised in 37 days or less, and 10% took over 4 months.
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Special Programs. 21-46 : 75% were finalised in 21 days or less, and 10% took over 46 days.
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity. 16-23 : 75% were finalised in 16 days or less, and 10% took over 23 days.
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Superyacht Crew. 5-8 : 75% were finalised in 5 days or less, and 10% took over 8 days.
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Sporting Activities. 18-61 : 75% were finalised in 18 days or less, and 10% took over 61 days.
• 417 – Working Holiday (subclass 417) . 36-46 : 75% were finalised in 36 days or less, and 10% took over 46 days.
• 445 – Dependent Child (subclass 445) . 13-15 : 75% were finalised in 13 months or less, and 10% took over 15 months.
• 461 – NZ Citizen Family Relationship (subclass 461) . 25-33 : 75% were finalised in 25 months or less, and 10% took over 33 months.
• 462 – Work and Holiday (subclass 462) . 28-35 : 75% were finalised in 28 days or less, and 10% took over 35 days.
• 476 – Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) . 13-17 : 75% were finalised in 13 months or less, and 10% took over 17 months.
• 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) Short-term. 35-60 : 75% were finalised in 35 days or less, and 10% took over 60 days.
• 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) Medium-term. 32-56 : 75% were finalised in 32 days or less, and 10% took over 56 days.
• 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) Labour Agreement. 22-36 : 75% were finalised in 22 days or less, and 10% took over 36 days.
• 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) Sponsorship. 18-34 : 75% were finalised in 18 days or less, and 10% took over 34 days.
• 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) Nomination. 18-22 : 75% were finalised in 18 days or less, and 10% took over 22 days.
• 485 – Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Graduate Work. 4-5 : 75% were finalised in 4 months or less, and 10% took over 5 months.
• 485 – Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Post-Study Work. 88-4 : 75% were finalised in 88 days or less, and 10% took over 4 months.
• 489 – Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (subclass 489) Regional. 8-10 : 75% were finalised in 8 months or less, and 10% took over 10 months.
• 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) State/Territory Government Nominated Regional. 50-56 : 75% were finalised in 50 days or less, and 10% took over 56 days.
• 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) Family Sponsored Regional. 51-54 : 75% were finalised in 51 days or less, and 10% took over 54 days.
• 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector. 8-21 : 75% were finalised in 8 days or less, and 10% took over 21 days.
• 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) Postgraduate Research Sector. 81-4 : 75% were finalised in 81 days or less, and 10% took over 4 months.
• 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) Independent ELICOS Sector. 32-76 : 75% were finalised in 32 days or less, and 10% took over 76 days.
• 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) Schools Sector. 86-4 : 75% were finalised in 86 days or less, and 10% took over 4 months.
• 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) Vocational Education and Training Sector. 82-4 : 75% were finalised in 82 days or less, and 10% took over 4 months.
• 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) Higher Education Sector. 39-63 : 75% were finalised in 39 days or less, and 10% took over 63 days.
• 500 – Student visa (subclass 500) Non-Award Sector. 46-74 : 75% were finalised in 46 days or less, and 10% took over 74 days.
• 590 – Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) . 4-5 : 75% were finalised in 4 months or less, and 10% took over 5 months.
• 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist. 21-35 : 75% were finalised in 21 days or less, and 10% took over 35 days.
• 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) Sponsored Family. 55-73 : 75% were finalised in 55 days or less, and 10% took over 73 days.
• 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) Business Visitor. 15-23 : 75% were finalised in 15 days or less, and 10% took over 23 days.
• 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) APEC Business Visitor. 1-1 : 75% were finalised in Less than 1 day or less, and 10% took over 1 day.
• 602 – Medical Treatment (subclass 602) – outside Australia . 44-65 : 75% were finalised in 44 days or less, and 10% took over 65 days.
• 651 – eVisitor (subclass 651) . 1-2 : 75% were finalised in Less than 1 day or less, and 10% took over 2 days.
• 771 – Transit (subclass 771) . 9-20 : 75% were finalised in 9 days or less, and 10% took over 20 days.
• 801 – Partner (subclass 801) . 13-21 : 75% were finalised in 13 months or less, and 10% took over 21 months.
• 802 – Child (subclass 802) . 13-14 : 75% were finalised in 13 months or less, and 10% took over 14 months.
• 820 – Partner (subclass 820) . 24-29 : 75% were finalised in 24 months or less, and 10% took over 29 months.
• 858 – Distinguished Talent (subclass 858) . 27-31 : 75% were finalised in 27 days or less, and 10% took over 31 days.
• 870 – Sponsored Parent (temporary) visa (subclass 870) . 90-5 : 75% were finalised in 90 days or less, and 10% took over 5 months.
• 870 – Sponsored Parent (temporary) visa (subclass 870) Sponsorship. 56-4 : 75% were finalised in 56 days or less, and 10% took over 4 months.
• 887 – Skilled-Regional (subclass 887) . 26-29 : 75% were finalised in 26 months or less, and 10% took over 29 months.
• 988 – Maritime Crew (subclass 988) . 3-7 : 75% were finalised in 3 days or less, and 10% took over 7 days.

These processing times were updated on 21 April 2020, for visa applications finalised in the month ending 31 March 2020.

Processing times for these visas are not available, due to low volumes of applications.

• 102 – Adoption (subclass 102)
• 117 – Orphan Relative (subclass 117)
• 124 – Distinguished Talent (subclass 124)
• 132 – Business Talent (subclass 132) Significant Business History
• 132 – Business Talent (subclass 132) Venture Capital Entrepreneur
• 151 – Former resident (subclass 151)
• 157 – Resident Return 3mth (subclass 157)
• 159 – Provisional Resident Return (subclass 159)
• 173 – Contributory Parent (subclass 173)
• 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) Agreement Pathway
• 187 – Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187) Transition Pathway
• 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) Business Innovation
• 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) Investor
• 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) Significant Investor
• 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) Premium Investor
• 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) Entrepreneur
• 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) Business Innovation Extension
• 188 – Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) Significant Investor Extension
• 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Government Agreement
• 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Foreign Government Agency
• 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular)
• 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) Privileges and Immunities
• 405 – Investor Retirement (subclass 405)
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Australian Government Endorsed Events
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Exchange Arrangements
• 408 – Temporary Work Activity visa (subclass 408) Domestic Work for Executives
• 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) (Repealed)
• 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) Employer Sponsored
• 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) Labour Agreement
• 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) Approved Destination Status
• 600 – Visitor (subclass 600) Frequent Traveller
• 808 – Confirmatory Held TA773 (subclass 808)
• 837 – Orphan Relative (subclass 837)
• 838 – Aged Dependent Relative (subclass 838)
• 864 – Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 864)
• 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 884)
• 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) Business Innovation
• 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) Investor
• 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) Premium Investor
• 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) Significant Investor
• 888 – Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) Entrepreneur
• 890 – Business Owner (subclass 890)
• 891 – Investor (subclass 891)
• 892 – State Sponsored Business Owner (subclass 892)
• 893 – Sponsored Investor (subclass 893)

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