Are you in the process of applying for a visa and intend to migrate to Australia? Not sure how long the processing should take? Below is a summary of the usual processing timeframes for common Australian visas.
Regarding Australian visa processing timelines, there is no precise answer as they are always changing and it is impossible to predict how long it will take to receive a response regarding your visa. The Australian government has set these times as guidelines, so they could alter.
The government gives “on-hand” visa applicants priority.
According to the Australian government, by hiring more workers to handle applications, it hopes to shorten the time it takes to approve visa requests. Applications submitted by individuals outside of Australia, such as those for visitor, student, and temporary skilled visas, are currently given priority.
The order of fastest to slowest visa processing timeframes
The complete list of visa processing times is updated on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website once a month. These are averages, but the duration may vary depending on the volume of applications, seasonal highs, and complicated instances.
To fill labor shortages in the nation, several work and study visa options are available to individuals contemplating immigration to Australia via the talent stream. The following are some important visa subclasses’ processing times:
- 417 Working holiday visas: 14 days
- 858 Global Talent visa: 09 months
- 500 Student visa – Higher Education sector: 57 days
- 500 Student visa – Postgraduate Research sector: 13 months
- 190 Skilled Nominated visa: 09 months
- 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (provisional) – Employer Sponsored stream: 11 months
- 491 Skilled Work Regional visa (provisional) – State/Territory: 22 months
- 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa – Direct Entry: 11 months
- 476 Recognized Graduate Route: 37 months
- 189 Skilled Independent visa – Points Tested: 10 months
Processing Time for Student Visas Following Medical Exam
A student visa may take duration of eight to nine weeks to process after the necessary medical exams are submitted. In order to prevent delays in processing time, it is very important that you go through the medical examination as soon as possible.
Processing Time for Tourist Visas
Travelers who are on a tourist visa can experience Australia’s beautiful scenery and active towns. While comparing to other visa categories, the processing period for a tourist visa, also called a visitor visa, is relatively shorter. Typically, the processing of a tourist visa takes two to four weeks. A business visitor’s visitor visa takes 14 days to process.
Processing Time for a Child Visa
For children who are not citizens of Australia and desire to live in Australia either temporarily or permanently, there is a child visa offered. With this visa, kids can go to Australia to live with their parents, guardians, or capable sponsors. The processing time for a dependent child visa is approximately ten months. Following this, the child is qualified to remain live in Australia for a short period while the parent’s application for a permanent Partner visa is being processed.
Processing Time for Spouse or Partner Visa
Those who are in a committed relationship with an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or a qualified citizen of New Zealand are appropriate for a partner visas. Because of the extensive assessment needed, spouse or partner visa procedure can take a while.
It can take, on average, fifteen to twenty-three months. The completeness of the application, the intricacy of the case, and the volume of applications being processed concurrently are some examples of the variables that may affect the processing time.
Processing Time for PR Visa
The most popular permanent resident visas that allow you to remain in Australia indefinitely are the Skilled Independent Visa subclass 189 and the Skilled Nominated Visa subclass 190. Under the points-tested stream, the processing period for this visa subclass 189 is eight months, and for subclass 190, it is seven months.
Processing Time for 491 Visas
Skilled workers who want to live and work in rural Australia can apply for the 491 visa, also known as the Skilled Work rural (Provisional) visa. The 491 visa might take several months to process; the average wait time is between 16 and 18 months. Depending on the vocation, the state or territorial nomination, and the volume of applications being processed, the processing time may change.
How to Shorten the Time It Takes to Process an Australia Visa
There are a few guidelines you can adhere to to increase your chances of a quicker visa processing time, even though the Department of Home Affairs ultimately sets the processing time:
- To give processing time, begin the visa application procedure well in advance. Don’t apply at the last minute, especially in busy times of the year.
- Make sure that every document that is needed is accurate, current, and full. Verify the application form again for any mistakes or information that is missing.
- To minimize needless delays, carefully read the instructions as each visa category has different needs and restrictions.
- Consider getting professional guidance from a qualified immigration expert if you have any questions about any part of the visa application procedure. They can help you understand the particular needs of your visa category and make sure your application is well-prepared and satisfies all requirements.
- You can monitor the progress of your application by periodically visiting the website or getting in touch with the Department of Home Affairs. Answer any requests for more information or documents as soon as possible.
