988 Visa processing time

Name: 988 Visa processing times (Maritime Crew Visa (subclass 988))
Creator: AusVisaClock

As of 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 90% of recently decided Maritime Crew Visa applications were finalised within 2 days, and half within Under 1 day.

Half decided within

Under 1 day

9 in 10 decided within

2 days

Estimate my decision date

Maritime Crew VisaUpdated 2 November 2026

2 days

for 90% of applications

Applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026

25% decided withinUnder 1 day
50% decided withinUnder 1 day
75% decided withinUnder 1 day
90% decided within2 days

Source: Department of Home Affairs, global visa processing times.

Key facts

As of 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 90% of Maritime Crew Visa applications were decided within 2 days, 75% within Under 1 day, 50% within Under 1 day and 25% within Under 1 day.
The figures cover applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026 and are measured from lodgement to decision.
Home Affairs revises these processing times about once a month.

Checked against Home Affairs every day. Last checked 11 November 2026.

Cite this page

AusVisaClock. “988 visa processing time.” Updated 2 November 2026. https://ausvisaclock.com/988-visa-processing-time/

The figures come from the Department of Home Affairs. You may quote them with a link to this page.

When could my 988 be decided?

Enter the date you lodged. We add the department’s published percentiles to it and show where today falls: how many applications like yours were decided in the time you have already waited.

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Date you lodged your application

Share of applications decided	By

Your dates will move.

Home Affairs revises these figures about once a month, so your 50% and 90% dates change with them. Pro checks every morning and emails you the new dates the day the 988 figures move.

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How the 988 wait has moved

Most applications are decided within a narrow window.

Trend starts with the next release.

AusVisaClock records every release the department publishes from November 2026. Once the next one is out, this chart shows how the 90% time for the 988 has moved, and Pro members get an email the day it changes.

988 visa processing time questions

How long does the 988 visa take?

In the department’s latest figures (published 2 November 2026, for applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026), 50% of Maritime Crew Visa applications were decided within Under 1 day, 75% within Under 1 day and 90% within 2 days.

What do the 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% figures mean?

They are percentiles of recently decided applications. “90% within 2 days” means nine in ten applications decided in the reporting period took 2 days or less from lodgement to decision. They describe applications that have already been decided, so they lag behind changes in the queue and do not guarantee a time for any single application.

My 988 application is past the 90% time. What now?

Some applications take longer, for example when the department asks for more information, health or character checks are still open, or the application was incomplete when lodged. The department says it is usually not useful to contact it before the processing time has passed. After that, you can check your ImmiAccount and use the department’s enquiry form. For advice about your own application, speak to a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

How often are these processing times updated?

The Department of Home Affairs revises its global processing times about once a month, a few weeks after the end of each reporting period. AusVisaClock checks the department’s figures every day, updates this page when they change, and keeps each release so you can see the trend.