Reports / November 2026
Australian visa processing times, November 2026
A summary of the Department of Home Affairs release published 9 November 2026, covering 74 visa streams and applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026.
Streams over a year (90%)
22
Over two years
13
Within a month
12
Streams published
74
Findings
- As of 9 November 2026, Home Affairs reported that 90% of applications were decided within a year or less for 52 of the 74 visa streams it publishes, and took longer than a year for 22.
- 13 streams had a 90th-percentile time of more than two years; the longest was the 117 Orphan Relative visa, at 8 years.
- 12 streams decided 90% of applications within a month, mostly visitor, transit and short-stay visas.
- Across skilled and employer sponsored visas (24 streams), the median 90% processing time was 11 months.
- Across partner and family visas (13 streams), the median 90% processing time was 30 months.
- Across study and graduate visas (10 streams), the median 90% processing time was 3 months.
- Across visitor, working holiday and short stay visas (27 streams), the median 90% processing time was 41 days.
Checked against Home Affairs every day. Last checked 11 November 2026.
Cite this page
AusVisaClock. “Australian visa processing times, November 2026.” Updated 9 November 2026. https://ausvisaclock.com/reports/2026-11/
The figures come from the Department of Home Affairs. You may quote them with a link to this page.
Slowest visa streams
Ranked by the time within which 90% of recent applications were decided.
- 117 Orphan Relative visa8 years
- 132 Business Talent visa, Significant Business History70 months
- 189 Skilled Independent visa, New Zealand62 months
- 309 Partner (Provisional) visa35 months
- 101 Child visa33 months
- 445 Dependent Child visa33 months
- 300 Prospective Marriage visa31 months
- 802 Child visa31 months
- 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, State/Territory Government Nominated Regional30 months
- 820 Partner visa30 months
Fastest visa streams
Excluding visas decided in under a day (ETA and eVisitor).
- 988 Maritime Crew Visa2 days
- 155 Five Year Resident Return visa6 days
- 408 Temporary Activity visa, Superyacht Crew15 days
- 771 Transit visa17 days
- 600 Visitor visa, Business Visitor23 days
- 500 Student visa, Non-Award Sector23 days
- 500 Student visa, Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector25 days
- 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa, Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme29 days
- 408 Temporary Activity visa, Special Programs30 days
- 600 Visitor visa, Tourist31 days
By visa group
| Group | Streams | Median 90% time | Slowest stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled and employer sponsored | 24 | 11 months | 132 Significant Business History |
| Partner and family | 13 | 30 months | 117 Orphan Relative visa |
| Study and graduate | 10 | 3 months | 590 Student Guardian visa |
| Visitor, working holiday and short stay | 27 | 41 days | 407 Training visa |
Change since the previous release
This is the first release in AusVisaClock’s record (from November 2026). From the next release, this section lists every visa whose 90% time moved, and by how much. See the update log.