Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has announced faster visa processing times to ease the burden on thousands of travellers, students, and skilled workers who have faced lengthy delays in recent years.
Officials said the improvement, outlined in a July 2025 update, follows the redeployment of resources to clear long-standing backlogs that had stretched waiting periods and disrupted study, work, and family plans.
Students and Visitors’ Visas Now Quicker
Student visas lodged outside Australia are now being finalised in around 30 days, under reforms linked to Ministerial Direction No. 111. Authorities continue to advise students to apply well ahead of their course start dates and ensure documents are complete.
Visitor and Working Holiday visas are now being turned around almost instantly, with many applications approved in less than 24 hours. Skilled temporary visas are taking about four months, though officials note delays often stem from incomplete or inaccurate applications.
Permanent Visas Remain Slow
The pace of permanent visa processing is improving more gradually. Skilled permanent visas currently average eight months, while partner visas remain the slowest at around 16 months. The department attributed the longer timelines to the complexity of relationship-based cases and the need to work through older applications still in the system.
“Processing times are currently impacted by older applications on hand, but this will improve once we have worked through them,” the department said in a statement.
The Home Affairs office has urged prospective applicants to check its online visa processing guide, apply early, and submit complete applications via Immi Account to avoid unnecessary delays.
Visa delays in recent years have forced students to defer studies, delayed family reunions, and complicated international job placements. The acceleration of temporary visa decisions signals a more predictable immigration system and offers reassurance to those planning to study, work, or travel in Australia.
