Processing times
Student visa (subclass 500)
How long Home Affairs took to decide recent applications. These figures describe past decisions, not how long any one application will take.
Official processing times
Home Affairs publishes how long it took to decide past applications: the time within which 25, 50, 75 and 90 per cent were decided. Each stream keeps its own reporting period.
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs processing times on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. The source reports 12 October 2026 for this version; this is separate from our check date. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry.
| Stream | 25% of applications | 50% | 75% | 90% | Reporting period ended | Source published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector | 1 day | 3 days | 10 days | 22 days | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Higher Education Sector | 8 days | 16 days | 49 days | 4 months | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Independent ELICOS Sector | 2 days | 22 days | 34 days | 53 days | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Non-Award Sector | Less than 1 day | 3 days | 18 days | 43 days | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Postgraduate Research Sector | 4 days | 17 days | 50 days | 55 days | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Schools Sector | 11 days | 28 days | 57 days | 7 months | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Vocational Education and Training Sector | 25 days | 53 days | 7 months | 7 months | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions). Past decisions only; not a prediction for any application. Current official processing times ↗