Underfunding and existing backlogs have significantly impacted visa processing times in Australia. With the release of the 2024-25 Budget, the Federal Government committed to allocating $18.3 million to advance reforms in Australia’s migration system. This funding will provide the Department of Home Affairs with the resources needed to increase visa processing efficiency and reduce processing delays in the coming years.
The Australian Migration Strategy for 2025 is also expected to impact processing times. It includes several significant changes designed to better address workforce shortages and enhance the overall functioning of the migration system.
In this blog, we’ll provide an overview of what is expected for visa processing times in 2025 and how to mitigate setbacks in your application submission.
Variations In Processing Times
There are many types of visa programs, and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Processing times can vary for several reasons, including:
- Whether a submission has all the necessary supporting documents.
- Whether someone has applied online or on paper. Applying online helps streamline processing more efficiently.
- How quickly someone responds to requests from the Department for more information.
- How long it takes the Department to perform the required checks.
- How long it takes for the Department to receive needed information from external agencies, like health, character and national security requirements.
- How many places are available in a migration program for permanent visa applications.
Processing Times Of Key Visa Programs
Data on key program processing times is most accurately represented through their median. Please note the information below was recorded in December 2024 by the Department of Home Affairs.
Permanent Visa Program
| Visa Category | Processing Time – December 2024 |
| Skilled (Permanent) | 7 months |
| Partner (First Stage) | 10 months |
Temporary Visa Program
| Visa Category | Processing Time – December 2024 |
| Skilled (Temporary) | 45 days |
| Student | 13 days |
| Visitor | Less than 1 day |
| Working Holiday Maker | Less than 1 day |
Visa Processing Times Guide
If you have recently applied for a visa, try using this comprehensive guide from the Department of Home Affairs. This newly developed tool indicates how long it might take to process your visa based on how long it has taken to process recently finalised applications. Processing times are available for most visas.
What Does This Mean For Visa Applicants?
Only some visa programs will be impacted by recent changes, as many median processing times remained steady in the last year. These include Visitor and Working Holiday Maker visas, which continued to be finalised in less than one day.
Processing times for applications submitted in the first quarter of 2024-25 have increased for some programs compared to the previous year. Temporary Skill Shortage visa processing times have increased from 18 to 44 days. Partner (First Stage) visa processing times have increased from 6 to 11 months.
There are many different visa programs, and their processing times will continue to fluctuate each quarter. An application’s journey is particularly dependent on the amount of older cases on hand and whether the number of new applications is increasing.
How To Prepare Your Visa Application For Success
While the visa application process is different for everyone, there are simple steps you can take to ensure a quick and seamless experience.
Make sure you submit your application with all the necessary supporting documents. If you’re unsure what to include, use the checklists on ImmiAccount to confirm you have everything required for your desired visa program application.
If you need specialist support, contact us at AustraliaMigrate today. Our professional specialists are highly experienced in the migration environment and can ensure all details and issues are addressed before you lodge an application, helping it be presented in the best light.
