You’ve probably heard about the enormous backlog in visitor and all other visa processing in Australia, whether you’ve just applied for one or expect to in the near future. According to an article published in ABC News in August 2022, there are now significant delays by the Australian government, and it may take more than 6 months to clear the backlog of almost a million unprocessed visas. In light of this, you might be asking how long it will take for Australia to complete your visa application. In this post, we discuss Australia’s updated visa processing times delays, their causes, and potential solutions, particularly in relation to visitor visa processing time Australia.
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Why are there delays in Australian Visitor Visa processing times?
Australia’s borders were sealed for nearly two years as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak that shook the world from early 2020. This meant that during that time, applications for visitor visas (and all other visas) were practically halted. Visa processing started in earnest once again when Australia fully reopened its borders in February 2022.
Before the pandemic, more than 6 million tourists came to Australia annually, attracted by its stunning beaches, distinctive scenery and wildlife, hospitable people, and laid-back culture. With its over 9,700 national parks and other protected natural areas, Australia provides tourists with a wide range of alternatives for nature-based tourism. The Australian government is now dealing with a tremendous inflow of visa applications and is finding it difficult to keep up with the demand.
On 30 August 2022, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) last updated its website with worldwide processing timeframes. The Department states on the website that this list is updated every month while taking into consideration these delays.
Note: The DHA’s page for visitor visa processing times Australia is still in its Beta stage and is yet to be streamlined.
What Home Affairs Says about tourist visa processing time Australia
The DHA claims that their new visa processing time guide provides you with an idea of how long it could take to process your visa application. Based on how long it has taken to process previously completed applications, an expected timeline has been established. It is to be noted that they specifically mention that your application won’t necessarily be processed in this amount of time.
They go on to say that each application is evaluated individually. Processing timeframes may differ for a number of reasons including, but not limited to:
- Whether you submitted an application along with the required documentation. Checklists are provided on ImmiAccount, so use those to make sure you upload all necessary files.
- Whether you submitted a paper or online application. Online applications speed up the application procedure.
- How swiftly you answer inquiries for further details.
- How much time it takes us to complete the necessary inspections.
- How long it takes to get information from outside sources, notably on criteria for national security, character, and health.
- How many spots are open in the migration program for applications for permanent visas.
However, if you’re planning to or already applied for a visitor or other kind of visa to Australia, you need not worry! The DHA has stated that visa-processing is a government priority and they are devoting increased resources and manpower to deal with the situation.
Processing Times for Visitor Visas in Australia
According to a statement by Andrew Giles, Minister of Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, the backlog of visas has decreased from over 1 million to 755,000 while 300 additional employees have been employed to handle visa processing. The government is on target to decrease the backlog to 600,000 visa applications by the end of the year, he added in his statement.
According to additional statistics provided by the Minister, 745,000 visa applications—including more than 645,000 offshore visa applications—have been approved since the beginning of June 2022. Included in these are 9,550 temporary skilled visas, 62,000 student visas, and 388,000 visitor visas.
Australia Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) Processing Time
Looking at all the streams collectively, the processing time for a visitor visa 600 processing time Australia is 4 months if you’re applying from within Australia. The visitor visa to Australia will be processed in 3 days if you’re applying outside Australia. Under this subclass of visas to Australia, there are three popular streams that need to be discussed – the tourist stream, the sponsored family stream, and the business visitor stream.
For the tourist Visa processing time:
- 75% of the visa applications are processed within 20 days
- 90% of the visa applications are processed within 33 days
Note: Processing times for the Tourist stream range from 48 hours to more than 20 days depending on factors such as peak processing periods in a particular location.
For the business visitor stream:
- 75% of the visa applications are processed within 26 days
- 90% of the visa applications are processed within 4 months
For the sponsored family stream:
- 75% of the visa applications are processed within 4 months
- 90% of the visa applications are processed within 10 months
The sponsored family stream can take quite a bit of time to process so it’s best to get your application in well in advance. Sponsored family visitor visas take longer to process as they are seen as ‘higher-risk’ for the DHA. Simply put, the Australian government has to be confident you won’t overstay if they grant you a visa.
Note: If you are applying to attend a special event, such as a family wedding, make sure you include a copy of the invitation with your application.
e-Visitor Visa (SUBCLASS 651) Processing Time
For the eVisitor Visa, as per subclass 651, the processing times are:
- 75% of the visa applications are processed in less than a day
- 90% of the visa applications are processed within 10 days
Transit Visa (SUBCLASS 771) Processing Time
With this visa, visitors can stay in Australia for up to 72 hours before having to depart. Holders of a maritime crew visa may use it to travel into Australia and board a non-military ship. Since the Transit Visa demands extensive paperwork to back up claims made in the application, it must be completed correctly the first time to avoid delays.
The Transit Visa processing times are:
- 75% of the visa applications are processed in 14 days
- 90% of the visa applications are processed within 26 days
Things to Remember
It’s crucial to keep in mind that there is no definitive strategy to prevent delays in visa processing. However, by making sure your application is thorough and includes all necessary supporting documents, you can increase your chances of having your visa approved quickly. Aim to respond to any requests for further information or documents from the DHA as quickly as you can.
