Victoria citizenship ceremony wait times, November 2026
21,471 approved applicants waiting across 79 councils. 88% had waited under 3 months, 1% more than 6 months.
Ceremony wait by state
Big number: share of approved applicants still waiting who had waited under 3 months, at 31 Oct 2026.
approved applicants were waiting for a citizenship ceremony in Victoria on 31 October 2026
VIC citizenship ceremony wait times: 88% had waited under 3 months since approval, 11% 3 to 6 months and 1% more than 6 months. Australia: 81%, 16% and 2%.
Official page updated · Waits counted to · Checked by us · Official ceremony wait times
Under 3 months3 to 6 monthsMore than 6 monthsNumber: waiting 3 months or more
Showing 79 of 79 councils
| Council | Waiting | <3 mo | 3–6 mo | >6 mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Casey | 2,518 | 96% | 3% | 1% |
| Melton City Council | 1,491 | 93% | 6% | 1% |
| Brimbank City Council | 1,418 | 62% | 36% | 2% |
| Whittlesea City Council | 1,157 | 95% | 5% | 1% |
| Hume City Council | 1,133 | 96% | 4% | 0% |
| Wyndham City Council | 1,044 | 97% | 3% | 0% |
| City of Greater Geelong | 854 | 86% | 13% | 1% |
| City of Melbourne | 777 | 96% | 3% | 1% |
| Whitehorse City Council | 758 | 84% | 14% | 2% |
| Monash City Council | 724 | 93% | 6% | 2% |
| Manningham City Council | 694 | 78% | 21% | 1% |
| City of Greater Dandenong | 647 | 96% | 2% | 1% |
| Port Phillip City Council | 543 | 72% | 25% | 3% |
| City of Kingston | 496 | 84% | 15% | 2% |
| Knox City Council | 469 | 92% | 6% | 1% |
| Stonnington City Council | 463 | 72% | 28% | 1% |
| Hobsons Bay City Council | 454 | 56% | 43% | 0% |
| Glen Eira City Council | 416 | 90% | 8% | 2% |
| Yarra City Council | 398 | 60% | 38% | 3% |
| Cardinia Shire Council | 391 | 97% | 2% | 1% |
| Boroondara City Council | 355 | 90% | 6% | 5% |
| Moonee Valley City Council | 350 | 92% | 8% | 0% |
| Maroondah City Council | 335 | 89% | 10% | 1% |
| Frankston City Council | 272 | 91% | 7% | 2% |
| Merri-bek City Council | 252 | 97% | 3% | 0% |
| Darebin City Council | 243 | 95% | 4% | 1% |
| Maribyrnong City Council | 242 | 90% | 10% | 1% |
| Greater Shepparton City Council | 241 | 95% | 4% | 1% |
| Bayside City Council | 206 | 85% | 11% | 4% |
| City of Ballarat | 201 | 94% | 5% | 0% |
| Banyule City Council | 195 | 94% | 4% | 2% |
| Yarra Ranges Shire Council | 194 | 95% | 3% | 2% |
| Mitchell Shire Council | 180 | 97% | 3% | 1% |
| Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | 176 | 96% | 3% | 1% |
| Mildura Rural City Council | 172 | 45% | 51% | 4% |
| Latrobe City Council | 107 | 90% | 10% | 0% |
| City of Greater Bendigo | 99 | 93% | 7% | 0% |
| Baw Baw Shire Council | 81 | 99% | 1% | 0% |
| East Gippsland Shire Council | 61 | 92% | 8% | 0% |
| Nillumbik Shire Council | 59 | 93% | 7% | 0% |
| Surf Coast Shire Council | 56 | 52% | 45% | 4% |
| Moorabool Shire Council | 49 | 96% | 4% | 0% |
| Bass Coast Shire Council | 45 | 96% | 4% | 0% |
| Moira Shire Council | 39 | 95% | 5% | 0% |
| Wodonga City Council | 38 | 89% | 11% | 0% |
| Warrnambool City Council | 33 | 91% | 9% | 0% |
| Colac Otway Shire Council | 32 | 91% | 6% | 3% |
| Benalla Rural City Council | 29 | 76% | 24% | 0% |
| Wellington Shire Council | 28 | 93% | 4% | 4% |
| Corangamite Shire Council | 26 | 77% | 23% | 0% |
| Campaspe Shire Council | 21 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Wangaratta Rural City Council | 21 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Strathbogie Shire Council | 19 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Macedon Ranges Shire Council | 18 | 89% | 6% | 6% |
| South Gippsland Shire Council | 15 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Mount Alexander Shire Council | 14 | 79% | 14% | 7% |
| Swan Hill Rural City Council | 13 | 92% | 8% | 0% |
| Moyne Shire Council | 12 | 92% | 8% | 0% |
| Glenelg Shire Council | 11 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Mansfield Shire Council | 11 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Borough of Queenscliffe | 10 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Central Goldfields Shire Council | 10 | 40% | 50% | 10% |
| Ararat Rural City Council | 9 | 89% | 11% | 0% |
| Horsham Rural City Council | 9 | 89% | 11% | 0% |
| Murrindindi Shire Council | 9 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Alpine Shire Council | 8 | 75% | 13% | 13% |
| Hepburn Shire Council | 8 | 75% | 13% | 13% |
| Golden Plains Shire Council | 7 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Southern Grampians Shire Council | 5 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Buloke Shire Council | <5 | - | - | - |
| Gannawarra Shire Council | 0 | - | - | - |
| Hindmarsh Shire Council | <5 | - | - | - |
| Indigo Shire Council | <5 | - | - | - |
| Loddon Shire Council | <5 | - | - | - |
| Northern Grampians Shire Council | <5 | - | - | - |
| Pyrenees Shire Council | <5 | - | - | - |
| Towong Shire Council | <5 | - | - | - |
| West Wimmera Shire Council | 0 | - | - | - |
| Yarriambiack Shire Council | <5 | - | - | - |
What this can't tell you
- The date of your ceremony. The Department says invitations arrive about four weeks before the event, from your council or the Department.
- Whether you can move to another council. The Department says the ceremony you attend is set by your current residential address and you cannot choose where or when.
- How long people now joining the list will wait. The figures describe who was waiting at 31 Oct 2026.
Longest waits in VIC: share waiting 3 months or more
| Council | Waiting | 3 months or more |
|---|---|---|
| Mildura Rural City Council | 172 | 55% |
| Surf Coast Shire Council | 56 | 49% |
| Hobsons Bay City Council | 454 | 43% |
| Yarra City Council | 398 | 41% |
| Brimbank City Council | 1,418 | 38% |
| Stonnington City Council | 463 | 29% |
| Port Phillip City Council | 543 | 28% |
| Benalla Rural City Council | 29 | 24% |
| Corangamite Shire Council | 26 | 23% |
| Manningham City Council | 694 | 22% |
VIC councils with 20 or more waiting.
How to read the VIC ceremony wait figures: 5 things to know
- The people counted are approved applicants who have not yet had their ceremony, including those already invited to one, at 31 October 2026.
- The time is how long each of them had been waiting since approval at that date. It is not the full wait of people who have already had their ceremony.
- Councils with 1 to 4 people waiting are shown as "<5". The Department masks these for privacy.
- The three shares may not add up to 100% because of rounding.
- The Department publishes only the current month. We started keeping a copy on 13 November 2026, so this page has no earlier history.
Other states and territories: NSW ceremony wait times · QLD ceremony wait times · WA ceremony wait times · SA ceremony wait times · TAS ceremony wait times · ACT ceremony wait times · NT ceremony wait times. Full decision times: Australian citizenship processing time.
6 questions about VIC citizenship ceremony wait times
How long is the citizenship ceremony wait in Victoria?
On 31 October 2026, 21,471 approved applicants were waiting for a ceremony in Victoria. 88% had waited under 3 months since approval, 11% 3 to 6 months and 1% more than 6 months.
Which VIC council has the longest citizenship ceremony wait?
Among VIC councils with 20 or more people waiting, the highest shares waiting 3 months or more were Mildura Rural City Council (55%), Surf Coast Shire Council (49%), Hobsons Bay City Council (43%).
Which VIC councils have the most people waiting for a ceremony?
City of Casey: 2,518; Melton City Council: 1,491; Brimbank City Council: 1,418.
Can I choose where and when to attend my citizenship ceremony?
No. The Department says the ceremony you attend is set by your current residential address, and you cannot choose where and when.
How will I be invited to my citizenship ceremony?
The Department says invitations arrive about four weeks before the event, by a letter from your local council or from the Department of Home Affairs.
Is this a government website?
No. Visa Processing Time is independent and is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs.