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Source: Department of Home Affairsfigures dated checked

Visa processing times update recorded 15 December 2025: 34 streams slower, 25 faster at the 90% mark

Compared with the 14 November 2025 update, at the 90% mark 34 of 69 streams got slower, 25 got faster and 10 did not change. At the 50% mark 27 got slower, 28 faster and 14 did not change. The largest move was 132 Significant Business History, 1,849 to 2,055 days at the 90% mark (206 days longer).

Official update
5 to 15 Dec 2025A public archive copied the official tool on 4 December 2025 and on 15 December 2025. The figures changed in between, on a day it did not record.
Compared with
3 to 14 Nov 2025Previous update, between 21 and 42 days earlier
Streams in this report
69Streams the Department lists today that had a figure on this date
Report
6 of 16Generated from the figures, no hand editing
MarkSlowerFasterNo change
90% decided within342510
50% decided within272814

A stream counts as slower when the number of days rose, faster when it fell. Days run from lodgement to decision for applications the Department decided in its most recent period. For the 801 and 100 partner visas the Department counts from the date of eligibility, two years after the combined application was lodged. They describe the past and are not a prediction for any application.

Which visa processing times moved most? 132 Significant Business History, 206 days longer at the 90% mark

The 10 streams whose 90% figure changed most in this update, by number of days either way, with the 50% figure beside it.

Visa stream90% decided within, days50% decided within, days
132 Significant Business History2,055 was 1,849 206 days longer1,817 was 1,737 80 days longer
801 Partner659 was 789 130 days shorter283 was 235 48 days longer
101 Child846 was 958 112 days shorter665 was 671 6 days shorter
300 Prospective Marriage692 was 796 104 days shorter374 was 438 64 days shorter
189 New Zealand1,693 was 1,597 96 days longer1,372 was 1,315 57 days longer
408 Religious Work367 was 445 78 days shorter94 was 91 3 days longer
500 Non-Award Sector12 was 84 72 days shorter1 was 1 no change
102 Adoption334 was 268 66 days longer125 was 124 1 day longer
887 Skilled - Regional605 was 548 57 days longer202 was 295 93 days shorter
500 Schools Sector128 was 181 53 days shorter20 was 26 6 days shorter

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Australian visa processing times: Home Affairs update between 5 and 15 December 2025

Compared with the figures of 14 November 2025, at the 90% mark 34 of 69 streams got slower, 25 got faster and 10 did not change. At the 50% mark: 27 slower, 28 faster, 14 unchanged.

Largest moves at the 90% mark:
• 132 Significant Business History: 1,849 to 2,055 days (206 days longer)
• 801 Partner: 789 to 659 days (130 days shorter)
• 101 Child: 958 to 846 days (112 days shorter)
• 300 Prospective Marriage: 796 to 692 days (104 days shorter)
• 189 New Zealand: 1,597 to 1,693 days (96 days longer)

Official Department of Home Affairs figures: days from lodgement to decision for recently decided applications (801 and 100 partner visas: from the date of eligibility, two years after lodgement). They describe the past and are not a prediction for any application.
All 69 streams: https://visaprocessingtime.com.au/reports/2025-12-15/

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**Home Affairs updated its global visa processing times between 5 and 15 December 2025**

Compared with the figures of 14 November 2025, at the 90% mark: 34 streams slower, 25 faster, 10 unchanged (69 streams). At the 50% mark: 27 slower, 28 faster, 14 unchanged.

| Visa stream | 90% before | 90% now | Change |
|:--|--:|--:|--:|
| 132 Significant Business History | 1,849 days | 2,055 days | +206 days |
| 801 Partner | 789 days | 659 days | -130 days |
| 101 Child | 958 days | 846 days | -112 days |
| 300 Prospective Marriage | 796 days | 692 days | -104 days |
| 189 New Zealand | 1,597 days | 1,693 days | +96 days |

Official Department of Home Affairs figures: days from lodgement to decision for recently decided applications (801 and 100 partner visas: from the date of eligibility, two years after lodgement). They describe the past and are not a prediction for any application.

Full table for all 69 streams: https://visaprocessingtime.com.au/reports/2025-12-15/

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Home Affairs updated visa processing times between 5 and 15 December 2025: at the 90% mark 34 of 69 streams got slower and 25 faster. Largest move at the 90% mark: 132 Significant Business History, 1,849 to 2,055 days. https://visaprocessingtime.com.au/reports/2025-12-15/

Which lodgement months was Home Affairs processing? No statement under the current directions yet

Statements of the lodgement month each priority group has reached under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122, which set today's groups, start on 19 September 2026. Earlier banners followed other directions with different groups, so they are not compared here. Why.

Compared with a year earlier: not on record

Our records start on 9 June 2025, less than a year before this update, so there is no figure from a year earlier to compare with.

New official banners: 1 dated after the 14 Nov 2025 update and up to 15 Dec 2025

Banner notices the Department posted on its visa pages, newest first, by the date it gives them. Titles and first sentences are the Department's own wording. Our banner archive is daily from 14 November 2026; lodgement month banners before that come from Wayback Machine copies from 19 September 2026. Other banners from these dates are listed only if they were still on the Department's pages when our archive began.

202

Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202)

From 1 July 2025, you must use ImmiAccount if you are proposing a person, or applying for, a Refugee and Humanitarian visa.

Every stream in the 15 Dec 2025 update: 69 processing times, before and after

Days within which 50% and 90% of applications were decided, the figure in use the day before this update, and the 90% figure a year earlier where we have one. Each row opens that stream's page with its full history.

Show all 69 streams
Visa stream90%, days50%, days
100 Partner654 was 638 16 days longer296 was 317 21 days shorter
101 Child846 was 958 112 days shorter665 was 671 6 days shorter
102 Adoption334 was 268 66 days longer125 was 124 1 day longer
117 Orphan Relative2,698 was 2,655 43 days longer2,224 was 2,212 12 days longer
132 Significant Business History2,055 was 1,849 206 days longer1,817 was 1,737 80 days longer
155 Five Year Resident Return32 was 28 4 days longer1 was 1 no change
157 Three Month Resident Return65 was 65 no change30 was 30 no change
186 Direct Entry573 was 563 10 days longer247 was 400 153 days shorter
186 Transition580 was 566 14 days longer369 was 413 44 days shorter
186 Agreement251 was 258 7 days shorter154 was 110 44 days longer
188 Business Innovation Extension375 was 426 51 days shorter112 was 113 1 day shorter
189 Points-Tested331 was 300 31 days longer312 was 284 28 days longer
189 New Zealand1,693 was 1,597 96 days longer1,372 was 1,315 57 days longer
190 Skilled - Nominated834 was 821 13 days longer528 was 529 1 day shorter
191 Regional Provisional stream452 was 423 29 days longer216 was 226 10 days shorter
300 Prospective Marriage692 was 796 104 days shorter374 was 438 64 days shorter
309 Partner (Provisional)723 was 739 16 days shorter432 was 418 14 days longer
400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity)22 was 19 3 days longer6 was 7 1 day shorter
403 Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular)82 was 63 19 days longer55 was 47 8 days longer
403 Foreign Government Agency51 was 51 no change29 was 27 2 days longer
403 Government Agreement45 was 42 3 days longer9 was 11 2 days shorter
403 Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)122 was 122 no change86 was 86 no change
403 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme16 was 28 12 days shorter8 was 12 4 days shorter
407 Training349 was 362 13 days shorter264 was 286 22 days shorter
408 Entertainment Activities35 was 42 7 days shorter11 was 19 8 days shorter
408 Exchange Arrangements190 was 151 39 days longer47 was 48 1 day shorter
408 Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity18 was 16 2 days longer7 was 4 3 days longer
408 Religious Work367 was 445 78 days shorter94 was 91 3 days longer
408 Research Activities366 was 353 13 days longer81 was 123 42 days shorter
408 Special Programs57 was 32 25 days longer30 was 10 20 days longer
408 Sporting Activities49 was 35 14 days longer9 was 12 3 days shorter
408 Superyacht Crew23 was 18 5 days longer5 was 6 1 day shorter
417 Working Holiday39 was 28 11 days longer1 was 1 no change
445 Dependent Child836 was 846 10 days shorter721 was 760 39 days shorter
461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary)114 was 142 28 days shorter70 was 72 2 days shorter
462 Work and Holiday78 was 70 8 days longer34 was 38 4 days shorter
482 Labour Agreement207 was 207 no change71 was 71 no change
482 Nomination144 was 144 no change47 was 47 no change
482 Sponsorship175 was 175 no change47 was 47 no change
485 Post-Higher Education Work62 was 33 29 days longer38 was 20 18 days longer
491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional849 was 808 41 days longer628 was 609 19 days longer
491 Family Sponsored Regional1,020 was 1,020 no change773 was 773 no change
494 Employer Sponsored367 was 388 21 days shorter234 was 216 18 days longer
494 Labour Agreement354 was 367 13 days shorter219 was 210 9 days longer
500 Higher Education Sector163 was 181 18 days shorter39 was 31 8 days longer
500 Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector20 was 13 7 days longer4 was 2 2 days longer
500 Independent ELICOS Sector152 was 162 10 days shorter21 was 21 no change
500 Non-Award Sector12 was 84 72 days shorter1 was 1 no change
500 Postgraduate Research Sector231 was 267 36 days shorter26 was 99 73 days shorter
500 Schools Sector128 was 181 53 days shorter20 was 26 6 days shorter
500 Vocational Education and Training Sector197 was 193 4 days longer140 was 168 28 days shorter
590 Student Guardian205 was 191 14 days longer34 was 36 2 days shorter
600 Tourist29 was 24 5 days longer12 was 13 1 day shorter
600 Business Visitor18 was 17 1 day longer7 was 6 1 day longer
600 Sponsored Family84 was 77 7 days longer45 was 29 16 days longer
601 Electronic Travel Authority1 was 1 no change1 was 1 no change
602 Medical Treatment25 was 48 23 days shorter2 was 3 1 day shorter
651 eVisitor1 was 1 no change1 was 1 no change
771 Transit15 was 15 no change3 was 3 no change
801 Partner659 was 789 130 days shorter283 was 235 48 days longer
802 Child816 was 791 25 days longer661 was 634 27 days longer
820 Partner694 was 738 44 days shorter500 was 494 6 days longer
870 Visa Application229 was 231 2 days shorter141 was 154 13 days shorter
870 Sponsorship110 was 122 12 days shorter92 was 85 7 days longer
887 Skilled - Regional605 was 548 57 days longer202 was 295 93 days shorter
888 Business Innovation194 was 163 31 days longer122 was 113 9 days longer
888 Investor145 was 143 2 days longer90 was 84 6 days longer
888 Significant Investor167 was 203 36 days shorter80 was 76 4 days longer
988 Maritime Crew Visa1 was 2 1 day shorter1 was 1 no change

"Was" is the figure in use the day before this update.

Other visa processing times reports: 16 official updates since June 2025

One report for each time the Department updated its global visa processing times. How these reports are made.

Previous: 14 Nov 2025 updateAll 16 reportsNext: 15 Feb 2026 update
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