Family Visa Processing Time

The subclass and its processing rules are the starting point. Parent and Other Family visas can spend years in a queue, while document completeness, health and character checks, and responses to Department of Home Affairs requests can affect individual assessment.

A Section 56 request indicates what additional information is needed by the Department of Home Affairs and includes a deadline for providing a response. While the request does indicate that a response should be provided within 28 days, the actual deadline is the date indicated in the Section 56 request. If you are unable to meet the deadline, you may apply for an extension if available. However, based on the information received from the Department of Home Affairs prior to receiving a Section 56 request, a decision may still be made with respect to your application.

For child visa subclasses 101 and 802, consult the Department of Home Affairs global visa processing-time guide for current figures. The circumstances of the child, dependency and custody evidence, required consent, and checks can affect an individual application.

Carer visas are capped and queued. The Department of Home Affairs currently estimates 12 years for a new application, though this can change. The applicant must also provide evidence that the Australian relative needs care, including the required assessment through Bupa Medical Visa Services.