Subclass 500 · Studying and training
Student visa (subclass 500) processing times.
Data as at 26 June 2026, published by the Department of Home Affairs.
Current processing times
| Stream | 25% of applications | 50% of applications | 75% of applications | 90% of applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector | 1 Day | 3 Days | 10 Days | 44 Days |
| Postgraduate Research Sector | 14 Days | 36 Days | 66 Days | 84 Days |
| Independent ELICOS Sector | 1 Day | 14 Days | 31 Days | 7 Months |
| Schools Sector | 13 Days | 20 Days | 28 Days | 73 Days |
| Vocational Education and Training Sector | 50 Days | 7 Months | 7 Months | 7 Months |
| Higher Education Sector | 7 Days | 16 Days | 56 Days | 7 Months |
| Non-Award Sector | Less than 1 Day | Less than 1 Day | 6 Days | 14 Days |
Processing times are the Department of Home Affairs’ published estimates, sourced from the official global visa processing times page and refreshed daily. They are indicative only and do not predict the outcome or timing of any individual application. MIGI is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs.
How to read these times
The Department of Home Affairs publishes how long recently decided applications took, as percentiles. “50% of applications” is the median: half of the applications decided in the reporting period were processed within that time. “90%” means nine in ten were decided within it. The figures describe past decisions — they are not a promise about any individual application.
Times move month to month. Application volumes shift, planning levels change at the start of each program year, and incomplete applications or slow health, character and security checks stretch the tail. Complete, decision-ready applications generally sit at the faster end of the range.