Australia Visa Processing Time From Pakistan (2026 List): Visitor, Student, Partner and Skilled
Australia visa processing times for 20 visas: tourist 21 days, student 16 days, partner 309 21 months, skilled 189 61 days. Home Affairs figures, 29 Sep 2026.
Australia's own figures, last updated on 29 September 2026, show half of tourist visitor visas decided in 21 days and 90 per cent in 33 days, Higher Education student visas in 16 days for half and 4 months for 90 per cent, and offshore partner visas in 21 months for half. These are global times for recently decided cases, not a Pakistan-only figure, and not a promise for your file.
The Department of Home Affairs publishes the times in its visa processing time guide. We read it for 20 visa types and streams on 1 November 2026, and the full list is below. Read the 90 per cent column, not the 50 per cent one, when you book flights or pay university deposits. Half of applicants wait longer than the 50 per cent figure, and that half often includes files with gaps, checks or extra document requests.
Visitor visas take 21 days for half of tourists
The tourist stream of the Visitor visa (subclass 600) applied from outside Australia takes 21 days for half of applicants and 33 days for 90 per cent. Business visitors are faster at 7 and 19 days. Sponsored family visitors take longer, at 40 days and 3 months.
| Visa and stream | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor 600, Tourist (outside Australia) | 7 days | 21 days | 26 days | 33 days |
| Visitor 600, Business Visitor | 3 days | 7 days | 13 days | 19 days |
| Visitor 600, Sponsored Family | 35 days | 40 days | 61 days | 3 months |
The sponsored family stream is the one most Pakistani families use when a son or daughter in Australia invites parents. It needs a sponsor in Australia, and it is slower. For a wedding or a birth, apply at least 3 months ahead. Fees, documents and streams for the Australia visitor visa 600 from Pakistan are set out separately.
Student visas are quick for universities and slow for vocational courses
Higher Education student visas take 16 days for half and 4 months for 90 per cent. Postgraduate research is 17 and 55 days. Vocational Education and Training is far slower, at 53 days for half and 7 months for 90 per cent.
| Visa and stream | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|
| Student 500, Higher Education | 16 days | 4 months |
| Student 500, Postgraduate Research | 17 days | 55 days |
| Student 500, Vocational Education and Training | 53 days | 7 months |
| Student Guardian 590 | 43 days | 8 months |
| Temporary Graduate 485, Post-Higher Education Work | 5 days | 55 days |
Home Affairs says student visas lodged outside Australia are processed under a Ministerial Direction. Files lodged on or after 14 November 2025 follow Direction 115, which sets processing priorities. In plain words, some providers' students move faster than others. If your college is a small vocational provider, plan for the 7 month figure. The fee and funds rules for the Australia student visa from Pakistan are covered on their own.
Partner and family visas take close to 2 years
The offshore Partner visa (subclass 309) takes 21 months for half of applicants and 32 months for 90 per cent. The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) takes 14 and 26 months. The Child visa (subclass 101) takes 24 and 33 months.
| Visa | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|
| Partner (Provisional) 309, applied outside Australia | 21 months | 32 months |
| Partner 820, applied in Australia | 22 months | 30 months |
| Partner 100, permanent stage | 9 months | 21 months |
| Prospective Marriage 300 | 14 months | 26 months |
| Child 101 | 24 months | 33 months |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 870, visa | 7 months | 9 months |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 870, sponsorship | 89 days | 4 months |
Home Affairs says it keeps prioritising aged, compassionate and compelling partner cases. The permanent Partner visa clock starts only from the date of eligibility, which is 2 years after you applied for both stages. So a couple applying today should not expect permanent residence in under about 3 years. For a spouse in Pakistan, the paperwork for an attested Nikah Nama is worth starting early.
Skilled visas range from 37 days to 21 months
The Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) takes 37 days for half. The Core Skills stream takes 4 months. Skilled Independent 189 takes 61 days for half, while state nominated 190 takes 4 months and Employer Nomination 186 takes 21 months.
| Visa and stream | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand 482, Specialist Skills | 37 days | 78 days |
| Skills in Demand 482, Core Skills | 4 months | 9 months |
| Skilled Independent 189, Points-Tested | 61 days | 8 months |
| Skilled Nominated 190 | 4 months | 16 months |
| Skilled Work Regional 491, state nominated | 5 months | 18 months |
| Employer Nomination 186, Direct Entry | 21 months | 25 months |
For the 186 Direct Entry stream, Home Affairs says a high volume of applications has slowed allocation. Skilled visas also depend on an invitation or nomination first, and that wait is not counted here. The rule changes behind the Australia skilled visa priority changes explain part of the spread.
Check your own estimate in 4 steps
The tool on the Home Affairs site shows the same four figures for any visa you pick. It is based on recently decided applications and does not guarantee a date. Use it again the week you apply, because the figures change each month.
- Open the Global visa processing times page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
- Choose your visa subclass from the drop down list.
- Choose the stream, if the visa has more than one.
- Read the 75 and 90 per cent figures and plan around those.
Your file moves faster when it is complete on the day you lodge it. A missing police certificate is a common cause of a request for more information. The police character certificate status check helps you get yours in hand before you apply. Once a visa is granted, check it in VEVO before you fly.
Common questions
How long does an Australia visit visa take from Pakistan?
Home Affairs shows 21 days for half of tourist applicants and 33 days for 90 per cent, worldwide.
Are these processing times only for Pakistanis?
No. They are global figures for recently decided applications, not a Pakistan-only figure.
How long does an Australia student visa take?
Higher Education student visas take 16 days for half and 4 months for 90 per cent.
How long does an Australia spouse visa take from Pakistan?
The offshore Partner visa 309 takes 21 months for half and 32 months for 90 per cent.
Can I pay to speed up an Australian visa?
The Home Affairs processing pages we read list no paid priority service for these visas.
When were these times last updated?
The Home Affairs page showed a last update of 29 September 2026 when we read it.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 1 November 2026. We read the Global visa processing times page (last updated 29 September 2026) and pulled each figure from the processing time guide that page uses, for 20 visa types and streams. The Ministerial Direction notes for student and partner visas come from the same tool and the Partner visa 309 page. Home Affairs does not publish country-specific times, so we could not give a Pakistan-only figure. Times for permanent parent visas were not in the tool.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
