Grid Migration · Visa Statistics & Data

Student Visa Processing Priorities

Priority levels for offshore Subclass 500 student visa applications under MD111 and MD115, including target processing timeframes.

Last updated: 12 Apr 2026, 12:47 pm UTC

Processing Time Targets

Priority 1

1–4

weeks from lodgement

Priority 2

5–8

weeks from lodgement

Priority 3

9–12

weeks from lodgement

Who Each Priority Applies To

Applies to applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025.

School students
Non-award sector students, including short-term exchange students
Standalone ELICOS students
Students enrolled with a TAFE provider (or specifically identified TAFE courses for Charles Darwin University)
Students enrolled in a recognised Pilot training course*
Students enrolled in Postgraduate research (PhD) courses
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) sponsored students
Department of Defence sponsored students
Foreign and Australian government scholarship students
Students from the Pacific and Timor-Leste**
Transnational education students
Subsequent entrants where the application includes a minor (a child <18 years of age)

Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training students seeking to study with education providers that have reached their prioritisation threshold
subsequent entrants where the application does not include a minor

Higher Education or a Dual Sector students – check the provider’s priority status at Visa Prioritisation Status
Vocational Education and Training students – ask your provider if they have reached their prioritisation threshold (Priority 2) or upper threshold (Priority 3)
Priority 1 applications within 1 to 4 weeks of lodgement
Priority 2 applications within 5 to 8 weeks of lodgement
Priority 3 applications within 9 to 12 weeks of lodgement
an ELICOS course at Provider A
a Diploma at Provider B and
a Bachelor degree at University X which starts in 2026.
If University X has not reached its priority threshold for 2025, the application will be processed as Priority 1 – High.
If University X has reached its 2025 threshold, the application will be processed as Priority 2 – Standard
an ELICOS course at Provider C
a Diploma at Provider D and
a Bachelor degree at University Y which starts in 2027.
If University Y has not reached its priority threshold for 2026, the application will be processed as Priority 1.
If University Y has reached its 2026 prioritisation threshold or upper threshold, the application will be processed as Priority 2 or Priority 3
an ELICOS course at Provider E
a Bachelor degree at University Z which starts in 2027.
If University Z has not reached its priority threshold for 2027, the application will be processed as Priority 1.
If University Z has reached its 2027 prioritisation threshold or upper threshold, the application will be processed as Priority 2 or Priority 3
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May 2025 for applications in relation to an occupation to be carried out in a designated regional area.
May 2025 for applications in relation to a healthcare or teaching occupation.
March 2025 for applications where the applicant is nominated by an Approved sponsor with Accredited Status.
June 2024 for all other applications.
fingerprints
an image of your face and shoulders (photos)
purports to have been, but was not, issued in respect of the person, or
is counterfeit or has been altered by a person who does not have authority to do so, or
was obtained because of a false or misleading statement, whether or not made knowingly
make general business or employment enquiries
investigate, negotiate, sign or review a business contract
undertake an activity as part of an official government visit
take part in a conference, trade fair or seminar. The organisers cannot pay you to take part
work for or provide services to a person, business or organisation
sell goods or services to the public
work on all applications which have not been processed to decision stops
the files are closed
application fees are refunded
biological child
stepchild
adopted child
you are committed to a shared life excluding all others; and
your relationship is genuine and continuing; and
you live together; or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis; and
you are not related by family.
someone who has wholly or substantially relied on mostly you for a substantial period of time to meet their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter
someone who has wholly or substantially relied on you for a substantial period of time for financial support because they can't work due to a mental or physical disability
an ownership interest in a business
cash on deposit
stocks or bonds
real estate
gold or silver bullion
were physically in Australia on 26 February 2001 as the holder of an SCV
were not in Australia on 26 February 2001 but were in Australia for 365 days (or more) between 26 February 1999 and 25 February 2001 (inclusive) and returned to Australia after 26 February 2001, or
are otherwise a ‘protected SCV holder’ under section 7(2B), 7(2C) or 7(2D) of the SSA - in which case you must provide us with written confirmation from Centrelink that you are a protected SCV holder.
visa granted to a Foreign Affairs student or Defence Student
visa granted on the basis of the applicant being a member of the family unit of the holder of a student visa .
false or misleading at the time it is given and
relevant to any of the criteria the Minister may consider when making a decision on an application, whether or not the decision is made because of that information
under a regulatory regime:
governed by the central bank (or its equivalent) of the country in which the body corporate operates; and
that the Minister is satisfied provides effective prudential assurance; and
in a way that the Minister is satisfied complies with effective prudential assurance requirements.
for not less than 2 years and there is a dependent child (other than a step-child ) from this relationship, or
in any other case, for not less than 3 years
the main applicant's spouse or de facto partner
the main applicant's child , or their partner's child, who is not engaged, married or in a de facto relationship and is:
aged under 18 years
aged 18 to 23 years and dependent on the main applicant or the main applicant's partner
aged 23 years or older and dependent on the main applicant or the main applicant's partner due to a partial or total physical or mental disability.
the dependent child of the child above
applied for the wrong visa class and/or visa stream, or
indicated the wrong visa duration in the visa application process, and
we have received a new application.
they did not need
they did not, or would not, be eligible for
was the wrong type of visa, or
was a system error at time of lodgement.
parent or step-parent
partner's parent or step-parent
sibling or step-sibling
child or stepchild who is 18 or older and not dependent on you
child or stepchild who is under 18 and not in your or your partner's daily care and control
in Australia as a child of foreign diplomats or administrative staff who were entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities
in Australia as a child of United Nations staff posted to Australia
removed from Australia after breaching visa conditions or having had a visa cancelled.
in Australia as a child of foreign diplomats or administrative staff who were entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities
in Australia as a child of United Nations staff posted to Australia
removed from Australia with your family after breaching visa conditions or having had a visa cancelled.
a shareholder in a company that carries on the business, or
a partner in a partnership that carries on the business, or
the sole proprietor of the business including such an interest held indirectly through one or more interposed companies, partnerships or trusts
in a married relationship
in a De facto relationship
fingerprints or handprints of a person (including those taken using paper and ink or digital livescanning technologies)
a measurement of a person’s height and weight
a photograph or other image of a person’s face and shoulders
an iris scan
a person’s signature
any other identifier prescribed by the regulations (except an identifier the obtaining of which would involve the carrying out of an intimate forensic procedure within the meaning of section 23WA of the Crimes Act 1914 ).
is operated for the purpose of making profit through the provision of goods, services or goods and services (other than the provision of rental property) to the public; and
is not operated primarily or substantially for the purpose of speculative or passive investment.
your partner, child, parent, brother, sister, stepchild, step-parent, stepbrother or stepsister
your grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or step equivalent
violence, including murder, assault, sexual assault or the threat of violence
harassment, molestation, intimidation or stalking
the breach of an apprehended violence or similar order
firearms or other dangerous weapons
people smuggling
human trafficking, slavery or slavery-like practices (including forced marriage), kidnapping or unlawful confinement
attempting to commit any of these offences
aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring such offences.
you are the child's parent, unless a Family Court order has removed your parental responsibility
the child is to live with you under a parenting order, whether you are their parent or not
you have parental responsibility for the child's long-term or day-to-day care under a Family Court order, whether you are their parent or not
you have sole or joint guardianship or custody of the child under an Australian or foreign law, including by adoption, operation of law, court order or otherwise.
starts and ends in Australia
lasts up to 30 days.
you remain a passenger during the cruise
you do not go to a foreign country except for transit purposes
it lasts no more than 30 days.
If your cruise has ‘round trip cruise’ status, we will treat the time that a person spends on a round trip cruise as if they were still in Australia for the purposes of their visa.
A round trip cruise will not reset your stay period on your visa and you should check that you have sufficient time on your visa for the total time you intend to stay in Australia.
If the cruise does not have round trip cruise status, you should check that you have a visa that will allow you to return to Australia, especially if your temporary visa has a single travel facility.
have lived lawfully in Australia for a reasonable period (usually at least 2 years) and
are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
death or imprisonment for life
a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more; or
two or more terms of imprisonment, where the total of those terms is 12 months or more.
intellectual impairment
HIV infection
functional impairment
renal disease or failure
cancer
they have a mutual commitment to a shared life as a married couple to the exclusion of all others; and
the relationship between them is genuine and continuing; and
they live together; or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.
an Australian parenting order that is in force, saying that you are to live with them and look after them
guardianship or custody of the child under the law, Australian or otherwise
a bridging visa
a criminal justice or enforcement visa
is unpaid (you can be provided with meals, accommodation or out-of-pocket living expenses)
would not otherwise be done by an Australian for pay
is short term
is incidental to your visit to Australia
is done for a not-for-profit organisation
benefits the community

Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/visa-processing-priorities/student-visa