Visas and Migration > After You Apply for a Visa
AFTER YOU APPLY FOR A VISA
How Long Will it Take? Processing Times
Standard processing times are available on the Department’s main website.
Please note that each application presents different issues that can vary the processing time. Some factors that may delay processing beyond the average processing time include:
• An incomplete application being lodged;
• Requested documents not being submitted in a timely manner;
• Additional checks becoming necessary, including additional interviews;
• Medical issues requiring further tests or treatment, such as
tuberculosis;
• Any character issues in relation to the applicant that may require a
formal character assessment; and
• Changes in circumstances of the applicant.
Verification Checks
For bona fide purposes, verification checks are conducted during the processing of some applications, including checks made by telephone and by site visits. Please ensure that the contact residential address and telephone number you have provided at the time of application are correct so we have no difficulties in contacting you as this may lead to delays.
Health Assessment
Please note that some medical clearances can only be cleared by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) in Australia. This means that once you have completed your health examination(s), the immigration panel doctor will send the completed reports directly to our office and then we may need to send them on to the Department’s Health Assessment Service in Australia for completion of the health assessment. The MOC will then assess whether or not you meet the health requirements for a visa, and in doing so may request follow-up examinations or reports.
Our office will contact you should follow-up action be required. Depending on the issues, if follow-up is required the process may take several weeks to a number of months to complete.
Making Arrangements to Travel to Australia
Please do not make arrangements to go to Australia, such as leaving your employment, vacating your home or booking travel arrangements until you have received notification of a decision on your application.
Contacting Us
Should you need to contact us after lodging your application, we prefer that you make enquiries by email to [email protected]. This helps us to continue processing all applications as quickly as we can. We try to respond to all email enquiries within two working days. If you do not have access to email or need to contact us urgently, you can contact us by phone on the details provided here . Please provide your file number or receipt number when contacting the Immigration and Citizenship section in order for us to be able to quickly respond to your enquiry.
Under the Privacy Act 1988 DIAC can only provide information about a visa application to the applicant, an authorised recipient or an appointed migration agent. If you have not already done so in your visa application form, you can authorise another person to receive communication in respect of your application by completing and lodging Form 956 - Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance (to access the form click here ) or Form 956A - Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (to access the form click here ).
If you have further documents or materials in support of your application that you wish to submit please ensure that if you are sending the information by fax, mail or email that you clearly write your name, date of birth, and file reference number or receipt number, on the first page.
If there are any changes in circumstances relating to your application, you are obliged to inform this office about them. If you wish to provide any relevant information in support of your application, please do so in writing. You may use Form 1022 Notification of Changes in Circumstances for this purpose available here .
Additionally, if you wish to notify our office of any incorrect information that you may have given in your visa application, please do so in writing. You may use Form 1023 Notification of Incorrect Answer(s) for this purpose available here . Your notification of incorrect information will be taken into account when assessing your visa application.