The headline numbers
- Onshore 820 (temporary) — 75% of grants in 18 months, 90% in 24 months
- Offshore 309 (temporary) — varies by country; typically 12–24 months
- Subclass 300 (prospective marriage) — typically 12–18 months
- Permanent stage (801 / 100) — generally 12–18 months after the temporary grant
Home Affairs publishes "global processing times" monthly. They're estimates based on the 75th and 90th percentile of recent grants — not commitments. Your case may be faster or slower.
Why processing times vary
- Subclass — 820 cases are processed centrally; 309 cases at the post in the applicant's country
- Country of application — some posts are faster than others
- Complexity of evidence — strong four-pillar files move faster
- Whether the file triggered an RFI — each round adds 4–8 weeks
- Health and character — complex medicals or checks slow things
- Random allocation — two identical files can grant months apart
What you can do to avoid delays
- Lodge a complete file at the outset
- Book medicals early and upload the results
- Get police clearances ready for every relevant country before lodging
- Make sure translations are NAATI-certified (uncertified ones are returned)
- Respond to any RFI within the deadline
- Use a registered agent — agent-lodged cases tend to have lower RFI rates
Country-by-country (current 2026 patterns)
- India — 12–18 months for 309
- Philippines — 14–22 months
- Thailand — 12–24 months
- China — 18–30 months
- Vietnam — 14–20 months
- UK / Europe — 12–18 months
Worried your case is taking too long?
Book a consultation →Did you know?
Home Affairs deliberately doesn't publish guaranteed processing times — only "global processing time" estimates. Couples often plan around the cohort average only to find their specific case sits in the slower tail of the distribution.
Frequently asked questions
For onshore 820 applications, about 75% are granted within 18 months and 90% within 24 months. Offshore 309 cases are similar, depending on processing centre.
Common reasons: incomplete evidence triggering RFIs, slow country-specific processing, health or character complications, or simply random allocation.
Not directly. You can avoid delays by lodging a complete file and responding promptly to any RFI. Priority processing exists only in narrow circumstances.