Student visa processing priorities explained

Home Affairs uses two priority levels when processing student visas (subclass 500) for applicants outside Australia. Your priority level is set when you lodge your application and affects how quickly it's processed, but doesn't determine whether you're approved or refused. Priority 1 (High) applicants include school students, PhD students, TAFE students, pilot training students, and students from Pacific nations and Timor-Leste. Also in Priority 1 are students with government sponsorship, short-term exchange students, and families with children under 18. Priority 2 (Standard) includes other higher education and vocational education students. If you applied inside Australia, Home Affairs aims to assess applications in the order they were lodged. Processing times vary based on individual circumstances. To check typical processing times, use Home Affairs' visa processing time guide tool, though this is a general guide only and won't predict your specific application outcome. For the most current priority rules, check Home Affairs' website as priorities changed on 14 November 2025.