Australia has changed its priorities for processing family visas
In late July, the Australian Department of Home Affairs changed the procedure for processing family visa applications: priority will be given to applications submitted within the country over those submitted from abroad. The changes apply to visas for partners, children, parents, and caregivers. Applicants who submitted their documents from outside Australia fear that waiting times will increase further, according to ABC News Australia.
A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs stated that the ministerial directive, which took effect in July, is intended to facilitate the implementation of the family migration program for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. According to the spokesperson, changes to the permanent migration program were introduced to put pressure on reducing net overseas migration. The department also noted that prioritizing applications submitted within the country should reduce wait times for migrants who are already living, working, and contributing to Australia.
The department emphasized that processing of parent visa applications has not been suspended. Updated processing time estimates for quota-based programs are expected to be released at a later date. Prior to the policy change, the estimated average processing time for parent visa applications submitted this year ranged from 15 to 33 years. Green Party Senator David Shubridge stated that the average wait time for a non-contributory parent visa is 30 years, and for a contributory one, 15 years.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
Brisbane resident Amy Hu launched an online petition calling for fair treatment of applications submitted from abroad. She has collected over 1,600 signatures. Her parents in China applied for contributory parent visas in 2019 and were expecting to receive them in 2027, but the timeline is now uncertain. This visa grants permanent residency to parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens who meet the requirements, provided they pay over $50,000. A non-contributory visa costs $8,665 but involves a significantly longer wait.
Petition signatory Avon Yu reported that her parents, who also applied for contributory visas in 2019, have been waiting for a decision for seven years. The initial fee for their applications exceeded $8,000, and each applicant must pay an additional $43,600 before the visa is issued. Yu fears the wait could be indefinite and said her family is considering moving to China if her parents do not receive their visas within three to five years.
Australia has set a quota of 52,460 permanent family visas for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. A total of 7,060 spots are allocated for parent visas—the lowest number in a decade, excluding the pandemic period. The 2023 review of the immigration system documented a decades-long backlog for parent visas and noted that their numbers are partially limited due to taxpayer costs.
