Home Affairs delays offshore visa applicants to cut migration numbers
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is processing onshore visa applications first. This lowers net migration numbers. This leaves offshore applicants waiting much longer.
In July, Home Affairs told its department to process visas from inside Australia first. Visas from overseas come later.
The move lowers net migration numbers. A visa for someone already in Australia does not add to the count.
Partner visas from overseas took 15 months to process in 2025-26. The shift has left hopeful migrants outside Australia waiting.
Their applications are stuck in the queue. Employers and Australian partners report applications stuck at the back.
Some have sold homes, closed businesses, or left jobs while waiting. These visas may now take much longer.
- July
- Policy change month
- 15 months in 2025-26
- Partner visa processing time
- Tony Burke, Home Affairs
- Minister
Why it mattersApplicants and sponsors have paid thousands. They made life plans based on timelines. The policy change disrupted everything without warning.
AustraliaThousands of overseas applicants seeking to move to Australia are now facing unexpected delays, including skilled workers employers want to hire and partners of Australian citizens.
