Australian migration agents are warning corporate mobility teams to brace for an across-the-board slowdown in visa processing over the next fortnight as Department of Home Affairs (DHA) case-officer numbers dip by an estimated 70 per cent.
Data compiled by VisaHQ show a sharp fall in Section 56 information requests and grant notifications in the first week of January compared with mid-November. The annual Christmas-New-Year staffing lull is nothing new, but 2026 is proving worse than usual because it coincides with record skilled-migration invitation rounds issued in November and early December.
Applications lodged after 20 December—especially for Subclass 482, 186, 500 (Student) and 600 (Visitor) visas—are now unlikely to be allocated to an officer until the week of Australia Day (26 January). Bridging-visa holders awaiting travel permissions face particular uncertainty.
![Holiday Staffing Lull Slows All Australian Visa Decisions Until Late January]()
Employers with time-sensitive assignments should consider premium-service upgrades where available, lodge medicals up-front to avoid additional requests and keep travellers on refundable tickets. DHA has indicated that overtime shifts will commence from 27 January to restore service-level agreements, but practitioners expect full normalisation only by mid-February.
For organisations needing hands-on assistance navigating the current bottleneck, VisaHQ’s Australian desk offers real-time status monitoring, document pre-screening and priority submission coordination across all major subclasses. The online portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) lets HR teams compare processing options, receive automated alerts and engage licensed migration professionals, helping employers keep assignments on track even when DHA queues lengthen.
In the meantime, mobility managers should set realistic expectations with stakeholders, track SLAs daily and prepare contingency plans for start-date slippage. Where possible, switch to onshore nomination pathways that do not require offshore processing queues.
Data compiled by VisaHQ show a sharp fall in Section 56 information requests and grant notifications in the first week of January compared with mid-November. The annual Christmas-New-Year staffing lull is nothing new, but 2026 is proving worse than usual because it coincides with record skilled-migration invitation rounds issued in November and early December.
Applications lodged after 20 December—especially for Subclass 482, 186, 500 (Student) and 600 (Visitor) visas—are now unlikely to be allocated to an officer until the week of Australia Day (26 January). Bridging-visa holders awaiting travel permissions face particular uncertainty.
Employers with time-sensitive assignments should consider premium-service upgrades where available, lodge medicals up-front to avoid additional requests and keep travellers on refundable tickets. DHA has indicated that overtime shifts will commence from 27 January to restore service-level agreements, but practitioners expect full normalisation only by mid-February.
For organisations needing hands-on assistance navigating the current bottleneck, VisaHQ’s Australian desk offers real-time status monitoring, document pre-screening and priority submission coordination across all major subclasses. The online portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) lets HR teams compare processing options, receive automated alerts and engage licensed migration professionals, helping employers keep assignments on track even when DHA queues lengthen.
In the meantime, mobility managers should set realistic expectations with stakeholders, track SLAs daily and prepare contingency plans for start-date slippage. Where possible, switch to onshore nomination pathways that do not require offshore processing queues.
