Employer accreditation, job check and AEWV wait times
Find out how long it takes us to process work visas, employer accreditations and Job Checks.
This page includes wait times for Job Check and visa applications by ANZSCO level. ANZSCO grades occupations according to skill level. ANZSCO skill levels range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most skilled and 5 being less skilled. There is also wait time information for Green List roles and roles by sector.
What is ANZSCO and how to find your skill level
Incomplete applications slow down processing times
Further checks and policy changes were introduced in the AEWV earlier this year which mean there are additional requirements for many applications. This has resulted in processing times across the 3 stages of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme taking longer.
Incomplete applications are a significant factor to current processing times. All of the required information must be submitted with your application to help prevent further delays. Incomplete applications may be declined.
Financial evidence for your accreditation application
Wait times for AEWV, job check and employer accreditation
| Visa/product type | *Average wait time | *Most completed within |
|---|---|---|
| Employer accreditation for AEWV | 2 days | 2 weeks |
| Accreditation renewals | 2 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (all roles) | 3 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (Green list roles) | 2 days | 4 days |
| Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 1 roles) | 2 days | 1 week |
| Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 2 roles) | 1 week | 3 weeks |
| Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 3 roles) | 3 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 4 roles) | 4 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (ANZSCO skill level 5 roles) | 3 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (Hospitality sector roles) | 1 week | 3 weeks |
| Job checks (Construction sector roles) | 3 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (Primary Industry sector roles) | 2 days | 1.5 week |
| Job checks (Tourism sector roles) | 3 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (Retail sector roles) | 3 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (Health sector roles all) | 2 days | 1 week |
| Job checks (Health sector roles Green List) | 1 days | 2 days |
| Job checks (Education sector roles) | 1 days | 3 days |
| Job checks (ICT sector roles) | 2 days | 1 week |
| Job checks (Transportation and logistics sector roles) | 3 days | 2 weeks |
| Job checks (other sector roles) | 3 days | 2 weeks |
| AEWV (all roles) | 2 weeks | 5 weeks |
| AEWV (Green list roles) | 2 weeks | 5 weeks |
| AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 1 roles) | 2 weeks | 4.5 weeks |
| AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 2 roles) | 2 weeks | 5 weeks |
| AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 3 roles) | 2 weeks | 5 weeks |
| AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 4 roles) | 2 weeks | 6 weeks |
| AEWV (ANZSCO skill level 5 roles) | 2 weeks | 6 weeks |
| AEWV (Hospitality sector roles) | 2 weeks | 5 weeks |
| AEWV (Construction sector roles) | 2 weeks | 5 weeks |
| AEWV (Primary Industry sector roles) | 2 weeks | 4 weeks |
| AEWV (Tourism sector roles) | 1 week | 2.5 weeks |
| AEWV (Retail sector roles) | 3 weeks | 7 weeks |
| AEWV (Health sector roles all) | 2 weeks | 3 weeks |
| AEWV (Health sector roles Green List) | 2 weeks | 4 weeks |
| AEWV (Education sector roles) | 2 weeks | 4 weeks |
| AEWV (ICT sector roles) | 2.5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| AEWV (Transportation and logistics sector roles) | 3.5 weeks | 9 weeks |
| AEWV (Other sector roles) | 2 weeks | 4 weeks |
*'Average wait time' is how long it took for 50% of applications to be processed. 'Most completed within' is based on 80% of applications processed. Both figures are calculated using working days. ‘Working days’ excludes Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
If your application includes all the documentation we need, it will be processed closer to the average wait time. We also provide the timeframe that we complete most applications in, to provide certainty when planning your application.
Some applications can take longer to process
We need to assess all applications to determine whether the requirements are met. For a work visa we need to determine the applicant meets immigration requirements, and the requirements for the role applied for. Providing all the documentation we need will mean we can process your application faster when it is allocated.
There are different requirements for the different ANZSCO skill levels. It’s important that the correct ANZSCO skill level is provided on the application. We need to assess that the role matches the ANZSCO skill level provided. It takes longer to process applications where these don’t match or an incorrect ANZSCO code has been declared.
AEWV and job check applications for Green List roles are prioritised.
If your application is taking longer than what is shown in Table 1 you can find out what other factors may affect visa wait times.
Why some visa applications take longer to process than others
Escalating urgent applications
If you need to request to have your application allocated urgently for assessment, you can use our escalation process. You must meet all the criteria.
Escalation for urgent applications
How we allocate AEWV applications
We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to be as efficient as possible in our approach to processing applications across the AEWV scheme.
When we allocate an application, it means we assign it to an immigration officer to start assessing it. We allocate AEWV applications across the 3 gateways in a flexible and considered way so we can be as efficient as possible, while maintaining the appropriate risk settings and quality of decision making. For example, grouping applications, and allocating these to a specific team to assess them at the same time such as where the applicant is from the same sector or location, or are in similar situations.
Allocation priorities for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Where we identify applications that include the required evidence and documentation, these will be prioritised.
This means more applications across the AEWV gateways can continue to be assessed, and enables us to make more visa decisions.
There were temporary changes to some sectors to ensure employers could hire the skilled employers they needed for seasonal work. Applications from the Dairy sector were prioritised for allocation from May to September 2024, prior to the calving season. On 8 September 2024, an exemption to the AEWV minimum skill requirement was made for some roles in meat and seafood, tourism, hospitality and care workforce.
Short-term exemptions to AEWV skills requirements for specific roles and sectors
Find other visa wait times
To find the wait time for a visa or accreditation type that is not listed on this page you can use our fees, decision times and where to apply tool.
Fees, decision times and where to apply
Check your application status
To find out information on your visa application you can log in to your Immigration Online account and check your visa status.
Checking your visa application status
Escalating an urgent application
You can request to have your application allocated urgently for assessment using our visa escalation process.