What does my ImmiAccount status mean?

The seven application statuses

ImmiAccount uses a linear status ladder. Every application moves through these stages in order, though some stages may pass quickly or appear to be skipped when the Department processes your case rapidly.

#: 1; Status: Incomplete; What it means: You have started the application form but have not filled in all mandatory fields. The application cannot be submitted yet.
#: 2; Status: Ready to submit; What it means: All mandatory fields are complete. You can review your answers and attach documents before submitting.
#: 3; Status: Submitted; What it means: You have clicked the submit button. The application is in transit to the Department's processing systems.
#: 4; Status: Received; What it means: The Department has received your application. It is in the queue but a case officer has not yet begun active assessment.
#: 5; Status: Initial assessment; What it means: A case officer has begun reviewing your application, documents, and any checks required.
#: 6; Status: Further assessment; What it means: Additional review is underway. This may involve external checks, requests for more information, or internal referrals.
#: 7; Status: Finalised; What it means: A decision has been made. Check your ImmiAccount messages and any linked email for the outcome letter.

The 2 March 2018 status rename

Before 2 March 2018, ImmiAccount used a different set of status names. On that date, the Department renamed all statuses to the labels shown above. If you lodged an application before March 2018 and remember seeing different terminology, the table below shows how the old names map to the current ones.

Incomplete — Incomplete
Ready to Submit — Ready to submit
Submitted — Submitted
Received — Received
In Progress — Initial assessment
Further Assessment — Further assessment
Finalised — Finalised

The most significant change was "In Progress" becoming "Initial assessment." The Department introduced this clearer label to distinguish the first review phase from the deeper "Further assessment" phase. If you find old forum posts or guides referencing "In Progress," that status no longer appears in the ImmiAccount interface.

Incomplete and Ready to submit

These two statuses exist before you have lodged. An application sitting on Incomplete means at least one mandatory field is empty or a validation error exists. Open the application, look for red-highlighted fields or error banners, and fill in the missing information.

Once every mandatory field passes validation, the status changes to Ready to submit. At this point you can still edit your answers, upload supporting documents, and review everything. Nothing has been sent to the Department yet. You can leave an application on "Ready to submit" and return later, though you should be aware that some application types have time limits on how long a draft can remain unsubmitted before it expires.

To resume a draft, log in to your ImmiAccount, find the application in your list, and click "Continue application."

Submitted vs Received

This is one of the most common sources of confusion. Submitted means you have pressed the submit button and (where applicable) payment has been processed. The application is being transferred into the Department's case management system. Received means the Department's system has formally acknowledged receipt.

In most cases, the transition from Submitted to Received happens within minutes or hours. Occasionally, during periods of high system load, it may take longer. If your application stays on Submitted for more than 48 hours, check your ImmiAccount messages for any error notifications and confirm that your payment was successful.

Initial assessment explained

When your status moves to Initial assessment, it means a case officer or automated check has begun reviewing your application. This does not necessarily mean a human is actively looking at your file at that exact moment. The Department runs integrity, identity, and health checks that may trigger this status change automatically.

During Initial assessment, the Department may send you a request for additional documents or information through your ImmiAccount message centre. Keep notifications enabled and check your account regularly. If you receive a request, respond within the timeframe specified. Missing a deadline can affect your application.

Further assessment explained

Further assessment indicates the Department is conducting additional review beyond the standard initial checks. Common reasons include:

- External security or character checks with other agencies
- Health assessment referrals or additional medical examinations
- Requests sent to you for further evidence (section 56 requests)
- Internal policy referrals for complex cases
- Verification of claims or documents with third parties

This status can persist for weeks or months depending on the visa subclass and the nature of the checks. There is no action required from you unless the Department sends a specific request through your ImmiAccount messages.

Finalised and what comes next

Finalised means the Department has reached a decision. The decision itself, whether a grant, refusal, or withdrawal, is communicated through:

- A notification in your ImmiAccount message centre
- An email to the address linked to your ImmiAccount
- For some visa types, a formal letter attached as a PDF in your account

A "Finalised" status does not tell you the outcome on its own. You must open the decision record or notification to see whether the visa was granted or refused. If the visa was granted, the grant notice typically includes your visa grant number, conditions, and validity dates. If refused, the letter will outline the reasons and any review or appeal rights.

After finalisation, the application remains visible in your ImmiAccount for your records. You cannot edit or resubmit a finalised application.

Common confusion points

"Received" does not mean someone is looking at it. Many applicants assume that "Received" means a case officer is reviewing their file. It does not. It means the Department's system has formally accepted the application. Active review begins at "Initial assessment."

Status may not update in real time. The portal status is updated by backend systems and may lag behind actual processing activity. A case officer may have begun reviewing your file before the status label changes.

Multiple applications show independent statuses. If you have more than one application in your ImmiAccount, each has its own status. One being on "Further assessment" has no bearing on another.

Older applications may show legacy formatting. Applications lodged before the 2 March 2018 rename were migrated to the new labels, but some display quirks may persist in edge cases, particularly for applications lodged before 1990 that were manually linked to an ImmiAccount.

My application has been on "Received" for three months. Is something wrong?

Not necessarily. "Received" simply means the Department has your application in the queue. Processing times vary significantly by visa subclass. Check the Department's published processing times page for current estimates relevant to your visa type.

Does "Initial assessment" mean a case officer is assigned to me?

The status indicates that assessment activity has begun, which may include automated checks. A specific case officer may or may not have been assigned at this point. The Department does not disclose case officer assignment through ImmiAccount.

Can I speed up the move from one status to the next?

You cannot directly influence how quickly the Department processes your application. However, ensuring all documents are uploaded correctly (files under 5 MB each, no encrypted PDFs, filenames using only letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores) and responding promptly to any requests can prevent delays on your end.

What if my status goes backward?

Statuses do not typically move backward. If you notice an unexpected change, check your ImmiAccount messages for correspondence from the Department. In rare cases, system updates or corrections may cause a temporary display anomaly.

I lodged before March 2018 and remember different status names. Is my application affected?

No. The 2 March 2018 change was cosmetic. Your application's underlying processing was not affected. The old labels were simply replaced with the new ones across all accounts.

My application shows "Finalised" but I have not received any letter. What do I do?

Check your ImmiAccount message centre and the email address linked to your account (including spam/junk folders). Decision notifications are sent electronically. If you still cannot locate the decision, contact the Department using the details on the ImmiAccount support page.