Abstract: Highly compacted bentonite is the preferred buffer/backfill material for deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, where its long-term volumetric stability is critical to repository safety. Recent studies reveal that prolonged aging time induces microstructural homogenization, diminishing swelling capacity and altering time-dependent deformation. Creep behavior-driven by particle rearrangement, pore water migration, bond breakage, and adsorbed water viscosity-is significantly influenced by temperature and suction. Creep models for highly compacted bentonite are mainly based on elasto-viscoplastic theory, with overstress formulations incorporating thermal and hydraulic effects to capture creep and rate-dependent behavior. However, current models overlook the time-dependent nature of external loads such as chemical conditions, temperature, and suction, limiting their applicability under long-term repository environments. In particular, the long-term impact of saline groundwater infiltration on bentonite’s deformation behavior lacks systematic investigation. Future research should target multi-scale creep responses under extended resting and complex CHT conditions to enhance predictive models and repository safety assessments.