A method and apparatus for applying changes to a standby database in real-time. According to one aspect, a change is applied to data contained in a standby database. The standby database functions as a replica of a primary database. The primary database has a current online redo log file to which a particular redo block was written. According to one aspect, prior to the archiving of the current online redo log file, the particular redo block is received at a process associated with the standby database. A change indicated by the particular redo block is applied to the data contained in the standby database.