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Visa processing times
Data as at 29 September 2026 · Home Affairs
90% of 189 points-tested applications were decided within 8 months, 190 within 16 months and state-nominated 491 within 18 months, according to Home Affairs global processing times as at 29 September 2026.
Skilled visas are processed by priority under Ministerial Direction 119 (MD119). Onshore and priority-sector applicants go first, so offshore applicants can wait longer than these figures.
| Visa | Stream | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent | Points-tested | 54 days | 61 days | 8 months | 8 months |
| New Zealand citizens | 49 months | 54 months | 58 months | 61 months | |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | 72 days | 4 months | 15 months | 16 months | |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) | State nominated | 4 months | 5 months | 16 months | 18 months |
| Family sponsored | 71 days | 4 months | 5 months | 7 months | |
| 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) | From a regional provisional visa | 7 months | 8 months | 9 months | 10 months |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) | Employer sponsored | 3 months | 8 months | 11 months | 12 months |
| Labour agreement | 66 days | 4 months | 11 months | 12 months | |
| 482 Skills in Demand | Core Skills | 51 days | 4 months | 8 months | 9 months |
| Specialist Skills | 28 days | 37 days | 51 days | 78 days | |
| Labour agreement | 3 months | 5 months | 7 months | 9 months | |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | Direct entry | 15 months | 21 months | 24 months | 25 months |
| Labour agreement | 24 days | 50 days | 12 months | 12 months | |
| Transition from 482 | 14 months | 21 months | 24 months | 25 months | |
| 887 Skilled Regional (permanent) | 9 months | 10 months | 11 months | 17 months | |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | Higher education graduates | under 1 day | 5 days | 13 days | 55 days |
| Vocational graduates | 12 days | 52 days | 4 months | 5 months | |
| 500 Student | Higher education | 8 days | 16 days | 49 days | 4 months |
| Postgraduate research | 4 days | 17 days | 50 days | 55 days | |
| Vocational (VET) | 25 days | 53 days | 7 months | 7 months | |
| 820 Partner (temporary, onshore) | 19 months | 22 months | 26 months | 30 months | |
| 801 Partner (permanent, onshore) | 72 days | 8 months | 11 months | 19 months | |
| 309 Partner (provisional, offshore) | 18 months | 21 months | 27 months | 32 months | |
| 100 Partner (permanent, offshore) | 8 months | 9 months | 13 months | 21 months |
Time taken to decide 25, 50, 75 and 90 per cent of applications in the previous 12 months.
Which applications are being allocated now
Under MD119, Home Affairs shows on each skilled visa page the lodgement month it is now allocating to case officers.
| Visa | Applicant group | Lodged in or before |
|---|---|---|
| 189 | Priority sectors and onshore primary applicants | June 2026 |
| 189 | Offshore primary applicants | November 2025 |
| 190 | Priority sectors | March 2026 |
| 190 | Onshore | January 2026 |
| 190 | Offshore | February 2025 |
| 491 | Priority sectors and onshore | March 2025 |
| 491 | Offshore | February 2025 |
| 482 | Australian law enforcement or defence (onshore/offshore) | as received |
| 482 | Construction, healthcare, teaching (onshore) | August 2026 |
| 482 | All other occupations (onshore) | December 2025 |
| 482 | All other occupations (offshore) | October 2025 |
As reported from the official visa pages in early October 2026. Group names are in English, as published.
Common questions
How long does a 189 visa take?
Half of 189 points-tested applications were decided within 61 days and 90% within 8 months (Home Affairs, 29 September 2026).
How long do 190 and 491 take?
90% of 190 applications were decided within 16 months, and 90% of state-nominated 491 applications within 18 months.
Why is my application taking longer than the published time?
Skilled visas are processed by priority under Ministerial Direction 119 (MD119). Onshore and priority-sector applicants go first, so offshore applicants can wait longer than these figures.