It has been a while since our last processing-times round-up. From May until now, with grant quotas no longer plentiful, the skilled migration categories everyone cares about most have slowed to only sporadic grants, with none of the steady momentum we saw earlier. It has only been a short 2/3 months, but this is hard-won PR or near-PR — and when you are down to the final step, everyone feels anxious.

22 June update: Department of Home Affairs official visa processing times

Passing on the good luck!

We understand the anxiety — so today we bring you the visa processing times the Department of Home Affairs just updated on 22 June! This is the final processing-times update for this financial year. Passing on the good luck — we hope the new financial year adds your grant to the data!

We must absolutely remind you that the visa processing times or estimated waiting periods published on the Department of Home Affairs website:

1. are a roll-up of grant data from an earlier period, so there is a lag

2. may be less than 50% accurate — for very limited reference only (for some visa subclasses we will also give our own clients’ actual grant times as a comparison)

3、3. and are certainly not a promise from the Department that your visa will be granted within X months

VISA

Subclass 189 (points-based system)

50% within four months, 75% within 5 months

Actual reference: Cleared periodically. applications lodged October 2022 to February 2023; the sporadic grants during this period have mostly been concentrated in priority occupations

Subclass 190 (state-nominated)

50% within 78 days, 75% within 4 months

Actual reference: The bulk are stuck on applications lodged July–October 2022; sporadic grants for those lodged in late 2022; the only 2023 lodgements being granted are priority occupations

Subclass 491 (state-nominated)

50% within 11 months, 75% within 16 months

Actual reference: The bulk are stuck on applications lodged in the second half of 2022; most are now being granted in around a year, and Subclass 491 grants during this period have outnumbered Subclass 190 and 189

Subclass 489 to Subclass 887

25% within 7 months

Actual reference: Much faster than the website states. Subclass 887 applications lodged in the first half of 2022 and earlier are essentially cleared, and our most recent client lodged in mid-December 2022 has already been granted. Subclass 887 does not draw on the annual grant quota, so how many are granted and when is entirely up to the processing team.

Subclass 491 to Subclass 191

We have not yet seen any grant data for the Subclass 491-to-191 category. Subclass 191 Hong Kong Stream has had grants — we have a client who lodged on 26 August 2022 and was granted on 19 June 2023.

Subclass 191 also does not draw on the annual grant quota, and the zero-income requirement is now confirmed — here’s hoping for a 191 general-stream grant soon.

Subclass 482 (absurdly fast…)

Subclass 482 likewise does not draw on the annual grant quota. With the restricted categories hitting the brakes, Subclass 482 has become the biggest beneficiary — already fast, and now even faster:

Subclass 482 nomination: 75% within 5 days

Subclass 482 Short-term stream visa: 75% within 39 days

Subclass 482 Medium-term stream visa: 75% within 39 days

Plus the sponsorship (employer) approval at 75% within 41 days

Actual reference: In other words, most applicants are granted within 3 months. We have several clients who lodged the nomination in the morning, were approved that same afternoon, and granted the following week…

More good news on Subclass 482: it is expected that, before the end of this year, 2 years of work will be confirmed as enough to transition to PR — including for short-term-stream occupations~

Accountant, Subclass 482

Sponsorship, nomination and visa granted at the same time

Only a one-week wait

Speaking of Subclass 482 — today we have an accountant client whose employer sponsorship, position nomination and the applicant’s visa were all approved within a week!Lodged only on 20 June 2023, and a week later, on 27 June, all approved almost simultaneously!

Lodge the nomination before 1 July and the salary requirement is still only AUD 53,900. A fast skills assessment for those with 2 years of work experience!

Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme PR）

Direct Entry: 75% within 11 months

TRT: 75% within 11 months

Actual reference: Subclass 186 is a little slower — currently processing applications lodged in the second half of 2022 — but the Subclass 186 Direct Entry stream is PR in one step, and those with close to 3 years of work experience can be assessed to apply

858GTI

50% within 6 months, 75% within 8 months

Actual reference: The GTI invitation-code waiting period is generally over a year. Visa processing once took only 1–3 months; now most take over six months — once it is no longer a priority…

Business and investor migration

Business and investor migration is even more out of favour, so we won’t analyse it — take some comfort in just glancing at it; at least there are some grants

From 1 July, visa fees across all categories rise by between 9.25% and 49.25%. A summary of the common categories is in the table below

Note: the 191 in the table refers to the 191 HK Stream; the 191 converted from 491 is the same price as 887 — AUD 481.65 for the main applicant

It’s the final week — get in touch quickly to lodge your visa or citizenship application

Save money!!!

Catch up on past articles

A round-up of the [eventful] 2022–23 financial year, plus a quick forecast of opportunities in the new financial year

Subclass 491 is set to be the next migration hit — a rundown of low-points pathways!

Zero-income requirement for Subclass 491 to 191! A full guide to the 491-to-PR requirements

Migration news group

2023

Step 1: Press and hold to add our consultant

Step 2: Once added, please

Study abroad, migration, visas — we are the professionals

Attention！Please verify the genuine Newstarsec consultant!

Study and migration enquiries — consultants in every city

Sydney

Melbourne

Canberra

Brisbane

Adelaide

Hobart

Beijing

Guangzhou

Follow the Newstarsec official account

Reply in the official account with one of the numbers below or any keyword (not in the comments at the bottom of the article) to get the most up-to-date, most professional migration news!Reply [A] to view the directory (covering every topic)!

Reply: 0000 → 16 Nov policy update (Subclass 491 + skilled migration points)

Accountant sponsorship, nomination and visa all approved in one week! Latest Subclass 189/190/491 visa processing times — official update!

A round-up of the [eventful] 2022–23 financial year, plus a quick forecast of opportunities in the new financial year

Subclass 491 is set to be the next migration hit — a rundown of low-points pathways!

Zero-income requirement for Subclass 491 to 191! A full guide to the 491-to-PR requirements

Quick Links

Popular Services

Our Offices

Follow Us