The Department of Home Affairs has this week updated its March 2022 visa grant applicant typical waiting times. Currently, aside from healthcare occupations which remain very fast,processing speed shows no clear correlation with lodgement date, occupation, or onshore/offshore status — this data should be treated as a very limited reference only.
In this update, the Department has again provided 25% and 50% figures, namely:
25% Of Visas Processedrefers to last month’sdata for granted applicants in that category —25% waited within this period
50% Of Visas Processedrefers to last month’sdata for granted applicants in that category —50% waited within this period
75% Of Visas Processedrefers to last month’sdata for granted applicants in that category —75% waited within this period
90% Of Visas Processedrefers to last month’sdata for granted applicants in that category —90% waited within this period
“Slower” / “Faster” / “Unchanged”refers to waiting times compared with the month prior to last, for applicants who were granted visas.
Current processing arrangements as published on the Department of Home Affairs website:
Some of the grants during this period relate to applications that had been significantly delayed due to previous border closures. As borders gradually reopened and more people could enter the country, these applications are now being progressively finalised.
Subclass 189 — Points-Based (Skilled Independent)
25% waited within 23 months, 50% within 25 months, 75% within 36 months, and 90% within 39 months — the Department is clearly working through its old backlog.
Clearing the backlog is a positive development, and we congratulate all those who have waited so long and finally received their grants. But looking at these wait times of two years or more,we can’t help but feel exasperated — visa officers, please pick up the pace…
Subclass 190 — State Nominated
25% waited within 4 months, 50% within 7 months, 75% within 8 months, and 90% within 10 months.
The Subclass 190 figures show no sign of backlog clearing — these are all fairly recent applications. What we see most frequently are healthcare occupations and applications lodged in the second half of 2021. Indeed, at current processing speeds, even those already count as “new applications” for most occupations.
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (State Nominated)
State government-nominated stream:25% waited within 3 months, 50% within 6 months,75% within 9 months, and 90% within 22 months.
Family-nominated stream:25% waited within 6 months, 50% within 7 months,75% within 15 months, and 90% within 28 months — broadly unchanged.
Across these two Subclass 491 updates, processing speeds show little difference. Unlike the Subclass 189, there is no sign of significant backlog clearing — even newly lodged applications are rarely being granted, and many applications from 2020 remain outstanding. This pace is seriously undermining confidence and interest in the 491 pathway. State governments have been diligently issuing nominations, yet the federal Department of Home Affairs’ earlier pledged support has all but evaporated.
Proactively prepare supplementary documents in advance
We have recently been receiving requests for supplementary documents on applications lodged between 2019 and mid-2020. We recommend that applicants who also lodged during 2019 or 2020 consider the following:
1. You may proactively obtain a new police clearance certificate.If you have not left Australia since obtaining your Chinese police clearance, you only need to update your Australian police check — and vice versa.
2. A number of our clients (though not all) have received requests from the Department to provide an updated Form 80.As Form 80 has been updated in recent years, and the Department will require you to update your residential and employment details,we recommend preparing in advance — primarily by accurately recalling your history so you are ready when the time comes.
3. If you have a secondary applicant (spouse/partner), prepare the standardrelationship supporting documents in advance.
Please note: medical examination results are valid for one year only, but you cannot proactively renew them — you must wait until a visa officer contacts you to request updated medicals.
Subclass 489 — Former Skilled Regional (State Nominated)
25% waited within 20 months, 50% within 23 months, 75% within 28 months, and 90% within 32 months.
These figures are identical to the previous update. For the Subclass 489, there is no longer any distinction between new and old backlogs — all remaining applications have been waiting a very long time, most are offshore, and any processing at all is a welcome development.
Latest Subclass 189/491/190/489 processing data obtained from Department of Home Affairs records:
High
373,000 Onshore Bridging Visa Holders
●
As of March 2022, the number of people holding bridging visas onshore in Australia has reached a record high of 373,109…They are either awaiting visa approval or awaiting the outcome of their appeal before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
The number of onshore bridging visa holders has been rising since 2014, when it stood at around 70,000.By September 2019 the figure had risen to approximately 200,000, then the pandemic hit — numbers climbed steadily to over 370,000 today, nearly doubling.
Former senior Department of Home Affairs official and migration expert Abul Rizvi has raised a very pertinent question: during the border closure from March 2020 to the end of 2021, Australia delayed processing many offshore applications on the grounds of the pandemic and the inability to enter the country.But what about those onshore? That period could have been an excellent opportunity to reduce the backlog — in fact, the number of new visa applications lodged during the pandemic also declined year on year.Yet apart from partner migration, the vast majority of skilled and temporary visa applications onshore did not see accelerated or large-scale grants. Why not?
Most alarming of all, while the 2022–23 budget shows a major increase in the skilled migration quota, there has been no corresponding increase in Department of Home Affairs funding for migration management — on the contrary, it has beenfalling — $397 million in 2021–22, $360 million in 2022–23, and $291 million in 2023–24. Funding for management of other non-humanitarian visa categories fell from $362 million in 2021–22 to $346 million in 2023–24.
Overall, the Department of Home Affairs’ combined migration and visa funding allocation will decrease by $900 million over the next two financial years.
Abul Rizvi has noted that as borders reopen, the volume of visa applications will only increase, and reduced Department funding will further undermine its ability to fulfil its core migration functions. No matter who wins the election in late May, this issue needs to be urgently addressed,and failure to act will result in even greater losses than those seen during previous border restrictions.
Labor has mentioned in its campaign that it will address the visa backlog if elected — but what about Morrison?
373,000 — and that doesn’t even count offshore applicants who have been waiting in vain…
Subclass 489 to Subclass 887 Transition
25% waited within 18 months, 50% within 19 months, 75% within 21 months, and 90% within 25 months.
These are equally alarming waiting times that defy all rational understanding…
Subclass 408 — Temporary Activity Visa
Government-approved activity stream, specially created in response to the pandemic:25% waited within 77 days, 50% within 3 months, 75% within 4 months, and 90% within 6 months.
Following the 6/12-month Subclass 408 policy benefits, there have likely been many new lodgements — processing is considerably slower than last time.
4Subclass 482 — Employer-Sponsored
Subclass 482 Nomination:25% waited within 6 days, 50% within 30 days,75% within 45 days, and 90% within 7 months.
Subclass 482 Short-Term (S-T) stream: 25% waited within 44 days, 50% within 83 days,75% within 12 months, and 90% within 15 months.
Subclass 482 Medium-Term (M-T) stream: 25% waited within 30 days, 50% within 46 days,75% within 3 months, and 90% within 9 months.
Just these past few weeks, we have had multiple accountant clients complete the entire Subclass 482 process from nomination to visa grant in 2–3 months! Employer-sponsored migration is a high priority.
Hundreds of occupations are eligible for the Subclass 482, and waiting times vary considerably between occupations. Overall, occupations on the PMSOL receive fast employer-sponsored nomination and visa processing.This includes the highly popular accounting occupation!If you are struggling on the Subclass 189 or state-nominated pathway, don’t let your work experience go to waste — contact us to assess your eligibility for employer-sponsored migration.
In particular, the following occupations have recently been added to the PMSOL:
Accountant (General) (many nominations granted recently)
External/internal Auditor
Civil Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Multimedia Specialist
Analyst Programmer
Developer Programmer
Software Engineer
Software and Applications Programmers nec
ICT Security Specialist
and other occupations on the PMSOLreceive priority processing, and offshore applicants may also be eligible for an entry exemption. The new financial year budget has confirmed thatemployer-sponsored migration remains a priority programme this financial year.
To assess and consult on employer-sponsored migration options,
please contact our team below.
Subclass 858 — Global Talent (Distinguished Talent)
Global Talent Independents (GTI) stream — the most commonly applied-for pathway:25% waited within 21 days, 50% within 35 days,75% within 71 days, and 90% within 4 months.
Based on our extensive experience with successful cases, the longer wait for GTI applicants is typically at the invitation stage — once invited, visa processing is generally fast. Differences between fields can be significant, and each case is individual. Professionally identifying and presenting your strengths is crucial. For recent policy updates, see:No English requirement + family PR + fast citizenship — the priority migration pathway! How to “secure an invitation” and “showcase your strengths” right now — exclusive analysis!
Subclass 143 — Contributory Parent Migration
Still too few grants to generate meaningful data.
Partnermigration
Student visa
Subclass 485 — Graduate Work visa
Visitor visa
The Department of Home Affairs’ official reference figures are truly for reference only — the specific number of months may not be precise, but they do give a general sense of relative processing speed.
For a more “on-the-ground” picture of recent grants and invitations —
the latest weeklyvisa grant updatesupdate: follow our weekly migration bulletin, published every Sunday,
and here is the latest issue:[Australia Migration Weekly Bulletin — Issue 227] Two states receive additional quotas! 200+ occupations get easier PR pathway! Net migration to grow, more skilled migration places!
A summary of recent visa grants and invitation rounds:Long-press below to view — the page is updated continuously, and we strongly recommend saving it.
Study and migration video resources
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Work visas for vocational trades to be eased — skills assessment to skilled migration!
Already lodged a migration visa and want to cancel your student visa? “Switching” to a Subclass 408? Exercise caution!
Already lodged a migration visa and want to cancel your student visa? “Switching” to a Subclass 408? Exercise caution!
Marketing specialists, graphic designers, chefs, and 200+ other occupations — a more direct route to PR!
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If you have a job, you have a chance to apply!Click “Original Link”for a Subclass 482 employer-sponsored visa like this!
