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We have obtained the processing and grant figures for the three main skilled visa subclasses, 190, 189 and 491, for July 2026 (lead image to Figure 2).
Subclass 189 grants rebound, with a healthier backlog than expected
With the July lodgement figures now available, we can be reasonably confident that the acceptance rate for the June invitation round was between 60% and 70%, which is within the normal range.
Subclass 189 grants quickly resumed in the first month of the 2026–27 financial year, with more than 2,300 granted—a much better result than in 2025–26. The Subclass 189 backlog is also healthy: fewer than 10,000 applications remained at the end of July, compared with our earlier estimate of just over 10,000. The actual result is more encouraging than we expected. This also lays the groundwork for September invitations. We hope Subclass 189 will give more occupations a chance this year.
The figures suggest that Subclass 189 processing in June and July was still clearing invitations from the November round. However, quite a few of our clients invited in June have already received their visas, partly because most invitations in that round went to onshore applicants in priority occupations.
Subclass 190 state-nominated visa grants surge in July
Most states issued no nomination invitations in July. All new applications came from invitations issued in the previous financial year, with only just over 1,000 visa applications lodged.
Grants, however, were in full swing, with 3,448 visas granted in July. Our figures confirm that Subclass 190 has had the highest volume of grants recently, with waves of grants over the past few weeks. The backlog fell by nearly 2,500 compared with the end of June and by more than 12,000 compared with the same point in the 2025–26 financial year. Surely the Department of Home Affairs would be pleased with that result.
Over the past two months, Subclass 190 processing has covered applications from various months in 2025 and 2026, with April 2026 applications receiving the most grants. Our figures show that the main group being processed is from June 2025. If you are in a priority occupation, be ready for good news about your visa grant at any time.
Subclass 491 regional visa grants outpace the monthly average
New Subclass 491 lodgements followed a similar pattern, with fewer than 1,000 in the first month of the financial year. Processing is recovering, with more than 1,000 grants. The regional allocation has been cut this year, and Subclass 491 may receive around 10,000 places. Averaged across the year, that should mean fewer than 800 grants ‘available’ per month, so the first month was slightly ahead of pace.
The Subclass 491 backlog also suddenly dropped to just over 18,000, a fall of more than 3,000 from the end-of-June figures we obtained. Only around 30 Subclass 491 applications were withdrawn in June, so there is clearly a bug in one of the figures. Actual Subclass 491 grants are higher than the data shows. A similar situation occurred in 2025–26, and Subclass 491 did not leave its allocation unused.
A smaller backlog and no unused allocation last financial year are good news for people waiting for their Subclass 491 visa this year.
Choosing the right migration pathway matters more than working harder
Australia’s tightening of temporary visas and onshore visa renewals is very likely to continue for some time. On the other hand, invitations and grants for onshore skilled migration are good news, with resources concentrated on suitable applicants already in Australia. Choose your field of study carefully, and while you are still young, try to move onto a suitable migration pathway, such as employer sponsorship or a trade occupation. It will become increasingly clear that the choices you make matter more than how hard you work.
