We obtained grant and application data for Australia’s three main skilled migration visas—Subclasses 189, 190 and 491—for August 2026 through a records request.
Overall, backlogs fell across all three categories in August, although for different reasons. Grants for Subclasses 189 and 190 were slightly lower than in July, while Subclass 491 grants fell further because of allocation limits. Meanwhile, with new invitations in a lull, new lodgements also fell markedly across all three visas. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
By the end of August, approximately 2,038 Subclass 189 visas, 3,243 Subclass 190 visas and 569 Subclass 491 visas had been granted. Applications under assessment for the three visas fell to approximately 8,334, 18,908 and 18,063 respectively.
Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa: backlog falls by more than 1,500
For Subclass 189, applicants invited in June had progressively completed their lodgements by August. Applicants have 60 days to accept an invitation, and nearly 400 primary applicants still accepted theirs in the final few days before the deadline.
However, new lodgements in August were already well below June and July levels. The figures show approximately 2,300 new Subclass 189 applications in July, compared with around 494 applications in total in August, including approximately 370 primary applications. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
Approximately 2,038 Subclass 189 visas were granted in August, around 282 fewer than the 2,320 granted in July.
With grants still substantially exceeding new lodgements over the same period, the Subclass 189 backlog fell further. Approximately 8,334 applications remained under assessment at the end of August, down by more than 1,500 from 9,882 at the end of July. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
Changes in the backlog by lodgement month suggest that the Department of Home Affairs is still mainly processing applications from those invited in June. In August, more than 1,200 applications lodged in June 2026 were approved. The next largest group was applications lodged in December 2025, corresponding to the preceding November invitation round.
Meanwhile, recent applications in priority occupations have also begun receiving approvals.
Overall, the continuing decline in the Subclass 189 backlog creates some room for subsequent invitations. The original data also notes that this decline is an important foundation for further large invitation rounds. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
Subclass 190 state nomination: backlog falls below 20,000
Subclass 190 entered a temporary lull in state nomination invitations in August.
Most applicants invited in the final month of the previous financial year had already lodged their visa applications in July, so new Subclass 190 lodgements fell markedly in August.
The figures show approximately 1,025 new Subclass 190 applications in July, falling to around 458 in August, including both primary and secondary applicants. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
Although new lodgements fell, the pace of Subclass 190 grants did not slow noticeably. Approximately 3,243 visas were granted in August, around 205 fewer than the 3,448 granted in July.
Applications under assessment for Subclass 190 therefore fell further, from approximately 21,712 at the end of July to around 18,908 at the end of August. This was a fall of more than 2,800 in a single month, taking the backlog below 20,000.
By lodgement month, approved applications are currently concentrated in the first half of 2026, followed by the first half of 2025. This is partly related to current skilled migration processing priorities, under which some applications in priority occupations can be processed more quickly. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
The continuing decline in the Subclass 190 backlog is also a data trend worth watching in relation to subsequent state nomination allocations and invitation arrangements.
Subclass 491 regional state nomination: backlog falls, but grants face allocation limits
The situation for Subclass 491 is similar to Subclass 190, with new lodgements also falling markedly in August. The biggest difference is that Subclass 491 grants have been affected by a reduced allocation for this financial year, resulting in a sharper decline.
Approximately 321 new Subclass 491 applications were lodged in August, including around 157 primary applications, a substantial fall from approximately 920 new lodgements in July. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
Only approximately 569 Subclass 491 visas were granted in August, around 463 fewer than the 1,032 granted in July.
Despite fewer grants, the Subclass 491 backlog continued to fall. Approximately 18,063 applications remained under assessment at the end of August, around 301 fewer than the 18,364 at the end of July. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
However, compared with Subclasses 189 and 190, Subclass 491 grants are currently clearly constrained by the allocation. If grants continue at the present pace, the gap between the Subclass 491 and Subclass 190 backlogs may narrow further.
Overall changes across the three main skilled migration visas
The August 2026 data shows one feature shared by Subclasses 189, 190 and 491: their application backlogs continue to fall.
Approximately 2,038 Subclass 189 visas were granted in August, with applications under assessment falling by more than 1,500. Subclass 190 recorded approximately 3,243 grants and a fall of more than 2,800 applications under assessment. Although constrained by the allocation, Subclass 491 still saw its backlog fall to approximately 18,000, with only around 569 grants in August.
New lodgements also fell markedly across all three categories in August, mainly because lodgements following the previous invitation round had been completed and new invitations had entered a temporary lull.
The current data suggests that processing for Subclasses 189 and 190 remains at a relatively high level, while Subclass 491 grants have fallen markedly following allocation constraints. August figures for Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
For applicants waiting for a Subclass 189, 190 or 491 decision, the continuing decline in backlogs is a positive development. However, the categories are affected differently by factors including allocations, occupation priorities and applicants’ locations. Overall backlog figures alone therefore cannot be used to calculate when an individual application will be approved.
