The Department of Home Affairs recently updated processing times for all visa categories. We have selected some common categories with large numbers of applicants and compiled the latest figures alongside recent processing experience.
Family visas
Parent migration
Requests for further information for Subclass 143 parent visas are still progressing slowly, broadly remaining at applications from around 3–4 December 2018. As we do not have access to every case, the precise dates may vary slightly. Subclass 143 applications approved so far this financial year are still mainly those that received requests for further information in the 2025–26 financial year.
For Subclass 864, recent cases include an application lodged in late January 2019 that received a request for further information in June 2026 and was approved in September.
Subclass 870 long-term temporary parent visas
For Subclass 870 sponsorship approval, 50% of applications are currently processed in around 89 days and 90% in around four months. For the Subclass 870 visa itself, 50% take around seven months and 90% around nine months.
For parents of Australian permanent residents or citizens who need to stay in Australia long term to care for family and spend time with their children, Subclass 870 remains an option worth considering. If you want to minimise how often your parents need to leave Australia, we recommend planning ahead before their existing visitor visas expire.
Subclass 101 child migration
For the Subclass 101 Child visa, 50% of applications currently take around 24 months, one month longer than previously; 90% take around 33 months, broadly unchanged.
Partner migration
At the Subclass 820 stage, 50% of applications currently take around 22 months, one month faster than previously; 90% take around 30 months, one month slower.
At the Subclass 801 stage, 50% of applications take around eight months, five months slower than previously; 90% take around 19 months, two months slower.
At the Subclass 309 stage, 50% of applications take around 21 months, broadly unchanged; 90% take around 39 months, seven months faster than previously.
At the Subclass 100 stage, 50% of applications take around nine months, one month slower than previously; 90% take around 21 months, three months slower.
However, recent grants suggest that processing at the permanent residency stage of partner visas remains relatively fast, and actual waits will not necessarily reach the times shown in the official figures. We recently had a Subclass 801 application approved less than a week after lodgement.
Actual Subclass 820 and 309 grants have also reached applications lodged in the second half of 2024. We recently had a Subclass 820 application lodged in July 2024 approved, as well as a Subclass 309 application lodged in November 2024.
Skilled migration visas
For the lodgement dates now being processed across different skilled migration priority levels, see our earlier detailed analysis of the new policy: First Department of Home Affairs update since the new policy | Major progress for onshore non-priority applications as offshore priority occupations begin receiving grants!
For Subclass 189, 50% of applications currently take around 61 days, five months faster than previously; 90% take around eight months, broadly unchanged.
The 50% figure mainly reflects faster processing for priority occupations recently. Many applicants invited in June are in priority occupations and are now receiving grants quickly, with some cases taking only around two to three months from invitation to grant. Meanwhile, applications associated with invitations issued around November 2025 have also started being processed.
For Subclass 190, 50% of applications currently take around four months, one month faster than previously; 90% take around 16 months, also one month faster.
For Subclass 491, 50% of applications currently take around five months, 11 months faster than previously; 90% take around 18 months, eight months faster.
The processing gap between priority and non-priority occupations for Subclass 190 and 491 is gradually widening. Priority occupations have reached 2026 applications, while non-priority occupations remain mainly around mid-2025. Our recent data across different priority levels show that, with a relatively limited Subclass 491 allocation this financial year, overall Subclass 491 progress remains slow and the gap with Subclass 190 is widening further.
For the transition from Subclass 491 to Subclass 191, 50% of applications take around eight months, one month faster than previously; 90% take around 10 months, also one month faster. Recent Subclass 191 grants still mainly involve applications lodged from late 2025 to February 2026.
For Subclass 887, 50% of applications currently take around 10 months, one month slower than previously; 90% take around 17 months, one month faster.
For the Subclass 858 National Innovation Visa (NIV), 50% of applications currently take around six months, two months slower than previously; 90% take around seven months, broadly unchanged.
Employer-sponsored visas
For Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) nominations, 50% of applications currently take around 64 days, seven days slower than previously; 90% take around nine months, broadly unchanged.
For Subclass 482 SID Core Skills Stream visas, 50% of applications currently take around four months, broadly unchanged; 90% take around nine months, also broadly unchanged. Overall Subclass 482 SID processing is currently around applications from December 2025.
For Subclass 186 Direct Entry, 50% of applications currently take around 21 months, eight months slower than previously; 90% take around 25 months, four months slower. Our recent grants for standard Subclass 186 DE applications still mainly involve cases lodged around September 2024.
For Subclass 186 TRT, 50% of applications currently take around 21 months, seven months slower than previously; 90% take around 25 months, three months slower. Our recent grants for standard Subclass 186 TRT applications still mainly involve cases lodged around January 2025.
For the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, 50% of applications currently take around eight months, almost four months slower than previously; 90% take around 12 months, broadly unchanged.
For the Subclass 407 Training visa, 50% of applications currently take around 12 months; 90% take around 20 months, seven months slower than previously.
Many Subclass 407 cases have entered processing recently, but there have also been quite a few nomination refusals, mainly involving the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement. Applications for the Subclass 407 Training visa are relatively more difficult for people who have already spent many years in Australia or accumulated some work experience in the same role.
