Are Subclass 190 visas processed in lodgement order?

As at October 2025, Subclass 190 applications were still being processed out of lodgement order. Grants covered various lodgement months, with the oldest backlog accounting for the most grants.

October 2025 skilled visa data: grants and backlogs

How many Subclass 190 and 491 visas were granted in October 2025, and what were the backlogs?

In October 2025, 3,272 Subclass 190 visas were granted and the backlog fell to just over 28,000. Subclass 491 recorded 2,121 grants, with a backlog of fewer than 26,000 applications. Processing accelerated for both of these visa subclasses during that month.

As at 31 October 2025, the Subclass 191 backlog stood at 11,288. Monthly grants were declining, falling below 1,000 in October 2025.

Monthly routine update on 189 190 491 data. This time we have figures through the end of October 2025, and this time we also have 191 data!

Original Data

Raw skilled migration visa data to the end of October 2025

Consolidated Data

Consolidated Subclass 189, 190, 491 and 191 visa data

189 —

Lodgement volume was 1,439 — 1,696 fewer than in September, so primary-applicant lodgements from August to October total 4,631 (944+2,142+1,545)。meaning the actual acceptance rate for the August 189 invitation round was

67% — a relatively high ratio compared with previous rounds.

785 visas were granted, a slight decrease of 61; actual processing speed is still below the average pace the quota would imply.The backlog currently sits just under 9,000，and we expect a larger uptick starting from the end-of-November data.

189 was still working through December 2024 lodgements in October; once November began, some of our clients who lodged in August 2025 received grants.

Subclass 189 lodgements, grants and backlog data

190 —

Fewer than 500 lodgements; in October the state governments had not yet received their formal quotas, so any invitations were only a trickle; more 190 lodgements should appear from November onward.

3,272 visas were granted, 1,100+ more than in October and above the expected average of 2,750 — finally a pick-up in pace. Fewer lodgements plus more processing means the backlog naturally dropped by nearly 2,800, now standing just above 28,000。

190 continues not to process strictly in lodgement order, with grants spread across different months，some more, some less — thankfully the oldest backlog from June and July 2023 still received the most attention, with 850 cleared across those two months, accounting for 26% of total grants.

491 —

Fewer than 450 lodgements — still lukewarm.

2,121 visas were granted, 491 processing also picked up significantly in October, approaching the expected average of 2,333. The backlog also dropped by 1,717, leaving total backlog under 26,000.

491 grants were concentrated across three time windows, with June and July 2023 lodgements receiving the most grants — 40% of the total!

191 Special Feature —

We have finally obtained the 191 data this time.

In the first four months of this financial year, 191 granted 12,369 visas — July was the peak, with an average of over 3,000 granted per month.

The 191 backlog as of 31 October stood at 11,288 — total grants over these four months clearly far exceed lodgements, so the 191 backlog has stabilised at around 10,000.

A bit more concerning is that grant numbers have been gradually declining — under 1,000 in October; hopefully the figure does not keep falling — holding around 1,000 per month would still be a good result.

From October, 190/491 grants have finally picked up; from November 190/491 invitations have also begun to increase — since December, WA, VIC, TAS, SA and ACT have all issued invitations.

If you would like to consult on points-tested skilled migration for this financial year, please contact our client advisor below: