The Department of Home Affairs quietly updated its visa processing time reference again on 9 October. The previous update was on 24 September, and they are now updating these figures more actively than they are granting visas.
Skilled Migration
189
50% waited 8 months, same as last time; 90% took 9 months, one month slower.
189 applications are processed in order of lodgement. At present, the Department is mainly working through applications lodged in November and December 2024, with a small number of applications lodged in January 2025 also being granted.
190
50% took 19 months, two months slower.
90% took 26 months, one month slower.
491
50% took 21 months, two months slower.
90% took 26 months, one month slower.
Recent 190 and 491 grants have continued at a steady, unremarkable pace. Most of our clients who have received grants lodged back in June 2023, although today one client whose application was lodged in 2025 received a grant — they had the combined advantage of a regional location and a priority occupation.
491 transitioning to 191
50% took 8 months, four months slower.
90% took 14 months, two months slower.
The number of recent 191 grants appears to be lower than in the preceding period, and the dual-track arrangement is continuing. Over the past month the Department seems to have focused more on applications lodged in the second half of 2024.Among the 2025 cohort, the most recent grants we have seen were on applications lodged around 20-something July.
887
50% took 3 months, one month faster.
90% took 17 months, same as last time.
858
50% took 9 months, same as last time.
90% took 22 months, same as last time.
858 applications are currently being processed through those lodged in June and July 2024.
Employer-Sponsored
482 SID core skills stream
50% took 82 days, eight days faster.
90% took 5 months, same as last time.
482 SID nomination
50% took 56 days, nine days slower.
90% took 6 months, one month slower.
482 TSS visa — Medium and Long-term Stream
50% took 10 months, two months slower.
90% took 13 months, two months slower.
186DE
50% took 12 months, same as last time.
90% took 19 months, one month slower.
186TRT
50% took 13 months, two months faster.
90% took 18 months, same as last time.
186 processing has reached applications lodged in early 2024. DE and TRT are moving at similar speeds, with DE running slightly faster. A recent pattern is that once the nomination is approved, the visa tends to be granted fairly quickly.
494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
50% took 8 months, same as last time.
90% took 11 months, same as last time.
407 Training visa
50% took 9 months, one month slower.
90% took 11 months, one month slower.
407 has not seen many grants; processing is still largely at applications lodged in mid-2024.
Family Stream
Parent Migration
Requests for further information on Parent 143 & 864 applications are continuing to progress. At the end of September, in our last update, processing had advanced to late May 2018, and by mid-October it has moved forward to mid-June 2018. Requests for further information have been going out very quickly of late.
101 Child Migration (child visa)
The official website shows 50% taking 24 months and 90% taking 29 months — both one month slower.
Child visa cases have seen a large volume of requests for further information over the past fortnight. Among our own clients, the requests have advanced to April 2024 and grants have progressed to early 2024. Requests for further information are mainly focused on medicals and the sponsor’s police clearance.
Partner Stream
820 stage
50% took 13 months, two months faster.
90% took 20 months, one month slower.
801 stage
50% took 9 months, same as last time.
90% took 18 months, same as last time.
309 stage
50% took 14 months, same as last time.
90% took 26 months, two months slower.
100 stage
50% took 9 months, same as last time.
90% took 19 months, same as last time.
The partner category as a whole is broadly unchanged since the last update — grants are moving along as normal. The TR stage has advanced to March–July 2024, and the PR stage has reached September and October 2024.The partner migration backlog stood at 95,000 applications as at 30 June. The Department’s processing volume was down year on year, and they have indicated that they are spending more time working through older and more complex cases.
Whatever visa you are applying for, the message is the same — lodge early rather than late. Once you meet the requirements, lodge as soon as possible; do not delay by even a day! If you need a hand, please get in touch with us.
NewStars Group introduction video
(filmed in 2021)
Tasmania opens ROI on 10 October! Full occupation list available! Priority for local graduates and long-term residents!
Department of Home Affairs updates September visa processing speeds | Multiple requests for further information on Parent and Child visas — Family Stream accelerating noticeably!
First state-nominated occupation list of the financial year | Covering civil, construction, the “three treasures”, IT, services and more — the priority construction trades are unveiled!
Migration Information Community Group
2025
Step 1: Press and hold to add our customer service.
Step 2: Once added, please
Follow the NewStars official WeChat account
Type the code below into the chat window [search by number only] to view the relevant article.
Code: 01- Australia’s most popular skilled migration pathways: 189, 190, 491
Code: 02- Work-to-migration in one step — employer-sponsored 482, 186, 494
Code:03- Study first, migrate later — course and major recommendations
Code:04- Pathways for high school, gaokao and undergraduate study abroad
Code:05- Essential for international students planning to migrate: the 485 post-study work visa
Code:06- Once you have PR, arrange these straight away — parent migration and visas
Code:07- Master of Marriage — partner migration
Code:08- Pivoting to Hong Kong — the QMAS and ASMTP schemes
Code:09- A must for parents, relatives and friends visiting Australia — the 600 visa
Code:10- Weekly updates on grants, invitations and skills assessments — Success Stories
Enquire
Free initial study-abroad and migration consultation & planning
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
Canberra
Hobart
Perth
Beijing
Guangzhou
New Zealand — Auckland
