How did Subclass 190, 491 and 191 processing times change in November 2025?

In November 2025, the 50% processing times for Subclasses 190, 491 and 191 were 19, 20 and 7 months respectively. The 90% times for Subclasses 190 and 491 increased to 26 and 27 months, while Subclass 191 remained at 14 months.

In what order are Subclass 189 visa applications processed?

Subclass 189 visa applications are processed in the order they are lodged.

November 2025 visa processing times: state and parent visas

The Department of Home Affairs quietly updated its visa processing time reference again in early November; the previous update was in October.

Skilled Migration

189

50% waited 9 months, 1 month slower; 90% need 10 months, 1 month slower

Subclass 189 applications are processed strictly in lodgement order; the Department is currently working through applications lodged in December 2024, with most of November largely cleared and a very small number from the August 2025 invitation round already granted.

190

50% take 19 months, 2 months faster

90% take 26 months, 1 month slower

491

50% take 20 months, 2 months faster

90% take 27 months, 1 month slower

Subclass 190 grant volumes have increased noticeably in recent weeks, mostly for applications lodged in 2024 with some from the second half of 2023. Visible Subclass 491 grants have been fewer than Subclass 190.

491 to 191

50% take 7 months, 1 month faster

90% take 14 months, unchanged from before

The recent pace of Subclass 191 grants has been lukewarm — not completely stalled, with occasional clusters of grants. The dual-track pattern continues; we are seeing both second-half 2024 lodgements and early 2025 lodgements progress.

887

50% take 10 months, 7 months slower

90% take 18 months, 1 month slower

Subclass 887 is not as slow as the official data suggests — most of our clients are granted within 3–4 months. The 887 backlog and application volumes are small, which may make the published figures more susceptible to outliers.

858GTI

50% take 10 months, 1 month slower

90% take 18 months, 3 months faster

Subclass 858 is currently processing applications lodged in mid-2024.

Skilled migration visa processing time reference

Employer-Sponsored

482 SID core skills stream-visa

50% take 3 months, 8 days slower

90% take 6 months, 1 month slower

482 SID Nomination

50% take 56 days, 9 days slower

90% take 6 months, 1 month slower

186DE

50% take 13 months, unchanged from before

90% take 18 months, unchanged from before

186TRT

50% take 14 months, 1 month slower

90% take 19 months, 1 month slower

Subclass 186 is currently processing March/April 2024 lodgements. DE and TRT are moving at broadly similar speeds, with DE marginally faster. A recent trend: visas are being granted quickly after nomination approval, and regional roles are being approved very fast — we have had 186 DE cases where both nomination and visa came through within a year.

494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

50% take 7 months, 1 month slower

90% take 13 months, 2 months slower

407 Training visa

50% take 9 months, unchanged

90% take 12 months, 1 month slower

Subclass 407 has not seen many grants; processing is still largely around mid-2024 lodgements.

Employer-sponsored and Subclass 407 Training visa processing time reference

Family Stream

Parent Migration

Document requests for Parent visas Subclass 143 and 864 continue to progress,when we updated in October the queue had reached mid-June 2018; by early November it has moved to the end of June 2018, and document-request notices have been coming through quickly of late.

Subclass 101 Child visa

50% take 22 months, 2 months faster

90% take 31 months, 2 months slower

Partner Stream

820 stage

50% take 16 months, 3 months slower

90% take 20 months, 1 month slower

801 stage

50% take 8 months, 1 month faster

90% take 26 months, 8 months slower

309 stage

50% take 14 months, unchanged from last time

90% take 26 months, 2 months slower

100 stage

50% take 10 months, 1 month slower

90% take 21 months, 2 months slower

The partner category overall is progressing at a normal pace: the TR stage has advanced to mid-2024 and the PR stage has moved fully into the second half of the year. The partner migration backlog as at 30 June stood at 95,000 cases. The Department processed fewer applications year-on-year last year, citing additional time spent on older and more complex cases.

Whatever visa you are applying for, the earlier the better. Lodge as soon as you meet the requirements — do not delay by a single day. If you need help, contact us!