Skilled Migration Visa Processing Times
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The tables below detail the processing time service standards for skilled migration visas.
Note: We aim to process applications within these service standards, however, actual processing times may vary depending on a range of factors.
See: Processing Time Service Standards
Processing priority groups
Priority processing arrangements apply to skilled migration applications. They determine the order in which the department considers applications. Applications accorded a higher priority under the arrangements will be processed ahead of lower priority applications, regardless of when the application is lodged.
The following table details processing priorities for skilled migration applications.
Note: The highest priority is listed first.
Priority Group Number |
Application Type |
|---|---|
1 |
Employer sponsored under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) program or who have applied for a Skilled – Regional (subclass 887) visa |
2 |
Employer sponsored under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) program |
3 |
Nominated by a state or territory government agency for an occupation specified on that agency’s state migration plan |
4 |
Applicants who have nominated an occupation on the Skilled Occupation
List (SOL) – Schedule 1 See: Skilled Occupation List |
5 |
All other applications |
Processing times – skilled migration applications affected by processing priorities
The below table describes the processing times for the following visa subclasses.
| Priority Group Number | Visa Subclass | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
1 |
RSMS (subclass 119, 857) Skilled Regional (subclass 887) |
Low risk – 5 months High risk – 8 months |
2 |
ENS (subclass 121, 856) |
Low risk – 5 months High risk – 8 months |
3 |
State Migration Plans (SMP) (subclass 176, 475, 487, 886) |
Low risk – 12 months High risk – 24 months |
4 |
Nominated Occupation on the SOL – Schedule 1 (subclass 175, 495, 496, 861, 862, 863, 880, 881, 882, 883, 885 and 176, 475, 487 if not SMP) |
18 months |
5 |
All visas listed in priority 3 and 4 that are not SMP or Nominated Occupation on the SOL – Schedule 1 | Assessment will commence when all cases in priority groups 1-4 are finalised |
Processing times – skilled migration applications exempt from processing priorities
The following visa subclasses are exempt from priority processing. These subclasses are processed in the order in which they are received.
Visa Subclass |
Processing Time |
|---|---|
476 |
7 months |
485 |
12 months |
120, 855 |
Low risk – 5 months High risk – 8 months |
Low risk applies to nationals from countries which issue
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) eligible passports. A list of these
can be found on the department's website. High risk countries
are those which are not ETA eligible.
See: ETA Eligible Passports
More information on worker category visas is available.
See: Workers