Visas for Migrating to Australia as a Skilled Person
Application processing times
Application processing times vary and the time it takes to finalise an application is affected by a range of factors outside of the department's control.
In respect of applications for a General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa, many
applications will be affected by the Ministerial Direction which lists the
order in which GSM applications must be processed. Applications accorded a
higher priority under the direction will be processed ahead of lower priority
applications irrespective of when the application is lodged. More information
on Priority Processing is available on the department's website.
See: What's New? Recent Changes in General Skilled Migration
Other factors that can impact on processing times include, but are not limited to:
- completeness of application
- how quickly applicants respond to requests to provide documentation
- medical complications
- police checks
- checks with third parties to verify claims made in an application.
To ensure that your application is finalised as quickly as possible, you should check that all requested documentation is submitted with your application and that you respond promptly to requests to supply further documentation if requested.
Checklists for each visa subclass are available on the department's website. To locate the checklist applicable to your visa, use the search function, enter checklist and the visa subclass number of the visa you are applying for.
Example: 'checklist 175'
| Visa Type | Visa Subclass | Priority Processing # | Non Priority Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications lodged on, or before 23 September 2009 | Applications lodged after 23 September 2009 | |||
| Provisional | Skilled - Regional Sponsored (offshore) Subclass 475 |
7 months from date of lodgement | Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012 | 3 years from date of lodgement |
| Skilled - Regional Sponsored (onshore) Subclass 487 |
5 months from date of lodgement | Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2011 | 2 years from date of lodgement | |
| Temporary | Skilled - Recognised Graduate (offshore) Subclass 476 |
7 months from date of lodgement | 7 months from date of lodgement | 7 months from date of lodgement |
| Skilled - Graduate (onshore) Subclass 485* |
6 months from date of lodgement * | 12 months from date of lodgement | 12 months from date of lodgement | |
| Permanent | Onshore Skilled – Independent Subclass 885 Skilled – Sponsored Subclass 886 |
6 months from date of lodgement | Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2011 | 2 years from date of lodgement |
| Offshore Skilled Independent Subclass 175 Skilled Sponsored Subclass 176 |
15 months from date of lodgement | Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012 | 3 years from date of lodgement | |
| All Skilled - Regional Subclass 887 |
5 months from date of lodgement | 5 months from date of lodgement | 5 months from date of lodgement | |
# Applications which fall into the following priorities:
- applications from persons who are nominated by a State/Territory government and have nominated an occupation on the Critical Skills List (CSL)
- applications from persons who are sponsored by family and whose occupation is listed on the CSL
- applications from persons who are neither nominated nor sponsored but who have nominated an occupation on the CSL.
* Applications which fall into the following priorities:
- applications from persons who have completed an Australian Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at an Australian educational institution in Australia
- applications from persons who have nominated an occupation on the Critical Skills List (CSL)
- applications from persons who have completed an Australian Bachelor degree and Australian Masters degree at an Australian educational institution in Australia
- applications from persons who have completed an Australian Bachelor degree and Australian Honours degree (at least upper second class level) at an Australian educational institution in Australia
- applications from persons who have completed an Australian Bachelor degree or Australian Masters degree in Australia
Subsequent entrants for provisional GSM visas are processed in the order in which the application is lodged. The priority processing order for GSM visas is available on our website.
See: What's New? Recent Changes in General Skilled Migration
| Visa Type | Visa Subclass | Priority Processing # | Non Priority Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent | Offshore Skill Matching Subclass 134 Skilled Independent Subclass 136 State/Territory Nominated Independent Subclass 137 Skilled Australian Sponsored Subclass 138 |
Finalised | Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012 |
| Onshore Onshore Independent NZ Cit Subclass 861 Skilled Onshore Australian Sponsored NZ Cit Subclass 862 Onshore Designated Area - Sponsored NZ Cit Subclass 863 Skilled Independent Overseas Student Subclass 880 Australian Sponsored Overseas Student Subclass 881 Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored-Overseas Student Subclass 882 Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored (Residence) Subclass 883 |
Finalised | Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2011 | |
| Provisional | All Skilled - Independent Regional Subclass 495 Skilled - Designated Area - Sponsored Subclass 496 |
Finalised | Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012 |
# Applications which fall into the following priorities:
- applications from persons who are nominated by a State/Territory government and have nominated an occupation on the Critical Skills List (CSL)
- applications from persons who are sponsored by family and whose occupation is listed on the CSL
- applications from persons who are neither nominated nor sponsored but who have nominated an occupation on the CSL.
Note: Applications for these visa applications closed on 1 September 2007.
Subsequent entrants for provisional GSM visas are processed in the order in which the application is lodged. The priority processing order for GSM visas is available on our website.
See: What's New? Recent Changes in General Skilled Migration
More information on worker category visas is available on the department’s website.
See: Workers