The 189 visa processing time for the points-tested stream is currently 61 days for 50% of applications and 8 months for 90%, according to the Department of Home Affairs processing times guide. Those figures are based on recently decided applications, so they are a guide only. Since 19 September 2026, the order Home Affairs works through 189 applications is also set by Ministerial Direction No. 122, which means where you lodged from and your occupation's sector can affect how quickly your file is picked up. This guide explains the published timeframes, the priority order, the 189 visa requirements and the common reasons a grant takes longer.
Written by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent MARN 2619467
Checked against Department of Home Affairs guidance on 16 October 2026
What is the current 189 visa processing time?
Home Affairs publishes processing times through its visa processing times guide. For the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) points-tested stream, the guide showed the following when we checked it on 16 October 2026:
| Measure | Published figure (points-tested stream) |
|---|---|
| 50% of applications processed in | 61 days |
| 90% of applications processed in | 8 months |
| Basis of the figures | Recently decided applications |
| Is it a guarantee? | No. Home Affairs says it does not guarantee a decision within the timeframe |
These numbers move as Home Affairs updates the guide, so check the tool yourself before relying on them. A processing time is a look backwards at files already finished. It does not tell you how long your own application will take, and Home Affairs says the tool does not check anything specific to your case.
How does Ministerial Direction No. 122 affect 189 processing?
Home Affairs lists Ministerial Direction No. 122 as the processing priority order for provisional and permanent skilled visas, including the 189. It came into effect on 19 September 2026 and replaced the priorities under Ministerial Direction No. 119. Applications are processed in this order:
- Applications relating to the Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing and Resources sectors, or Australia's law enforcement and defence interests.
- Applications where the applicant was in Australia when they lodged.
- Applications where the primary applicant was outside Australia when they lodged and the application is not combined with another person's application at any time.
- All other applications.
The 189 page on the Home Affairs website also lists the lodgement dates it is currently working on for each group:
| Priority group | Now processing applications lodged in or before |
|---|---|
| Priority sectors (construction, healthcare, teaching and the others listed above) | June 2026 |
| Primary applicant in Australia at lodgement | June 2026 |
| Primary applicant outside Australia, application not combined with anyone else's | November 2025 |
| All other applicants who were outside Australia when they applied | November 2025 |
Home Affairs also warns that while it moves to the new priorities, published allocation dates and processing timeframes may fluctuate, and some timeframes may temporarily increase as applications are reprioritised. If you lodged offshore, the gap in these dates is worth knowing before you plan a move.
Why do some 189 applications take longer than others?
Home Affairs assesses each application case by case. On the 189 points-tested stream page, it lists the factors that can change how long a decision takes:
- whether you lodged a complete application with all supporting documents
- how quickly you respond to requests for more information
- how long it takes to check the information you provided
- how long it takes to get information from external agencies, particularly for health, character and national security checks
- for permanent visas, how many places are available in the migration program
The first two points are the ones you control most: lodge with every document ready and reply quickly to any request for information. Points claims you cannot prove are a common mistake. Your invitation states the points score you must reach at the decision stage, and you need evidence for every claim.
What are the 189 visa requirements?
The processing time only starts once you can lodge, and you can only lodge if you are invited. According to Home Affairs, the main 189 visa requirements are:
- Invitation: you must submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect and be invited to apply. See our guide to the SkillSelect EOI and the latest invitation rounds.
- Occupation: your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for the 189. You can check yours with our occupation search tool.
- Skills assessment: you need a suitable skills assessment for the occupation. It must have been obtained in the 3 years before your invitation, or within any shorter validity period the assessing authority set.
- Age: you must be under 45 when you are invited. If you turn 45 after the invitation, you can still apply.
- Points: you must score at least 65 on the points test. Your invitation may state a higher score, depending on your EOI claims.
- English: you must have at least competent English at the time of invitation. Our English requirements page explains the test options.
- Health and character: you and any family members applying with you must meet the health requirement, and applicants aged 16 and over must meet the character requirement.
- Other criteria: any debts to the Australian Government must be repaid or arranged, and applicants aged 18 or over must sign the Australian values statement.
Home Affairs also notes that if you hold, or last held, a subclass 491 or 494 visa, you must have held it for at least 3 years when you apply for the 189.
How much does the 189 visa cost?
| Charge | Amount (Home Affairs) |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | AUD6,135.00 (concessions apply in limited circumstances) |
| Each family member applying with you | Additional charge - use the Visa Pricing Estimator |
| Second instalment for a family member aged 18 or over with less than functional English | AUD4,885.00, only charged if the visa is going to be granted |
| Other costs | Health checks, police certificates and biometrics, if required |
From 1 July 2026, Home Affairs applies a lower visa cost to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Home Affairs does not refund the application charge if the visa is refused, which is another reason to lodge a complete, well-evidenced application.
What happens step by step after you are invited?
- Apply within 60 days. You have 60 days from the date of your invitation to lodge. You apply from SkillSelect, which takes you to ImmiAccount. Our ImmiAccount guide walks through the account set-up.
- Attach documents and pay. Home Affairs will not process the application until the charge is paid.
- Bridging visa if onshore. If you apply in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C, otherwise your application will not be processed. Read more about bridging visas.
- Health checks and biometrics. If you did not do health examinations before you applied, Home Affairs will tell you if you need them. It may also ask for biometrics.
- Wait for a decision. Home Affairs says it does not give status updates on applications within the standard processing time. You can check ImmiAccount for any request for more information.
- Outcome. You can be in or outside Australia when the decision is made, but not in immigration clearance.
Can you travel while your 189 is being processed?
If you applied in Australia, Home Affairs says you do not need to tell it if you travel, because you can be outside Australia when it makes a decision. You do need to make sure your current visa lets you come back. If you applied from outside Australia, Home Affairs advises not to arrange travel, leave your job or sell your home until you have been told in writing that the visa is granted.
What does a 189 grant give you?
The 189 is a permanent visa. Home Affairs says it lets you live, work and study anywhere in Australia, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives and, if eligible, apply for citizenship. The travel facility lasts 5 years from the grant date. After that you would need a Resident Return visa to re-enter as a permanent resident.
Is the 189 the right visa for you?
The 189 does not need state nomination or an employer, which is why many skilled applicants prefer it. That also makes it competitive. If your points are borderline, the 190 visa or a regional pathway may be a better fit. Our comparison of 189 vs 190 vs 491 skilled visas sets out the differences. Before you lodge an EOI, run your claims through our points calculator to see where you stand.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 189 visa take in 2026?
The Home Affairs guide showed 50% of points-tested applications processed in 61 days and 90% in 8 months when we checked on 16 October 2026. Your timeframe can be shorter or longer.
Does lodging onshore make a 189 faster?
Under Ministerial Direction No. 122, applications where the applicant was in Australia at lodgement sit in a higher priority group than offshore applications, unless the offshore application falls into a priority sector.
Can I ask Home Affairs for an update?
Home Affairs says it does not give updates on applications that are within the standard processing time. Check ImmiAccount for any requests for information.
What if I turn 45 after I am invited?
You must be under 45 at invitation. If you turn 45 after you are invited, you can still apply. If you turn 45 before an invitation, you will not be invited.
How long do I have to lodge after an invitation?
You have 60 days from the date of your invitation to apply.
Get help with your 189 application
A complete application is the part of the 189 timeline you can control. A registered migration agent can check your points evidence, skills assessment dates and English results before you lodge, so avoidable requests for information do not slow you down. Book your consultation with our team to review your 189 plan.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. Processing times and visa settings change regularly. Please book a consultation with a registered migration agent before making any decisions.