Australian Visa Tracker

Skilled Independent visasubclass 189

4.1 years

25% processed in

4.4 years

50% processed in

4.7 years

75% processed in

5.1 years

90% processed in

50% 1601d90% 1849d

Measured 4 Sept 2026 for the New Zealand stream.

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Processing time history

50% of applications90% of applications
View history as a table
Date50% processed90% processed
4 Sept 20261601d1849d
3 Sept 20261601d1849d
2 Sept 20261601d1849d
1 Sept 20261601d1849d
31 Aug 20261601d1849d
30 Aug 20261601d1849d
29 Aug 20261601d1849d
28 Aug 20261601d1849d
27 Aug 20261601d1849d
26 Aug 20261601d1849d
25 Aug 20261601d1849d
24 Aug 20261601d1849d
23 Aug 20261601d1849d
22 Aug 20261601d1849d
21 Aug 20261601d1849d
20 Aug 20261601d1849d
19 Aug 20261601d1849d
18 Aug 20261601d1849d
17 Aug 20261601d1849d
16 Aug 20261601d1849d
15 Aug 20261601d1849d
14 Aug 20261601d1849d
13 Aug 20261601d1849d
12 Aug 20261601d1849d
11 Aug 20261601d1849d
10 Aug 20261601d1849d
9 Aug 20261601d1849d
8 Aug 20261601d1849d
7 Aug 20261601d1849d
6 Aug 20261601d1849d
5 Aug 20261601d1849d
4 Aug 20261601d1849d
3 Aug 20261605d1849d
2 Aug 20261605d1849d
15 Feb 20261524d1818d
27 Jan 20261372d1693d
15 Dec 20251372d1693d
4 Dec 20251315d1597d
20 Nov 20251315d1597d
14 Nov 20251315d1597d
2 Nov 20251275d1579d
18 Oct 20251275d1579d
25 Sept 20251264d1524d
12 Sept 20251264d1524d
6 Sept 20251264d1524d
25 Aug 20251264d1524d
10 Aug 20251260d1521d
5 Aug 20251260d1521d
31 July 20251260d1521d
30 July 20251260d1521d
30 July 20251260d1521d
28 July 20251260d1521d
24 July 20251260d1521d
23 July 20251260d1521d
29 June 20251260d1521d
9 June 20251245d1499d
9 June 20251245d1499d

Common questions

How long does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) take to process?

As of 4 Sept 2026, half of applications in the New Zealand stream are processed within 4.4 years, and 9 in 10 within 5.1 years, according to Department of Home Affairs figures.

Is the Skilled Independent visa getting faster or slower?

The time to process 90% of applications is unchanged between 13 Aug 2026 and 4 Sept 2026.

What do the 50% and 90% figures mean?

They are percentiles of recently decided applications: 50% means half of applications were finalised within that time, and 90% means 9 in 10 were. An individual application can take more or less time.

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Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) processing time | Australian Visa Tracker