Australian Visa Tracker

Skilled Independent visasubclass 189

1.8 months

25% processed in

2 months

50% processed in

7.6 months

75% processed in

8 months

90% processed in

50% 61d90% 245d

Measured 19 Oct 2026 for the Points-Tested stream. The 90% time is +5dslower than on 27 Sept 2026 compared with 27 Sept 2026.

Estimate your decision date

Pick your lodgement date to project the current processing times onto your application.

Processing time history

50% of applications90% of applications
View history as a table
Date50% processed90% processed
19 Oct 202661d245d
18 Oct 202661d245d
17 Oct 202661d245d
16 Oct 202661d245d
15 Oct 202661d245d
14 Oct 202661d245d
13 Oct 202661d245d
12 Oct 202661d245d
11 Oct 202661d245d
10 Oct 202661d245d
9 Oct 202661d245d
8 Oct 202661d245d
7 Oct 202661d245d
6 Oct 202661d245d
5 Oct 202661d245d
4 Oct 202661d245d
3 Oct 202661d245d
2 Oct 202661d245d
1 Oct 202661d245d
30 Sept 202661d245d
29 Sept 202661d245d
28 Sept 2026223d240d
27 Sept 2026223d240d
26 Sept 2026223d240d
25 Sept 2026223d240d
24 Sept 2026223d240d
23 Sept 2026223d240d
22 Sept 2026223d240d
21 Sept 2026223d240d
20 Sept 2026223d240d
19 Sept 2026223d240d
18 Sept 2026223d240d
17 Sept 2026223d240d
16 Sept 2026223d240d
15 Sept 2026223d240d
14 Sept 2026223d240d
13 Sept 2026223d240d
12 Sept 2026223d240d
11 Sept 2026223d240d
10 Sept 2026223d240d
9 Sept 2026223d240d
8 Sept 2026223d240d
7 Sept 2026223d240d
6 Sept 2026223d240d
5 Sept 2026223d240d
4 Sept 2026202d271d
3 Sept 2026202d271d
2 Sept 2026202d271d
1 Sept 2026202d271d
31 Aug 2026202d271d
30 Aug 2026202d271d
29 Aug 2026202d271d
28 Aug 2026202d271d
27 Aug 2026202d271d
26 Aug 2026202d271d
25 Aug 2026202d271d
24 Aug 2026202d271d
23 Aug 2026202d271d
22 Aug 2026202d271d
21 Aug 2026202d271d
20 Aug 2026202d271d
19 Aug 2026202d271d
18 Aug 2026202d271d
17 Aug 2026202d271d
16 Aug 2026202d271d
15 Aug 2026202d271d
14 Aug 2026202d271d
13 Aug 2026202d271d
12 Aug 2026202d271d
11 Aug 2026202d271d
10 Aug 2026202d271d
9 Aug 2026202d271d
8 Aug 2026202d271d
7 Aug 2026202d271d
6 Aug 2026202d271d
5 Aug 2026202d271d
4 Aug 2026202d271d
3 Aug 2026170d231d
2 Aug 2026170d231d
15 Feb 202699d359d
27 Jan 2026312d331d
15 Dec 2025312d331d
4 Dec 2025284d300d
20 Nov 2025284d300d
14 Nov 2025284d300d
2 Nov 2025256d267d
18 Oct 2025256d267d
25 Sept 2025231d242d
12 Sept 2025231d242d
6 Sept 2025231d242d
25 Aug 2025231d242d
10 Aug 2025189d207d
5 Aug 2025189d207d
31 July 2025189d207d
30 July 2025189d207d
30 July 2025189d207d
28 July 2025180d196d
24 July 2025180d196d
23 July 2025180d196d
29 June 2025180d196d
9 June 2025144d161d
9 June 2025144d161d

Common questions

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

As of 19 Oct 2026, half of applications in the Points-Tested stream are processed within 2 months, and 9 in 10 within 8 months, according to Department of Home Affairs figures.

Is the Skilled Independent visa getting faster or slower?

The time to process 90% of applications went up by 5 days between 27 Sept 2026 and 19 Oct 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.

More working and skilled visas

View all
186 Employer Nomination Scheme187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme188 Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa190 Skilled Nominated visa191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa192 Pacific Engagement VisaCompare this visa
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) processing time | Australian Visa Tracker