Subclass 190 visa processing time: what the official data shows

The Department of Home Affairs does not publish a processing time specific to the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa. The published median for the Skilled (Permanent) category, which includes subclass 190, was 8 months in July 2026. Processing priorities for subclass 190 are set out in Ministerial Direction 119, which came into effect on 25 July 2026 and replaced Ministerial Direction 105. Your actual processing time will depend on your occupation, whether you were in or outside Australia at the time of application, and how complete your application is. You should check the visa processing times guide for the most recent data rather than relying on any single figure.

What the published median actually covers

The Department publishes median processing times by visa category, not by individual subclass. In July 2026, the median for the Skilled (Permanent) category was 8 months. This category includes the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187), Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (subclass 191), and several other skilled permanent visas.

A median is not a promise. It means half of recently decided applications in that category were finalised within 8 months. Your application could be decided faster or slower. The Department states that applications are not always processed in the order they are received, and that some applications may be decided more quickly than others.

How Ministerial Direction 119 affects subclass 190

Ministerial Direction 119 came into effect on 25 July 2026 and replaced all processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 105. It applies to all on-hand applications, including the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) program, which was not previously covered by Ministerial Direction 105.

Prioritisation under Ministerial Direction 119 is based on two factors: your occupation and your location at the time of application. The order of priority is:

1. Applications supporting Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests, where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
2. Applications supporting Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests, where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.
3. Applications relating to construction, healthcare, and teaching occupations, where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
4. All other applications, where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
5. All other applications, where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.

Subclass 190 is one of the visa subclasses covered by this Direction. If your occupation falls into construction, healthcare, or teaching, and you applied while in Australia, you fall into the third priority group. If your occupation is not in one of those fields and you applied while outside Australia, you fall into the fifth and final group.

What the Department says affects processing times

The Department lists several factors that cause processing times to vary. These include:

• Whether the application has all necessary supporting documents.
• Whether the application was lodged online or on paper (online lodgement helps streamline processing).
• How quickly you respond to requests for further information.
• How long it takes to receive information from external agencies, particularly relating to health, character, and national security requirements.
• For permanent visa applications, the number of places available in the migration program.
• The complexity of the application.
• Changes to Ministerial Directions.
• The volume of applications received and on hand.

For skilled permanent visas specifically, the Department notes that processing times are affected by Permanent Migration Program planning levels, Ministerial Directions related to skilled visa processing priorities, application completeness, and the volume of applications received and on-hand.

What you can do to avoid delays

The Department is explicit about what helps. Lodging a complete application helps avoid delays. For employer-sponsored visas, submitting complete nomination and visa applications at the same time can support more efficient processing. While subclass 190 is not employer-sponsored in the same way, the principle of completeness still applies.

You should submit all necessary supporting documents at the time of applying. If the Department requests further information, respond as quickly as possible. Delays in responding will extend your processing time.

Where to check your actual processing time

The Department publishes a visa processing times guide tool. This shows processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and is not specific to your application. The Department updates processing times information regularly as new data becomes available.

Processing times are not available for visas that are closed to new applications, family visas that are capped and queued, or visas that have too few decisions in the month to provide a reliable indicator.

You can also check the status of your application through ImmiAccount. The Department advises applicants not to contact them if the application is still within the standard processing time, as they cannot provide further updates on progress.

What about the subclass 190 visa fee?

The official guidance does not state the base application charge for the subclass 190 visa. The Department’s visa pricing table is the authoritative source for current fees. You should check the visa pricing table on the Department of Home Affairs website to verify the base application charge that applies to your application at the time of lodgement.

Note that the subsequent temporary application charge does not apply to permanent visa applications. This charge applies only to certain temporary visas and is not paid for permanent applications. Subclass 190 is a permanent visa, so this charge is not relevant to your application.

What to do next

Check the visa processing times guide for the most recent median processing times for skilled permanent visas. Verify the current base application charge for subclass 190 on the visa pricing table. Review the requirements for your specific occupation and situation under Ministerial Direction 119. Lodge a complete application with all supporting documents to avoid unnecessary delays. If you have already applied, monitor your ImmiAccount for requests for further information and respond promptly.