Commonwealth of Australia · Processing time
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189): how long does it take?
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
The Home Affairs processing-time tool, checked 10 September 2026 for subclass 189 Points-Tested, reports 50% processed in 7 months and 90% in 8 months. These are observed processing percentiles for recently decided visa applications, not a minimum/maximum range or a guaranteed decision date. SkillSelect invitation waiting is separate.
How long does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) take to process in Australia?
For the subclass 189 Points-Tested stream, the Home Affairs tool checked on 10 September 2026 reports 50% processed in 7 months and 90% in 8 months. These describe recently decided applications, not a guaranteed range for your case. Waiting for a SkillSelect invitation is separate.
Source checked against Home Affairs — Global visa processing times on 10 September 2026.
Published decision percentiles
50%: 7 months; 90%: 8 months
recently decided applications; not a guaranteed range
Applies to
Points-Tested stream; observed decision percentiles
Last checked
10 September 2026
Reality vs official timing
- Official clock
- Published observed percentiles
- Delay trigger
- Follow the responsible authority’s current guidance
- Source checked
- 10 September 2026
Use the current Home Affairs tool with subclass 189, Points-Tested and your application date. Its estimate is not a case-status check or a guaranteed decision date; follow official instructions for your application.
Plan the application stages
Prepare the points-tested application
Before lodgement
Qualification, skills-assessment and supporting-evidence preparation is separate from the published visa-processing figures.
SkillSelect invitation
Separate from visa processing
Submitting an expression of interest is not lodging a visa application. The published decision percentiles do not provide an invitation-wait estimate.
Visa processing after lodgement
50%: 7 months; 90%: 8 months
The official tool describes recently decided Points-Tested visa applications. Some applications take longer than the 90th-percentile figure.
How to interpret the two figures
The median is the 50th percentile: half of the applications in the tool’s recent decision data were processed within the stated time. The 90th percentile covers nine in ten in that data; it is not a maximum. The source displays rounded months, while its underlying tool data records 223 days and 240 days respectively. Do not combine these into a 7–8 month guarantee or apply them to another subclass 189 stream.
These processing sources were reviewed on 10 September 2026. A source’s publication date and this review date are separate.
Official source
Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) processing time dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/australia/subclass-189-skilled-independent. Last checked 10 September 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times
Primary source (1)
Frequently asked questions
How long does the subclass 189 Points-Tested visa take?+
The official tool checked on 10 September 2026 reports 50% processed in 7 months and 90% in 8 months. These are recent decision percentiles, not a promised minimum or maximum.
Does this include waiting for a SkillSelect invitation?+
No. An expression of interest and invitation waiting happen before the visa application. The published processing percentiles describe visa applications, not the whole migration journey.
Is eight months a deadline for my application?+
No. The 90th percentile is an observed measure, not a legal deadline. Some applications take longer, and the tool does not assess your individual case.
Which official processing result should I use?+
Choose Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the Points-Tested stream and your application date in the Home Affairs tool. Do not substitute the New Zealand stream or treat the tool as a personal case-status service.
Next steps
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.