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Source: Department of Home Affairsfigures dated checked

Visa processing times update, 2 November 2026: 39 streams slower, 29 faster at the 90% mark

Compared with the 29 September 2026 update, at the 90% mark 39 of 74 streams got slower, 29 got faster and 6 did not change. At the 50% mark 36 got slower, 24 faster and 14 did not change. The largest move was 491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional, 553 to 920 days at the 90% mark (367 days longer).

Official update
Seen in daily copies of the official tool, so the date is right to within a day. The Department dates 8 streams 9 Nov 2026 (191, 403, 482, 858). Their figures are the same as in this update.
Compared with
29 Sep 2026Previous update, 34 days earlier
Streams in this report
74Streams the Department lists today that had a figure on this date
Report
16 of 16Generated from the figures, no hand editing
MarkSlowerFasterNo change
90% decided within39296
50% decided within362414

A stream counts as slower when the number of days rose, faster when it fell. Days run from lodgement to decision for applications the Department decided in its most recent period. For the 801 and 100 partner visas the Department counts from the date of eligibility, two years after the combined application was lodged. They describe the past and are not a prediction for any application.

Which visa processing times moved most? 491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional, 367 days longer at the 90% mark

The 10 streams whose 90% figure changed most in this update, by number of days either way, with the 50% figure beside it.

Visa stream90% decided within, days50% decided within, days
491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional920 was 553 367 days longer521 was 156 365 days longer
494 Employer Sponsored615 was 365 250 days longer298 was 253 45 days longer
887 Skilled - Regional326 was 507 181 days shorter299 was 297 2 days longer
300 Prospective Marriage946 was 785 161 days longer546 was 415 131 days longer
494 Labour Agreement388 was 258 130 days longer86 was 127 41 days shorter
408 Religious Work292 was 163 129 days longer120 was 99 21 days longer
408 Research Activities430 was 529 99 days shorter77 was 448 371 days shorter
888 Investor285 was 186 99 days longer183 was 157 26 days longer
500 Higher Education Sector207 was 109 98 days longer25 was 16 9 days longer
309 Partner (Provisional)1,056 was 975 81 days longer640 was 645 5 days shorter

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Australian visa processing times: Home Affairs update of 2 November 2026

Compared with the figures of 29 September 2026, at the 90% mark 39 of 74 streams got slower, 29 got faster and 6 did not change. At the 50% mark: 36 slower, 24 faster, 14 unchanged.

Largest moves at the 90% mark:
• 491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional: 553 to 920 days (367 days longer)
• 494 Employer Sponsored: 365 to 615 days (250 days longer)
• 887 Skilled - Regional: 507 to 326 days (181 days shorter)
• 300 Prospective Marriage: 785 to 946 days (161 days longer)
• 494 Labour Agreement: 258 to 388 days (130 days longer)

Lodgement month the Department says it is processing:
• 186, applications lodged in Australia: Feb 2025 to Mar 2025
• 190, applications lodged in Australia: Jan 2026 to Apr 2026
• 491, applications lodged in Australia: Feb 2025 to Mar 2025

Official Department of Home Affairs figures: days from lodgement to decision for recently decided applications. They describe the past and are not a prediction for any application.
All 74 streams: https://visaprocessingtime.com.au/reports/2026-11-02/

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**Home Affairs updated its global visa processing times on 2 November 2026**

Compared with the figures of 29 September 2026, at the 90% mark: 39 streams slower, 29 faster, 6 unchanged (74 streams). At the 50% mark: 36 slower, 24 faster, 14 unchanged.

| Visa stream | 90% before | 90% now | Change |
|:--|--:|--:|--:|
| 491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional | 553 days | 920 days | +367 days |
| 494 Employer Sponsored | 365 days | 615 days | +250 days |
| 887 Skilled - Regional | 507 days | 326 days | -181 days |
| 300 Prospective Marriage | 785 days | 946 days | +161 days |
| 494 Labour Agreement | 258 days | 388 days | +130 days |

Official Department of Home Affairs figures: days from lodgement to decision for recently decided applications. They describe the past and are not a prediction for any application.

Full table for all 74 streams: https://visaprocessingtime.com.au/reports/2026-11-02/

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Home Affairs updated visa processing times on 2 Nov 2026: at the 90% mark 39 of 74 streams got slower and 29 faster. Largest move at the 90% mark: 491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional, 553 to 920 days. https://visaprocessingtime.com.au/reports/2026-11-02/

Which lodgement months was Home Affairs processing? 14 of 28 groups moved

For 7 skilled visas the Department states, in a banner on each visa page, the lodgement month each priority group has reached. Between the 29 Sep 2026 and 2 Nov 2026 updates, 14 of 28 groups across 7 visas moved: 14 forward, 0 back. The rest stayed on the same month. These are the Department's statements, not a wait time for any application.

Visa and groupAt 29 Sep 2026At 2 Nov 2026Moved
186 Priority sectorsAug 2024Nov 202515 months forward
186 In AustraliaFeb 2025Mar 20251 month forward
186 Outside Australia, aloneJul 2024Nov 20244 months forward
189 Priority sectorsNov 2025Oct 202611 months forward
189 Outside Australia, aloneNov 2025Dec 20251 month forward
189 Outside Australia, othersNov 2025Dec 20251 month forward
190 Priority sectorsMay 2025Oct 202617 months forward
190 In AustraliaJan 2026Apr 20263 months forward
482 Priority sectorsOct 2025Jun 20268 months forward
491 Priority sectorsMar 2025Jun 20253 months forward
491 In AustraliaFeb 2025Mar 20251 month forward
494 Priority sectorsSep 2025Dec 20253 months forward
494 Outside Australia, aloneAug 2025Sep 20251 month forward
494 Outside Australia, othersSep 2025Oct 20251 month forward
Show the 14 groups that stayed on the same month
Visa and groupAt 29 Sep 2026At 2 Nov 2026Moved
186 Outside Australia, othersJul 2024Jul 2024no change
189 In AustraliaJun 2026Jun 2026no change
190 Outside Australia, aloneFeb 2025Feb 2025no change
190 Outside Australia, othersFeb 2025Feb 2025no change
191 In AustraliaFeb 2026Feb 2026no change
191 Outside Australia, aloneMar 2026Mar 2026no change
191 Outside Australia, othersJan 2026Jan 2026no change
482 Specialist SkillsJul 2026Jul 2026no change
482 In AustraliaJan 2026Jan 2026no change
482 Outside Australia, aloneOct 2025Oct 2025no change
482 Outside Australia, othersOct 2025Oct 2025no change
491 Outside Australia, aloneFeb 2025Feb 2025no change
491 Outside Australia, othersFeb 2025Feb 2025no change
494 In AustraliaSep 2025Sep 2025no change

Statements dated 2 Oct 2026 to 2 Nov 2026: for each visa, the latest one dated on or before the update day. How lodgement month statements are read.

Compared with a year earlier: 43 streams slower, 23 faster at the 90% mark than on 2 Nov 2025

The same streams against the figures on record for 2 November 2025, one year before this update. 68 streams have a figure on both dates. Figures before March 2026 come from a public archive that was not copied daily (TomazMPP/Australian-Visa-Tracker), so a figure on record for that date may already have been replaced a few days earlier.

MarkSlowerFasterNo changeNo earlier figure
90% decided within432326
50% decided within352856

New official banners: 20 dated after the 29 Sep 2026 update and up to 2 Nov 2026

Banner notices the Department posted on its visa pages, newest first, by the date it gives them. Titles and first sentences are the Department's own wording. Our banner archive is daily from 14 November 2026; lodgement month banners before that come from Wayback Machine copies from 19 September 2026. Other banners from these dates are listed only if they were still on the Department's pages when our archive began.

189

189 visa landing page banner

We prioritise applications for the Skilled – Independent (subclass 189) visa (Points-tested stream) under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

190

190 visa page banner

We prioritise applications for the Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190) visa under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

491

491 visa page banner

We prioritise applications for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

494

Employer Sponsored Regional 494 processing priorities

We prioritise visa applications for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (SESR) (subclass 494) visa under Ministerial Direction 122.

482

Skills in Demand 482 processing priorities

We prioritise visa applications for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa under Ministerial Direction 121.

186

Subclass 186

We prioritise visa applications for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa under Ministerial Direction 122.

Show 14 more banners
010030

Application update 010 and 030

Applications for a Bridging visa A, B or C must be made online via ImmiAccount or the online webform.

020866

866 update for 020

From 1 November 2026, Protection visa (subclass 866) applicants can no longer apply for a Bridging visa B to travel overseas and return to Australia.

866

866 - Protection visa for asylum seekers

From 1 November, people waiting for a Protection Visa application decision cannot get a Bridging visa B to travel outside Australia and return.

407

Training visa updated requirements

From 12 November 2026, applicants must be outside Australia when they apply for a Training visa (subclass 407), and when we grant it.

600

visitor-600

Find out what you can do to help us process your application faster.

851

fast track process- shev

Certain TPV holders and former holders may be eligible to apply for a permanent Resolution of Status (RoS) visa (subclass 851).

189

189 visa landing page banner

We prioritise applications for the Skilled – Independent (subclass 189) visa (Points-tested stream) under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

190

190 visa page banner

We prioritise applications for the Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190) visa under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

191

191 visa page banner

We prioritise applications for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (subclass 191) visa under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

491

491 visa page banner

We prioritise applications for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

500590

Student visa 500 & 590 changes

Changes to Student visa application rules. From 2 October 2026, there are new rules for Student visas (subclass 500) and Student Guardian visas (subclass 590).

494

Employer Sponsored Regional 494 processing priorities

Skilled visa income thresholds have increased in line with changes to annual Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings.

482

Skills in Demand 482 processing priorities

Skilled visa income thresholds have increased in line with changes to annual Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings.

186

Subclass 186

Skilled visa income thresholds have increased in line with changes to annual Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings.

Every stream in the 2 Nov 2026 update: 74 processing times, before and after

Days within which 50% and 90% of applications were decided, the figure in use the day before this update, and the 90% figure a year earlier where we have one. Each row opens that stream's page with its full history.

Show all 74 streams
Visa stream90%, days50%, days90% a year earlier
100 Partner559 was 629 70 days shorter277 was 281 4 days shorter580 21 days shorter
101 Child1,008 was 990 18 days longer878 was 743 135 days longer886 122 days longer
102 Adoption582 was 573 9 days longer292 was 239 53 days longer290 292 days longer
117 Orphan Relative2,930 was 2,946 16 days shorter2,280 was 2,285 5 days shorter2,653 277 days longer
132 Significant Business History2,125 was 2,125 no change2,034 was 2,034 no change1,848 277 days longer
155 Five Year Resident Return6 was 6 no change1 was 1 no change23 17 days shorter
157 Three Month Resident Return62 was 65 3 days shorter12 was 18 6 days shorter65 3 days shorter
186 Direct Entry727 was 757 30 days shorter670 was 631 39 days longer564 163 days longer
186 Transition722 was 757 35 days shorter664 was 649 15 days longer563 159 days longer
186 Agreement400 was 376 24 days longer44 was 50 6 days shorter262 138 days longer
188 Business Innovation Extension339 was 332 7 days longer224 was 195 29 days longer429 90 days shorter
189 Points-Tested288 was 245 43 days longer90 was 61 29 days longer267 21 days longer
189 New Zealand1,888 was 1,862 26 days longer1,690 was 1,652 38 days longer1,579 309 days longer
190 Skilled - Nominated482 was 476 6 days longer240 was 132 108 days longer797 315 days shorter
191 Regional Provisional stream347 was 310 37 days longer223 was 248 25 days shorter415 68 days shorter
300 Prospective Marriage946 was 785 161 days longer546 was 415 131 days longer775 171 days longer
309 Partner (Provisional)1,056 was 975 81 days longer640 was 645 5 days shorter787 269 days longer
400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity)41 was 43 2 days shorter12 was 8 4 days longer20 21 days longer
403 Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular)97 was 78 19 days longer14 was 27 13 days shorter82 15 days longer
403 Foreign Government Agency112 was 112 no change42 was 50 8 days shorter50 62 days longer
403 Government Agreement41 was 45 4 days shorter21 was 12 9 days longer46 5 days shorter
403 Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)106 was 147 41 days shorter69 was 107 38 days shorter122 16 days shorter
403 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme29 was 30 1 day shorter15 was 15 no change26 3 days longer
407 Training578 was 614 36 days shorter459 was 353 106 days longer343 235 days longer
408 Entertainment Activities40 was 47 7 days shorter23 was 23 no change42 2 days shorter
408 Exchange Arrangements50 was 52 2 days shorter29 was 28 1 day longer166 116 days shorter
408 Invited for Other Social and Cultural Activity34 was 22 12 days longer6 was 4 2 days longer20 14 days longer
408 Religious Work292 was 163 129 days longer120 was 99 21 days longer427 135 days shorter
408 Research Activities430 was 529 99 days shorter77 was 448 371 days shorter326 104 days longer
408 Special Programs30 was 56 26 days shorter7 was 31 24 days shorter36 6 days shorter
408 Sporting Activities56 was 113 57 days shorter14 was 16 2 days shorter43 13 days longer
408 Superyacht Crew15 was 35 20 days shorter8 was 7 1 day longer32 17 days shorter
417 Working Holiday80 was 58 22 days longer58 was 2 56 days longer21 59 days longer
445 Dependent Child1,019 was 982 37 days longer799 was 771 28 days longer801 218 days longer
461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary)210 was 192 18 days longer141 was 151 10 days shorter119 91 days longer
462 Work and Holiday74 was 44 30 days longer7 was 3 4 days longer67 7 days longer
482 Core Skills287 was 286 1 day longer174 was 131 43 days longernone on record
482 Labour Agreement294 was 279 15 days longer179 was 154 25 days longer196 98 days longer
482 Nomination260 was 262 2 days shorter36 was 64 28 days shorter144 116 days longer
482 Specialist Skills99 was 78 21 days longer59 was 37 22 days longernone on record
482 Sponsorship100 was 57 43 days longer15 was 11 4 days longer175 75 days shorter
485 Post-Higher Education Work33 was 55 22 days shorter16 was 5 11 days longer31 2 days longer
485 Post-Vocation Education Work116 was 143 27 days shorter52 was 52 no changenone on record
491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional920 was 553 367 days longer521 was 156 365 days longer784 136 days longer
491 Family Sponsored Regional208 was 208 no change110 was 110 no change838 630 days shorter
494 Employer Sponsored615 was 365 250 days longer298 was 253 45 days longer330 285 days longer
494 Labour Agreement388 was 258 130 days longer86 was 127 41 days shorter353 35 days longer
500 Higher Education Sector207 was 109 98 days longer25 was 16 9 days longer166 41 days longer
500 Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector25 was 22 3 days longer1 was 3 2 days shorter38 13 days shorter
500 Independent ELICOS Sector49 was 53 4 days shorter11 was 22 11 days shorter167 118 days shorter
500 Non-Award Sector23 was 43 20 days shorter1 was 3 2 days shorter32 9 days shorter
500 Postgraduate Research Sector66 was 55 11 days longer25 was 17 8 days longer309 243 days shorter
500 Schools Sector210 was 207 3 days longer24 was 28 4 days shorter167 43 days longer
500 Vocational Education and Training Sector216 was 224 8 days shorter115 was 53 62 days longer294 78 days shorter
590 Student Guardian246 was 242 4 days longer34 was 43 9 days shorter181 65 days longer
600 Tourist31 was 33 2 days shorter21 was 21 no change23 8 days longer
600 Business Visitor23 was 19 4 days longer7 was 7 no change17 6 days longer
600 Sponsored Family89 was 92 3 days shorter40 was 40 no change61 28 days longer
601 Electronic Travel Authority1 was 1 no change1 was 1 no changenone on record
602 Medical Treatment101 was 100 1 day longer21 was 19 2 days longer73 28 days longer
651 eVisitor1 was 1 no change1 was 1 no change1 no change
771 Transit17 was 13 4 days longer3 was 3 no change15 2 days longer
801 Partner581 was 585 4 days shorter185 was 234 49 days shorter550 31 days longer
802 Child940 was 931 9 days longer635 was 627 8 days longer848 92 days longer
820 Partner916 was 908 8 days longer646 was 679 33 days shorter598 318 days longer
858 National Innovation214 was 225 11 days shorter78 was 180 102 days shorternone on record
858 Distinguished Talent / Global Talent (Independent)732 was 726 6 days longer493 was 482 11 days longernone on record
870 Visa Application288 was 278 10 days longer217 was 217 no change218 70 days longer
870 Sponsorship117 was 100 17 days longer98 was 89 9 days longer148 31 days shorter
887 Skilled - Regional326 was 507 181 days shorter299 was 297 2 days longer529 203 days shorter
888 Business Innovation348 was 316 32 days longer282 was 262 20 days longer152 196 days longer
888 Investor285 was 186 99 days longer183 was 157 26 days longer145 140 days longer
888 Significant Investor179 was 248 69 days shorter123 was 125 2 days shorter274 95 days shorter
988 Maritime Crew Visa2 was 3 1 day shorter1 was 1 no change2 no change

"Was" is the figure in use the day before this update. The last column is the 90% figure on record for 2 November 2025, and the badge compares it with this update.

Other visa processing times reports: 16 official updates since June 2025

One report for each time the Department updated its global visa processing times. How these reports are made.

Previous: 29 Sep 2026 updateAll 16 reportsLatest report

Next official update: half of the past gaps between updates put the next one between 29 Nov and 6 Dec 2026. The Department publishes no schedule. Past update dates.

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