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491 visa processing time, November 2026
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional), State/Territory Government Nominated Regional: 50% decided within 521 days, 90% within 920 days. Department of Home Affairs processing time figures.
50% decided within means half of the applications decided in the latest reporting period took this many days or fewer, counted from lodgement to decision. The 90% figure works the same way. Applications still waiting are not counted.
Stream codes: DE = Direct Entry, TRT = Transition, AGR = Agreement, PT = Points-Tested, CS = Core Skills, ST = State/Territory, HE = Higher Education, ES = Employer Sponsored.
Where it comes from: the Department of Home Affairs global visa processing times tool. We copy the figures and keep the history.
Dates: official update 9 Nov 2026, checked by us 14 Nov 2026.
Stream codes: DE = Direct Entry, TRT = Transition, AGR = Agreement, PT = Points-Tested, CS = Core Skills, ST = State/Territory, HE = Higher Education, ES = Employer Sponsored.
Where it comes from: the Department of Home Affairs global visa processing times tool. We copy the figures and keep the history.
Dates: official update 9 Nov 2026, checked by us 14 Nov 2026.
491521daysState/Territory Government Nominated Regional90% 920365 d491110daysFamily Sponsored Regional90% 2083 d186670daysEmployer NominationDE90% 72739 d18990daysSkilled IndependentPT90% 28829 d190240daysSkilled Nominated90% 482108 d482174daysSkills in DemandCS90% 28743 d50025daysStudentHE90% 2079 dSee all visasall 74 streams
Home Affairs is processing 491 visa applications lodged in March 2025
491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional processing time: 50% decided within 521 days, 90% within 920 days.
Official figures dated · Checked by us · 491 visa page
Stream codes: DE = Direct Entry, TRT = Transition, AGR = Agreement, PT = Points-Tested, CS = Core Skills, ST = State/Territory, HE = Higher Education, ES = Employer Sponsored.
Where it comes from: the Department of Home Affairs global visa processing times tool. We copy the figures and keep the history.
Dates: official update 9 Nov 2026, checked by us 14 Nov 2026.
50% decided within521days365 d slower since 29 Sep 2026Half of decided applications took this long or less, lodgement to decision.
90% decided within920days367 d slower since 29 Sep 2026Nine in ten decided applications took this long or less.
Processing lodgements fromMar 202520 months behind todayOfficial statement, lodged in Australia. First recorded 14 Nov 2026, no change since.
Pressure index, 49194/ 100High, full readings from 14 Nov 2026How the official figures moved. 50 is a flat month.
25%1796 months
50%52117 months
75%58919 months
90%92030 months
guide max1,145days
Days from lodgement to decision, decided applications only. Grey tick: where the Department's own processing guide scale ends. Black marker: your day count.
Priority sectorsJun 25
In AustraliaHome Affairs is hereMar 25
Outside, aloneFeb 25
Outside, othersFeb 25
Dec 2024today
Filled bar: lodgement months the Department says it has reached. Vertical line: your lodgement month.
Day 440491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional, since 31 August 2025 (example date, change it to yours)
50%: 521 d90%: 920 d
- 50% of applications like this are decided by 3 Feb 2027, 90% by 8 Mar 2028. This is arithmetic on the official percentiles, not a predicted decision date.
- The official processing month (March 2025, lodged in Australia) has not reached your lodgement month yet. It is 5 months short.
What this can't tell you
- When your own application will be decided. Nobody outside the Department can see individual cases.
- Whether anything is wrong with an application that has passed a percentile.
- How occupation, nationality or requests for more documents change the wait. The official figures are not split that way.
Cite this page: Visa Processing Time, "491 visa processing time (State/Territory Government Nominated Regional)", Department of Home Affairs figures dated 2 November 2026, retrieved 14 November 2026, https://visaprocessingtime.com.au/visa/491/state-territory-government-nominated-regional/
491 Processing Pressure Index: 94 out of 100, high, November 2026
94out of 100High
- Slower share
- 2 of 2 streams
- Drift
- +118.4% median
- Queue lag
- 19.8 months
All visas 53 Moderate
In plain words: 2 of 2 streams of the 491 visa got slower at the latest official update, the typical change was +118.4% and the lodgement months being processed trail today by 20 months on average. A reading above 50 means the published figures moved towards longer waits; below 50, towards shorter ones.
Calculated from official processing time figures only. It describes how published figures moved, not a prediction, and it is not advice. How the index is built.
Show the formula and today's working
PPI = 100 × (0.35 × slower share + 0.30 × drift + 0.35 × queue lag)
- Slower share: streams whose 50% figure rose since the previous official update, divided by all streams with a figure.
- Drift: median percentage change in the 50% figure, clipped to plus or minus 25% and mapped to 0 to 1.
- Queue lag: average number of months between today and the lodgement month the Department says it is processing, divided by 24 and capped at 1.
Every input is a figure the Department of Home Affairs publishes. Bands: 0 to 39 Low, 40 to 59 Moderate, 60 to 79 Elevated, 80 to 100 High. The index describes how the published figures moved. It says nothing about any single application and it is not advice.
| Component | Score 0 to 1 | Weight | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slower share2 of 2 streams have a higher 50% figure than at the previous official update. | 1.00 | 0.35 | 35.0 |
| DriftMedian change in the 50% figure is +118.4%. Minus 25% scores 0, no change scores 0.50, plus 25% scores 1. | 1.00 | 0.30 | 30.0 |
| Queue lagPublished lodgement months are 19.8 months behind today on average. Scale tops out at 24 months. | 0.82 | 0.35 | 28.8 |
| Reading | 93.8 |
491 lodgement months being processed (MD 122)
Priority sectorsJun 202517 months behind today
Lodged in AustraliaMar 202520 months behind today
Lodged outside Australia, applying aloneFeb 202521 months behind today
Lodged outside Australia, all othersFeb 202521 months behind today
Stated on the official 491 page, last changed . Archived daily from .
491 processing time since 29 Sep 2026, 50% mark
| Stream | Was | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| State/Territory Government Nominated Regional | 156 | 521 | 365 d slower |
| Family Sponsored Regional | 107 | 110 | 3 d slower |
Days. "Was" is each stream's figure before its latest change.
491 processing time then and now, 50% mark
| Stream | First | 1 yr ago | Now | vs 1 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State/Territory Government Nominated Regional | 628 | 609 | 521 | 88 d |
| Family Sponsored Regional | 663 | 773 | 110 | 663 d |
Days. First figure on record for State/Territory Government Nominated Regional: 9 Jun 2025. Amber means the processing time got longer, teal means it got shorter.
Which lodgement months is Home Affairs processing for the 491 visa? March 2025 in Australia, February 2025 at the back
Under Ministerial Direction 122 (MD 122) the Department works through 491 applications in 4 groups and states the lodgement month each group has reached. This statement sits alongside the 491 processing time percentiles and is published separately.
| Visa | Priority sectors | In Australia | Outside, alone | Outside, others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 186 visaMD 122 | Nov 202512 mo behind | Mar 202520 mo behind | Nov 202424 mo behind | Jul 202428 mo behind |
| 189 visaMD 122 | Oct 20261 mo behind | Jun 20265 mo behind | Dec 202511 mo behind | Dec 202511 mo behind |
| 190 visaMD 122 | Oct 20261 mo behind | Apr 20267 mo behind | Feb 202521 mo behind | Feb 202521 mo behind |
| 191 visaMD 122 | not listed | Mar 20268 mo behind | Mar 20268 mo behind | Jan 202610 mo behind |
| 482 visaMD 121 | Jun 20265 mo behind | Jan 202610 mo behind | Oct 202513 mo behind | Oct 202513 mo behind |
| 491 visaMD 122 | Jun 202517 mo behind | Mar 202520 mo behind | Feb 202521 mo behind | Feb 202521 mo behind |
| 494 visaMD 122 | Dec 202511 mo behind | Sep 202514 mo behind | Sep 202514 mo behind | Oct 202513 mo behind |
491 lodgement month being processed, by group
Recording started 14 Nov 2026. One month on record so far. Dashed boxes are months with no reading yet; each new official statement adds a step.
| 491 group | Processing lodgements from | Recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Priority sectors | Jun 2025 | |
| Lodged in Australia | Mar 2025 | |
| Lodged outside Australia, applying alone | Feb 2025 | |
| Lodged outside Australia, all others | Feb 2025 |
Is the 491 visa processing time getting faster or slower? 365 days slower since 29 September 2026
As of November 2026, the Department of Home Affairs reports that 50% of Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) State/Territory Government Nominated Regional applications are decided within 521 days and 90% within 920 days. The 50% processing time was 628 days in June 2025.
90% decided within50% decided within
| Recorded | State/Territory Government Nominated Regional 50% / 90% | Family Sponsored Regional 50% / 90% |
|---|---|---|
| 521 / 920 | 110 / 208 | |
| 156 / 553 | 110 / 208 | |
| 484 / 777 | 107 / 191 | |
| 371 / 548 | 107 / 193 | |
| 458 / 699 | 105 / 191 | |
| 488 / 721 | 102 / 191 | |
| 479 / 778 | 87 / 877 | |
| 374 / 844 | 78 / 911 | |
| 612 / 863 | 773 / 1020 | |
| 638 / 873 | 773 / 1020 | |
| 628 / 849 | 773 / 1020 | |
| 609 / 808 | 773 / 1020 | |
| 649 / 784 | 672 / 838 | |
| 574 / 762 | 672 / 823 | |
| 132 / 709 | 666 / 800 | |
| 538 / 720 | 664 / 794 | |
| 628 / 679 | 663 / 773 |
State/Territory Government Nominated Regional in the chart, all 2 streams in the table, days. 17 changes recorded since 9 June 2025. Figures before November 2026 come from public archives of the official page.
491 pressure index history: latest reading 94
Slower share and drift only, rebuilt from archived figures
The full index needs the lodgement month statements, which we began archiving on 14 November 2026. The dotted line uses the two components that can be rebuilt back to June 2025; it is not the same scale as the full reading.
What did Home Affairs change on its visa pages? 8 latest banners, newest 13 November 2026
Banner notices the Department placed on its visa pages, newest first. Several state how the 491 visa processing time queue is ordered.
191 visa page banner
We prioritise applications for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (subclass 191) visa under Ministerial Direction No. 122.
189 visa landing page banner
We prioritise applications for the Skilled – Independent (subclass 189) visa (Points-tested stream) under Ministerial Direction No. 122.
190 visa page banner
We prioritise applications for the Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190) visa under Ministerial Direction No. 122.
491 visa page banner
We prioritise applications for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa under Ministerial Direction No. 122.
Skills in Demand 482 processing priorities
We prioritise visa applications for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa under Ministerial Direction 121.
Subclass 186
We prioritise visa applications for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa under.
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.
Source: banners on official Department of Home Affairs visa pages, archived daily since 14 November 2026. 69 banners on file, read 14 November 2026. Titles and first sentences are the Department's own wording. No interpretation added.
What do the 491 processing time figures leave out? 4 things
- They count decided applications only. Cases still waiting are not in the percentiles.
- The figures describe the recent past. They are not a forecast.
- The percentiles are not published by occupation, by state, or by whether the applicant was in Australia.
- Only streams the Department lists in its global processing times tool have a figure here.
9 questions about the 491 visa processing time, answered from November 2026 figures
How long does a 491 visa take to process in 2026?
In November 2026 the Department of Home Affairs reports a 491 visa processing time of 521 days for 50% of State/Territory Government Nominated Regional applications and 920 days for 90%. Family Sponsored Regional is 110 and 208 days.
What is the 491 State/Territory Government Nominated Regional processing time right now?
Half of State/Territory Government Nominated Regional applications are decided within 17 months (521 days), a quarter within 179 days and three quarters within 589 days. These are the official processing time figures dated 2 November 2026.
Is the 491 visa processing time getting faster or slower?
The 50% processing time for State/Territory Government Nominated Regional moved from 156 days on 29 September 2026 to 521 days now, 365 days slower. The first figure we have on record is 628 days in June 2025.
Is the 491 processing time counted from the day of lodgement?
Yes. The published processing time runs from the day the visa application was lodged to the day it was decided, and it covers decided applications only.
Which lodgement month is Home Affairs processing for the 491 visa?
The official 491 page lists 4 groups under Ministerial Direction 122: priority sectors, June 2025; lodged in australia, March 2025; lodged outside australia, applying alone, February 2025; lodged outside australia, all others, February 2025. We read this on 14 November 2026.
Is 491 processing time different for onshore and offshore applicants?
The percentile figures are not split by location. The lodgement month the Department says it is processing is split: March 2025 for applications lodged in australia, February 2025 for the group furthest back.
How often is the 491 visa processing time updated?
The Department usually refreshes its processing time figures once a month. The latest official date for the 491 visa is 2 November 2026. We check the official page every day and record any change with its date.
Does the 491 processing time tell me when my visa will be decided?
No. A processing time describes applications that were already decided. It is not a prediction for any single application and this site does not give migration advice.
What is the Processing Pressure Index for the 491 visa?
A 0 to 100 reading calculated from official figures only: how many 491 streams got slower, by how much, and how far behind today the lodgement month being processed is. The 491 reading is 94 (high); across all visas it is 53. The formula is printed on this page.