Processing times · Subclass 190
How long does the subclass 190 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) applications were finalised within 14 months, and 90% within 16 months. In September 2026 the 75% figure was 15 months. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 190 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All applications | 14 months | 16 months | 15 months |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 190
How the application moves
- State or territory nomination comes first, through the state's own portal and criteria, and that stage is not counted in the Home Affairs figures on this page.
- Once nominated you are invited through SkillSelect and have 60 days to lodge the visa; Home Affairs then verifies the points claims, health and character.
What most often slows a 190 application
- Waiting for a state program to open or for allocations to be confirmed, which can take months before the visa stage even begins.
- Points evidence that does not match the Expression of Interest, which can lead to refusal rather than delay.
- Family members overseas whose health or police checks lag behind the main applicant.
What to have ready before lodging
- The state's own evidence requirements (residence, job offer, commitment statement) before you apply for nomination.
- The same points evidence as the 189: skills assessment, English, qualifications, employment references and payslips.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 190 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) applications were finalised within 14 months and 90% within 16 months, as at 2 November 2026.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 190 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 190. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and falling within the priority sectors set by the current ministerial direction.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189): processing times · fees
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491): processing times · fees
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191): processing times · fees
- Resident Return visa (Subclasses 155 and 157): processing times · fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 190 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: 190 Visa 2026: State Nomination, Points & Fee. General information only, not migration advice.