Processing times · Subclass 888
How long does the subclass 888 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (Subclass 888) applications (Business Innovation stream) were finalised within 10 months, and 90% within 11 months. In September 2026 the 75% figure was 9 months. The 888 has 3 streams with different times, listed below. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 888 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Innovation | 10 months | 11 months | 9 months |
| Investor | 8 months | 9 months | 5 months |
| Significant Investor | 5 months | 6 months | 6 months |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 888
How the application moves
- You lodge once you have met your 188 stream's business, investment or turnover requirements and held the provisional visa for the required period, with the state or territory nomination for the 888 in place.
- Home Affairs verifies the business or investment evidence against the stream's test, then health and character.
What most often slows a 888 application
- Business activity statements, financial statements and employment records that do not clearly meet the stream thresholds across the required period.
- State nomination for the permanent stage that has not yet been granted when the application is lodged.
What to have ready before lodging
- Audited or accountant-prepared financials, business activity statements, employee records and the state nomination for the 888.
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 888 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) applications in the Business Innovation stream were finalised within 10 months and 90% within 11 months, as at 2 November 2026. Other streams differ; see the table on this page.
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 888 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 888. 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 avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188): 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 888 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: 888 Business Innovation PR Visa: Eligibility. General information only, not migration advice.