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[h=1]Skilled migration visa processing times[/h]On this page:
Processing priority groups and order of processing
Processing times – skilled migration applications affected by processing priorities
Processing times – skilled migration applications exempt from processing priorities
Definition – low/high risk
The tables below detail the indicative processing times for skilled migration visas.
We aim to process 75 per cent of applications within the timeframes detailed below. It should be noted that individual actual processing times will vary depending on a range of factors.
See:Service standards
The department also publishes information listing the lodgement dates of applications that have been or will soon be allocated to case officers.
See:Allocation Dates for General Skilled Migration Applications
[h=2]Processing priority groups and order of processing[/h]Priority processing arrangements apply to skilled migration applications. They determine the order in which the department considers applications. Applications accorded a higher priority under the arrangements will be processed ahead of lower priority applications, regardless of when the application is lodged.
The following table details processing priorities for skilled migration applications.
Note: The highest priority is listed first. SkillSelect applications (187, 186, 190 and 489) will be the highest priority in each group.
[TABLE=class: table-100, width: 298]
[TR]
[TH=bgcolor: #4D4D4D !important]Priority Group Number[/TH]
[TH=bgcolor: #4D4D4D !important]Application Type[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]1[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]Applications under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS).[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Applications under the Employer Nomination [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA][/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]n Plan (SMP).
Order of processing will be:
applications lodged from 1 July 2012 through SkillSelect (subclass 190 and 489 applications)
applications in this priority for other General Skilled Migration (GSM) subclasses (subclass 487 and 886 applications).
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Applications with nominated occupations on the Skilled Occupation List Schedule 1.
See: Skilled Occupation List
Order of processing will be:
applications lodged from 1 July 2012 through SkillSelect (subclass 189 and 489 applications)
applications
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]5[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]Processing times – skilled migration applications affected by processing priorities[/h]The below table describes the processing times for skilled migration visa subclasses.
[TABLE=class: bordertable, width: 318]
[TR]
[TH=bgcolor: #4D4D4D !important]Priority Group Number[/TH]
[TH=bgcolor: #4D4D4D !important]Visa Subclass[/TH]
[TH=bgcolor: #4D4D4D !important]Processing Time[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]1[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]RSMS
(subclass 119, 857) Skilled Regional[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]Low risk – 5 months
High risk – 8 months
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SkillSelect
(subclass 187)[/TD]
[TD]6 months
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]2[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]ENS
(subclass 121, 856) [/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]Low risk – 5 months
High risk – 8 months[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SkillSelect
(subclass 186) [/TD]
[TD]6 months[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]3[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]SMP
(subclass 475, 487, 886)[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]12 months[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SkillSelect SMP
(subclass 190 and 489)[/TD]
[TD]3 months[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=bgcolor: #DDEEFF]4[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #DDEEFF]Nominated Occupation on the SOL – Schedule 1
(subclass 495, 496, 861, 862, 863, 880, 881, 882, 883, 885 and 487 if not SMP)[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #DDEEFF]18 months[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SkillSelect Independent and Family Sponsored
(subclass 189 and 489)[/TD]
[TD]3 months[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]5[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]All visas listed in priority 3 and 4 that are not SMP or Nominated Occupation on the SOL – Schedule 1[/TD]
[TD=bgcolor: #FAFAFA]Assessment will commence when all cases in priority groups 1-4 are finalised[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2][/h][TABLE=class: table-100, width: 298]
[TR]
[TH=bgcolor: #4D4D4D !important][/TH]
[TH=bgcolor: #4D4D4D !important][/TH]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
