Skilled Work Visa Processing Time

There is no fixed approval period. The Department’s visa processing times guide provides indicative figures for recently decided applications in available subclasses and streams. Time waiting for an invitation or nomination may be additional.

A complete and accurate application may avoid preventable requests. Priority processing depends on the applicable Departmental settings and cannot generally be secured simply by asking or paying an extra fee.

For points-tested visas, an expression of interest and any required invitation or state or territory nomination come before lodgement of the visa application. Time waiting at those stages is separate from the Department’s published visa processing times.

If the Department requests more information under section 56, read the request carefully and respond by the stated deadline. The Department may continue assessing the application; the request does not automatically stop processing.