Countless individuals file their application for the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa every single year. Nevertheless, not every applicant qualifies for the visa due to strict criteria set by the Australian immigration authorities.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) takes considerable time to carefully analyse each application and determine its eligibility for visa approval. But this Subclass 190 visa processing time can vary for each applicant. Some of the applicants receive the DHA’s decision, while others wait for months. It is mainly as DHA evaluates the Subclass 190 visa applications on a case-by-case basis, not batch-based.

However, if you have survived the complexities of securing their nomination, completing the paperwork, and submitting the visa application, you can find the waiting period for visa approval to be extremely stressful. But, you don’t need to get confused! We will cover all you need to know about Subclass 190 visa processing time in this post to help you understand this better.

Understanding the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 Visa

The Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 Visa is a points-tested permanent visa that allows skilled migrants to live and work in Australia permanently. The applicants must be nominated by an Australian state or Territory government to apply for the 190 Visa.

Once approved, the visa holders need to live and work in the nominating state or territory for at least two years. Afterwards, they can choose to live and work anywhere in Australia.

This visa is specifically designed for highly skilled workers who meet the following requirements:

Meet the Australian Government’s points test pass mark
Hold a nomination from an Australian State or Territory Government
Have an occupation listed on the relevant Skilled Occupation List for the Subclass 190 visa
Obtain a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation
Be between 18 and 44 years of age at the time of invitation
Demonstrate competent English language proficiency

What Does “Processing Time” Mean?

Before moving the time to 190 Visa Processing Time directly, let’s first understand what this processing time really means.

Processing time defines the period from when you lodge your visa application till the time the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) makes the final decision (grant or refusal). Hence, It just calculates the period after you have completed the application and paid the visa fees. Additionally, it excludes the time needed to complete your skills evaluation, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), get nominated by a state or territory, and receive an application invitation.

What is the 190 Visa Processing Time?

The processing time for a 190 Visa varies, depending on the recent priorities of the DHA, the completeness of the visa application, the current application volume, the complexities of cases, and other considerations.

Thus, it is difficult to give the exact processing time. But, to provide general guidance to the visa applicants, the Department publishes the visa processing time guide for the Subclass 190 Visa. Moreover, to deliver better precision in these statements, the departments update the lists in a timely manner.

The current 190 Visa processing time guide depicts the following timeframe:

50% of applications processed in 15 months
90% of applications processed in 25 months

Hence, half of all visa applications are finalised in 15 months, and applications with some complications can take around 25 months. But these are just rough estimates and reflect recent averages and official reporting patterns. You can check the visa processing times guide for more information.

Factors Affecting Subclass 190 Visa Processing Time in Australia

In order to apply for a Subclass 190 visa, you must apply for a State/Territory Nomination, which can take some time. And once you are nominated by an Australian state or territory government, you will have to wait for an invitation to apply, which is also a time-demanding process.

As soon as you get your invitation, you need to lodge your visa application within 60 days. And, from then on, the official processing time begins.

The Department of Home Affairs assesses each Subclass 190 visa application individually, and the processing timeframes may differ due to the following unique factors:

Application Completeness: A complete visa application with each and every detail and document helps prevent delays.
Your Responsiveness: Promptly responding to DHA requests for further information or documents ensures smooth visa processing.
Medical and Character Checks: Delays in completing health examinations or obtaining police clearance certificates can extend processing time.
Application Complexity: Applicants with multiple work histories, several overseas residences, and other complexities can add months to the timeline for extensive analysis.
Occupation and Priority Levels: Applications with occupations on current labour market priorities and state nomination focus areas are prioritised.
Application Volume and Program Quotas: Apart from this high demand, annual migration program limits and state nomination allocations can also impact how quickly applications are finalised.

Conclusion

With the visa processing time for the subclass 190 visa being so unpredictable, waiting for approval can be daunting! However, if you file a complete application with all the required documents, you can not only increase the chances of your visa approval but also improve the chances of getting shortlisted fast.

Still, we get it! The hassle is too much to handle, especially when you are managing alone. That’s why we at Ozee Migration assist individuals like you to get through their visa application with complete ease and reduce the processing time to a significant extent. Contact us today to book a consultation!

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