Australia's latest visa processing figures show a sharp rise in waiting times for the state-nominated Subclass 491 visa. Home Affairs' November figures show that 50% of recently decided applications took 17 months, while 90% took 30 months. That is the longest wait among the skilled visa streams covered in this article.
The Subclass 190 has also slowed. Its median processing time has doubled from 4 months to 8 months, although its 90th-percentile figure remains at 16 months.
The Subclass 189 remains the fastest of these three skilled visa pathways in the published figures, with 50% of applications decided within 90 days and 90% within 9 months.
These figures relate to applications already finalised. They are useful benchmarks, not guaranteed waiting times for new applicants.
The figures were published by the Department of Home Affairs on 2 November 2026, covering applications finalised to 30 September 2026, and were re-checked on 14 November 2026 — the headline figures are unchanged.
These are percentiles of applications Home Affairs has already decided. They describe the past, not a promise for any one application. Submitting complete documents and responding promptly can help avoid preventable delays. Home Affairs lists application completeness, external checks, case complexity, application volumes and changes to Ministerial Directions among the factors that affect processing times, and says applications are not always processed in lodgement order.
Processing times at a glance
Visa | 50% decided within | 75% decided within | 90% decided within |
|---|---|---|---|
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent (points-tested) | 90 days | 4 months | 9 months |
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated | 8 months | 14 months | 16 months |
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (state/territory nominated) | 17 months | 19 months | 30 months |
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (family sponsored) | 4 months | 5 months | 7 months |
Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) | 7 months | 8 months | 11 months |
Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | 10 months | Not published | 20 months |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, global visa processing times, published 2 November 2026, applications finalised to 30 September 2026; re-checked 14 November 2026 — headline figures unchanged. 75th-percentile benchmarks are drawn from compiled Home Affairs release records; Home Affairs' live public lookup tool displays 50% and 90% benchmarks. The 494 75th percentile is not published.
Subclass 494 is an employer-sponsored regional pathway, not a points-tested state nomination pathway. The family-sponsored 491 figures above are for a different stream from the state/territory-nominated 491 stream.
What changed since September
The 491 state-nominated route moved the most: its 90th percentile rose from 18 months to 30 months, and its median rose from 5 months to 17 months. The 190 median doubled, from 4 months to 8 months, while its 90th percentile held at 16 months. The 189 90th percentile rose by one month, from 8 to 9 months, and its median rose from 61 days to 90 days. The 191 90th percentile rose by one month, from 10 to 11 months. The family-sponsored 491 stream did not move: 4 months for half of applications and 7 months for nine in ten.
491 points vs 190 points: the trade-off has changed
A Subclass 491 nomination adds 15 points to a SkillSelect score, while a Subclass 190 nomination adds 5. The 491 therefore offers 10 additional nomination points.
But the November processing figures show a longer wait for the state-nominated 491 stream: 17 months for 50% of recently decided applications and 30 months for 90%. For the 190, the corresponding figures are 8 and 16 months.
This is a comparison of historical processing results, not proof that the extra points cause a longer wait. The two visas have different eligibility rules and outcomes.
For applicants from India, the right choice depends on their occupation, points score, state nomination options, regional commitments and long-term plans. The 190 offers direct permanent residence, while the 491 is a provisional regional pathway that can lead to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa if the relevant requirements are met.
Do not choose the 491 only because it offers more points, or reject it only because its published processing figures are longer.
What this means for healthcare professionals
Healthcare-sector applications are included in the first processing priority group for certain skilled visas under Ministerial Direction 122, which came into effect on 19 September 2026. This priority also covers sectors such as construction, teaching and agriculture.
In the 15 October 2026 SkillSelect round, several healthcare occupations — including registered nurses, general practitioners, midwives, physiotherapists and occupational therapists — had minimum invitation scores of 70 points.
However, an invitation score and a visa processing time are two different things. The published processing figures cover recently finalised applications across each visa stream; they do not provide a separate timeline for healthcare applicants or applicants from India.
For reference, the November figures show 50% of Subclass 190 applications decided within 8 months and 90% within 16 months. For the state-nominated Subclass 491, the corresponding figures are 17 and 30 months. These are general benchmarks, not a personal prediction.
Healthcare professionals should also complete the registration and skills assessment requirements for their occupation before relying on an invitation or visa timeline.
Read our full guide: Australia PR for Healthcare Professionals from India (2026–27): Registration and Skills Assessment Guide.
What to do while you wait
Lodge only when the application is complete. Check the validity requirements for your English test results, skills assessment, registration and state nomination documents at invitation and lodgement — validity rules differ between documents. Do not plan travel, a job resignation or house move around the median figure — half of applicants waited longer than it. Before you lodge, check the current charges — see the full Australia PR visa fees and cost breakdown.
Home Affairs updates these figures monthly. No exact date has been announced for the next release; the next monthly update is expected in December, and this post will be updated when it lands.
Free eligibility check: call or WhatsApp +91 98961 96762 or email info@provinceimmigration.com.
Related reading: Australia PR guide from India | NSW 190 Skills List 2026-27: 15 Groups Added, 16 Removed | Queensland 190/491 nomination 2026-27: ROI open
Sources: Department of Home Affairs — Global visa processing times | Department of Home Affairs — Skilled visa processing priorities (Ministerial Direction 122) | Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation rounds
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