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Read on to understand:
Current visa processing times
Trends
Getting advice
Understanding current government processing times allows you to plan recruitment and onboarding with greater certainty.
The government represents processing times as a range. Half of applications are processed within the lower timeframe and 90% within the upper timeframe.
| 482 Visa Core Skills | 482 Visa Specialist Skills | 482 Labour Agreement | 482 Nomination | 482 Visa Sponsorship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 to 7 months | 11 to 53 days | 3 to 6 months | 4 to 7 months | 4 to 5 months |
Government processing of Subclass 482 Visas has increased over the past 12 months due to legacy caseloads and a 34.5% increase in lodged 482 Visa applications compared to the previous year.
September 2025 to present:
- 482 Visa Core Skills: Increased by ~2 months.
- 482 Visa Specialist Skills: Decreased by ~3 months.
- 482 Visa Labour Agreement Stream: Increased by ~1 month.
| 186 Visa Transition Stream | 186 Visa Direct Entry Stream | 186 Labour Agreement |
|---|---|---|
| 13 to 19 months | 17 to 20 months | 33 days to 9 months |
| 494 Regional Visa | 494 Labour Agreement |
|---|---|
| 7 to 9 months | 6 to 9 months |
| 600 Visitor Visa |
|---|
| 6 to 21 days |
| 400 Visa Global Average |
|---|
| 6 to 21 days |
The Department of Home Affairs publishes global averages for the 400 Visa. Speak to Interstaff for insights on country-specific processing.
Getting advice
Several factors influence visa processing times. For advice on how processing guidelines apply to your circumstances, contact our Registered Migration Agents.
Source:
The Department of Home Affairs, 25 February 2026
