The processing time differs from case to case depending on visa subclass applied for and the quality of your supporting documentation.

We would consider 4 to 12 months to be a realistic estimate for overseas applicants.

Visa applicants with occupations available in the Critical Skill List(CSL) and Migration Occupations in demand List (MODL) should expect their application to be processed in approximately six months from the date of allotment of DIAC File Number.

The priority processing directions introduced by the Minister are still in operation and will be applied to all skilled visa applications. These changes came into effect on 1 January 2009.

The priority processing direction gives priority processing to permanent applications in the following order:

1. Employer sponsorship.

2. State or territory sponsorship.

3. An occupation on the Critical Skills List (CSL).

4. An occupation on the MODL.

5. All other applications.

The new priority processing direction gives priority processing to provisional applications in the following order:

1. State or territory sponsorship.

2. Family sponsorship where the applicant’s occupation is listed on the CSL.

3. All other applications.

People seeking to migrate to Australia who have skills or qualifications in one of the occupations on the current CSL are processed in a higher priority to those applicants who do not. This includes all applications that are on hand as well as any applications received in the future.