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Visa processing has changed a lot since the fiscal year 2024–25. These changes have affected how applications are treated. The system is changing because of more applications and changes to global policies. These changes range from changing how priorities are assigned to better ways of handling them. This article looks at the most recent Subclass 190 Visa Grants trends, processing times, and what they mean for applicants and policymakers in a wider sense.
Processing Time Subclass 190 Visa Grants
By looking at Subclass 190 Visa Grants for the fiscal year 2024–25, we can see some interesting trends in the activity related to visas. From July to December, the number of applications slowly went up, reaching a high point of over 3,000 in December. But until November, the number of granted applications stayed higher than the number of filed applications. This trend changed in December, when more applications were filed than were approved. This could mean that processing will take longer than expected.
Monthly Breakdown of Subclass 190 Visa Grants
| Month End | Lodged | Granted | Refused | Withdrawn |
| July 31, 2024 | 435 | 4,180 | 26 | 35 |
| Aug 31, 2024 | 376 | 3,746 | 26 | 22 |
| Sep 30, 2024 | 1,190 | 3,231 | 35 | 36 |
| Oct 31, 2024 | 2,214 | 3,453 | 59 | 30 |
| Nov 30, 2024 | 2,807 | 2,519 | 51 | 53 |
| Dec 31, 2024 | 3,163 | 2,045 | 47 | 37 |
As the year went on, this data showed an increasing backlog in Subclass 190 processing time. Although the number of withdrawals and refusals stayed low, a minor uptick in the latter months indicates that applications filed close to the end of the year encountered more difficulties.
Subclass 190 Visa Processing Time Challenges and Quota
The Australian government allocated 33,000 places for the Subclass 190 skilled nominated visa for the fiscal year 2024–2025. 19,174 applications had been approved by December 2024, leaving 13,826 applications left to be filled. Processing these applications is not without its difficulties, though.
Challenges in Subclass 190 Visa Grants Allocation
There are several restrictions on the Subclass 190 Visa Grant distribution. 10% of the remaining quota has been set aside for challenging cases, while 20% has been set aside for priority occupations. This implies that processing applications submitted after October 2023 may not be possible due to the limited number of available places. Because of this, a large number of applicants may encounter delays, and their applications will probably be moved to the following fiscal year, prolonging their waiting time until after July 2025.
Subclass 190 Visa Processing Time and Backlog Issues 2024
More than 30,000 applications were still outstanding as of December 2024. Among these was a sizable backlog from 2022, 2023, and 2024, demonstrating the continued strain on processing capacity.
Pending Applications from 2022
As of December 2024, more than 30,000 applications were still not taken. There was a big backlog from 2022, 2023, and 2024 among these, showing that handling capacity was still being pushed to its limits.
| Lodgment Month | Pending Applications |
| January 2022 | 10 |
| February 2022 | 8 |
| March 2022 | 4 |
| April 2022 | 3 |
| May 2022 | 9 |
| June 2022 | 8 |
| July 2022 | 7 |
| August 2022 | 4 |
| September 2022 | 9 |
| October 2022 | 4 |
| November 2022 | 14 |
| December 2022 | 24 |
Subclass 190 Visa Processing Delays and Backlog Analysis 2023
15,227 applications from 2023 have not yet been processed and are still pending decisions. May and June 2023 have the largest backlog, making up over half of all outstanding 2023 applications. This indicates that Subclass 190 processing times have significantly slowed, especially for applications submitted in the middle of 2023.
Pending Applications from 2023
| Lodgment Month | Pending Applications |
| January 2023 | 34 |
| February 2023 | 36 |
| March 2023 | 130 |
| April 2023 | 358 |
| May 2023 | 2,162 |
| June 2023 | 4,879 |
| July 2023 | 1,087 |
| August 2023 | 472 |
| September 2023 | 1,465 |
| October 2023 | 1,151 |
| November 2023 | 1,478 |
| December 2023 | 1,975 |
Challenges Affecting Subclass 190 Visa Processing Time
The increasing backlog indicates that a number of issues are affecting Subclass 190 Visa Grants, such as:
- High application volume: A surge in applications has stretched processing capacity.
- Priority allocations: 20% of the remaining quota is reserved for priority occupations, leaving fewer slots for general applicants.
- Complex cases: 10% of the remaining quota is set aside for complicated applications, slowing down overall processing.
Due to these issues, a lot of applications sent in after October 2023 might not be processed until the next fiscal year, which would mean that choices would not be made until after July 2025.
For the latest insights on Subclass 190 visa grants and current trends, watch this exclusive briefing by Mr. Rizwan Ul Haque.
Watch the video below:
Backlog of Subclass 190 Visa Grants from 2024
Demand for the Subclass 190 Visa Grants is still very high, which is causing a rising backlog of applications.
The backlog from 2024 is pretty big, with the most applications still being processed from November (2,466) and December (3,098). This means that there will be a sharp rise in applications near the end of the year, which will put more pressure on processing times.
Pending Applications from 2024
| Lodgment Month | Pending Applications |
| January 2024 | 1,600 |
| February 2024 | 1,417 |
| March 2024 | 1,295 |
| April 2024 | 861 |
| May 2024 | 763 |
| June 2024 | 429 |
| July 2024 | 211 |
| August 2024 | 206 |
| September 2024 | 716 |
| October 2024 | 1,524 |
| November 2024 | 2,466 |
| December 2024 | 3,098 |
This unequal allocation of pending applications draws attention to the increasing difficulties with Subclass 190 processing time.
Subclass 190 Visa Grants: Processing Updates and Trends in December 2024
Priority occupations were clearly the focus of the December 2024 Subclass 190 Visa Grants process. A considerable portion of the 2,045 applications that were processed were from 2023, and a small number were from 2024. Remarkably, eight 2024 applications—or 30% of the cases filed that month—were finalized.
Breakdown of Processed Applications in December 2024
| Lodgment Month | Pending (Nov 2024) | Pending (Dec 2024) | Processed in Dec 2024 |
| October 2022 | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| January 2023 | 46 | 34 | 12 |
| February 2023 | 56 | 36 | 20 |
| March 2023 | 183 | 130 | 53 |
| April 2023 | 508 | 358 | 150 |
| May 2023 | 3,286 | 2,162 | 1,124 |
| June 2023 | 4,926 | 4,879 | 47 |
| November 2023 | 1,480 | 1,478 | 12 |
| January 2024 | 1,640 | 1,600 | 40 |
| May 2024 | 784 | 763 | 21 |
| July 2024 | 227 | 211 | 16 |
| August 2024 | 217 | 206 | 11 |
| September 2024 | 758 | 716 | 42 |
| November 2024 | 1,699 | 1,524 | 175 |
| December 2024 | 2,685 | 2,466 | 219 |
Subclass 190 Processing Time: Priorities and Delays
These numbers indicate that:
- Priority occupations received faster processing, with many cases finalized within months.
- Older non-priority applications from 2022 and early 2023 remain pending, showing a delay in handling complex cases.
- Recent applications from November and December 2024 were processed quickly, suggesting a shift toward handling newer cases first.
Subclass 190 Visa Activity in December 2024
3,163 new applications for the Subclass 190 visa were filed in December 2024, indicating a spike in demand. This maintains the increasing trajectory from earlier months. 2,045 visas were issued in spite of the large number, demonstrating a strong emphasis on priority occupations and expedited cases. A thorough summary of visa activity is shown in the table below:
| Subclass | Visa Activity (Nov 2024) | Primary Applicants | Primary + Secondary Applicants |
| Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa) | Lodged | 1,583 | 3,163 |
| Granted | 1,065 | 2,045 | |
| Refused | 22 | 47 | |
| Withdrawn | 21 | 37 | |
| Pending Cases | 15,685 | 30,057 |
Subclass 190 Visa Future Outlook for FY 2024-25
There are a number of obstacles facing the Subclass 190 visa for the fiscal year 2024–2025 because of the rise in applications, the quota restrictions, and the preference for particular professions. Applications from 2023 and 2024 are still pending, and those who submitted their papers after October 2023 are still subject to processing delays.
Visa Processing Challenges
- High Lodgment Rates: The number of applications is increasing each month, leading to processing delays.
- Limited Quota Availability: Out of 33,000 allocated places, 19,174 visas were granted by December 2024, leaving 13,826 available.
- Backlog from 2023 and 2024: Many applications from previous years are still being processed, delaying newer applications.
- Priority-Based Processing: A portion of the quota is reserved for priority occupations and complex cases, further limiting available spots.
Impact on Future Applicants
- The remaining quota is not enough to process all applications lodged after October 2023.
- Many applications might be delayed until after July 2025 due to high demand and processing limitations.
- Older applications are being cleared, but complex cases remain unresolved.
Final Thoughts
Limited processing capacity and unequal application distribution are causing problems for the visa processing system. Due to the ongoing growth in the backlog from 2023 and 2024, many applicants are anticipated to face delays. Enhancements in backlog management and processing efficiency are needed to overcome this.
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