Has anyone heard any updates on when the Department of Home...
@tanu (2D ago| Updated 2D ago)Has anyone heard any updates on when the Department of Home Affairs will resume granting subclass 491 offshore visas?
Lately, I can mostly see 189 and 190 visa grants, while there seem to be very few (if any) offshore 491 grants being reported. Many offshore applicants, including those in priority occupations, have been waiting for a long time with no clear updates.
Does anyone have any information or recent grant reports for 491 offshore applications? Is there any estimated timeline for when offshore 491 grants might start moving again?
It would be great if anyone with recent grant experiences or reliable information could share. The uncertainty is becoming very stressful for many of us waiting offshore.
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they are processing feb and march 2025 applications right now. so expect 2-3 months more if you logged in may 2025.. btw where in india ?
Applications for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa are prioritised in accordance with Ministerial Direction No. 119.
Applications currently being allocated for processing were generally lodged in:
As received – related to Australian law enforcement or defence interests. April 2025 for construction, healthcare and teaching occupations (onshore applicants); March 2025 – all other applications where the applicant was in Australia at the time of application. February 2025 – all other applications where the applicant was outside Australia at the time of application.
Me too rn from may offshore. U?
Do you think there is a month by month mapping between lodged applications and grants? What i mean to say is just because they are processing Feb 2025 Offshore applications now, it is not necessary that they will pick up May 2025 lodged visas in 2 months, right?
It might even be very late given the ministerial direction 119.
I lodged in june 2025.
@nuttydolphin7499 no its not like that. as far as my research . 1. onshore priority are processed seperately. first priority ( some doha working on this ) 2. onshore non - seperate doha agents 3. offshore - seperate doha agents.
they all use same quota ,no of places available. for example- someone filed in may 2026 but nurse .. ( one place gone out of 14000 ) someone from may 2025 but accountant. . ( one place gone out of 13999)
each month around 1000-1599 grants are there for 491. if for example 1000 more applications are received , imagine 200 are priority . and other 800 are ofshore and non priority. then out of monthly 1000-1599 grants , 200 are lapsed. remaining grants goes to monthly queue i.e feb 2025 right now this month.
@hcj21212 where i can check which month they processing right now for offshore?
@tanu hi tanu. u can check 491 visa page. there is a notification on top. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-work-regional-provisional-491
@hcj21212 thanks