The length of process currently depends on your nominated occupation - if it appears on the current Critical Skills List (CSL), if you are sponsored by a State/Territory in Australia and if you have close family in Australia that is able to sponsor you.

The process is divided into 2 stages, first one is the skills assessment which can take an average of 2-3 months and the second one is the visa application. In some cases there is a preliminary stage to lodgement of the visa application and that is in cases where sponsorship is required from a State/Territory in Australia.

The Minister has set a new priority processing direction which came into effect on 23 September 2009. This Direction applies to applications in the pipeline that have not been finalized, and to applications lodged with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, on or after 23 September 2009.