That depends on their own case reaching a determination, not on the company's history with the program. Vetting, document requests, an interview and visa availability all sit outside the employer's control. Official descriptions expressed in weeks are not commitments. Plan the role's coverage on the assumption that the start date is unknown.
Keep an interim plan for the role
Decide now how the work gets done if the candidate is not present for a year: internal cover, a contractor, or a different work authorisation route assessed separately. Tell the candidate the same thing you tell the business, so nobody is planning a move around a date the company invented. Review the plan at each government step rather than at the moment it fails, and record what changed the estimate.
Keep an interim plan for the role and decide now how the work gets done if the candidate is not present for a year: internal cover, a contractor, or a different authorisation route assessed separately. A replacement hire's start depends on their own case reaching a determination rather than on the company's history with the programme, and vetting, document requests, an interview, and visa availability all sit outside the employer's control. Official descriptions expressed in weeks are not commitments.
Tell the candidate the same thing you tell the business, so nobody plans a move around a date the company invented, and review the plan at each government step.