Australia has changed the order in which certain skilled visa applications are processed. The new rules are set out in Ministerial Direction 119, which came into effect on 25 July 2026.
Under the new system, priority depends on two main factors:
- The applicant’s nominated occupation
- Whether the applicant was inside or outside Australia when the application was lodged
People working in occupations connected with Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests receive the highest priority. Applicants in construction, healthcare and teaching may also receive priority, but only when they were in Australia at the time of application.
The change affects both new applications and applications that were already waiting for a decision on 25 July 2026.
What is Ministerial Direction 119?
Ministerial Direction 119 tells Australian immigration officers the order in which they should consider certain skilled visa nominations and visa applications.
It replaces Ministerial Direction 105, which had been in force since December 2023. One important change is that the Skills in Demand visa, subclass 482, is now covered by the skilled visa processing priorities.
The direction does not create a new visa, change the skilled occupation lists or reduce the requirements for receiving a visa. Every applicant must still satisfy all relevant immigration, nomination, skills, English-language, health and character requirements. Its purpose is simply to decide which applications should be considered first.
New skilled visa priority order
Covered skilled visa applications are now processed according to the following order:
| Priority | Applicant’s situation | Occupation category |
| 1 – Highest | Applicant was in Australia when applying | Law enforcement or defence-related occupation |
| 2 | Applicant was outside Australia when applying | Law enforcement or defence-related occupation |
| 3 | Applicant was in Australia when applying | Construction, healthcare or teaching occupation |
| 4 | Applicant was in Australia when applying | Any other covered skilled occupation |
| 5 – Lowest | Applicant was outside Australia when applying | Any other covered skilled occupation |
The same order generally applies to employer nomination applications. In nomination cases, the location of the nominated worker at the time the nomination was submitted is considered.
Onshore applicants receive an important advantage
One of the most significant parts of Direction 119 is the preference given to people who were already in Australia when they applied.
An applicant in Australia with a construction, healthcare or teaching occupation comes under the third priority group. Other onshore skilled applicants come under the fourth group.
Most offshore applicants, however, fall under the fifth and final priority group unless their occupation directly supports Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests.
This means an offshore nurse, teacher or construction worker does not automatically receive the same priority as an onshore applicant working in the same field. Under the published order, offshore applicants in these sectors generally fall within the final “all other applications” category.
The relevant location is the applicant’s location when the application was lodged, not necessarily where the person is living when the Department begins processing the case.
Which occupations receive priority?
Law enforcement and defence
The highest priority is reserved for eligible occupations supporting Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests.
Law enforcement cases include certain police occupations where the applicant is nominated or sponsored by an eligible Australian federal, state or territory police force.
Defence-related cases include specified Australian Defence Force occupations and roles connected with AUKUS defence projects. These may include certain senior officers, commissioned officers, non-commissioned defence personnel and other Defence Force members.
These cases receive priority whether the applicant was inside or outside Australia, although onshore applicants are placed ahead of offshore applicants.
Construction occupations
The construction category covers a range of trade, engineering, management and technical occupations. These include eligible occupations within areas such as:
- Construction trades
- Construction and mining labour
- Construction management
- Architecture and landscape architecture
- Civil engineering
- Building and surveying technology
- Safety inspection
- Structural steel and welding
- Sheet-metal work
- Crane and lift operation
- Earthmoving plant operation
- General and special-class electricians
The government says construction occupations are being prioritised with a particular focus on supporting housing development.
Healthcare occupations
The healthcare category includes many health professionals and support workers. It covers eligible occupations in areas such as:
- Medical and nursing professions
- Health and welfare support
- Medical science
- Psychology and counselling
- Social work
- Medical technology
- Aged and disabled care
- Nursing support
- Personal care assistance
Aged or Disabled Carers, Nursing Support Workers and Personal Care Assistants are specifically included in the direction’s definition of healthcare occupations.
Teaching occupations
Eligible teaching occupations include:
- School teachers
- School principals
- Childcare centre managers
- Childcare workers
- Vocational education teachers
- Polytechnic teachers
- University lecturers
All qualifying occupations within each priority sector are treated equally within that category. For example, one listed healthcare profession does not receive priority over another listed healthcare profession merely because of its job title.
Which visa subclasses are covered?
Ministerial Direction 119 covers applications for the following skilled visas:
| Subclass | Visa |
| 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme |
| 187 | Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme |
| 189 | Skilled Independent |
| 190 | Skilled Nominated |
| 191 | Permanent Residence – Skilled Regional |
| 482 | Skills in Demand |
| 482 | Temporary Skill Shortage |
| 489 | Skilled Regional – Provisional |
| 491 | Skilled Work Regional – Provisional |
| 494 | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional – Provisional |
| 887 | Skilled Regional |
| 888 | Business Innovation and Investment – Permanent |
For employer nomination applications, the direction covers subclasses 186, 187, 482 and 494.
Some visas in this list may no longer accept new applications, but older applications that remain undecided can still be affected.
Does the change apply to applications already submitted?
Yes. Direction 119 applies to:
- Applications submitted on or after 25 July 2026
- Applications submitted before that date that had not yet received a final decision
Applicants do not normally need to submit a new application simply to receive the relevant priority. The Department will apply the new order to covered applications still awaiting a decision.
Family members included in a combined application generally receive the same priority as the primary applicant.
Applications not covered by Direction 119
The direction contains several exclusions. It generally does not apply to:
- Applications returned by the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the Administrative Review Tribunal for reconsideration
- Cases where the tribunal set aside a decision and substituted a new decision
- Applications that clearly do not meet the relevant visa or nomination requirements
- Certain later applications made by family members who were not included in a combined application
- Nomination applications involving a change of employer
- Decisions made directly by the Administrative Review Tribunal
These cases may be handled under different procedures.
What about business and National Innovation visas?
Other ministerial directions apply to some visa categories outside Direction 119.
Ministerial Direction 114, effective from 12 February 2025, covers remaining applications for the Business Innovation and Investment visa subclass 188 and Business Talent visa subclass 132. Both programmes are closed to new applications.
Ministerial Direction 120, effective from 25 July 2026, covers certain subclass 858 applications. These include remaining Distinguished Talent and Global Talent cases, as well as National Innovation visa applications.
Does priority mean a guaranteed faster decision?
No. Priority determines the order in which the Department considers applications. It does not guarantee that a visa will be granted or decided within a fixed period.
Actual processing time can still depend on:
- Whether the application is complete
- The time required for health and character checks
- Requests for additional documents
- Verification of employment, qualifications or work experience
- The number of applications received
- Migration programme places and annual visa caps
- The complexity of the individual case
The Australian Government’s processing-time guide provides an estimate based on recently finalised cases. It is not a guarantee for an individual application.
How can applicants avoid unnecessary delays?
Applicants should submit a complete and accurate application from the beginning. Important steps include:
- Check that all required documents have been uploaded.
- Make sure names and personal details match the passport.
- Provide English translations of all non-English documents.
- Obtain the required police certificates.
- Complete health examinations when instructed.
- Check the ImmiAccount inbox regularly.
- Respond quickly when the Department requests further information.
- Arrange biometric collection without unnecessary delay, if required.
- Keep contact and passport details updated in ImmiAccount.
Receiving a high processing priority cannot prevent delays caused by missing documents or incorrect information.
What does this change mean for skilled migrants?
The new direction shows that Australia is giving greater importance to skilled migrants who are already living and contributing inside the country. It also reflects the government’s immediate workforce priorities in defence, law enforcement, housing construction, healthcare and education.
Onshore applicants in the selected priority occupations may benefit most. Other onshore skilled applicants are also placed ahead of most offshore applicants.
However, the change does not make applicants automatically eligible for a visa. It does not provide extra migration points, remove sponsorship requirements or guarantee approval. Applicants must still qualify under the rules of their chosen visa subclass.