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Skilled Visas

The Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship has outlined in Ministerial Direction 119 which came into effect on 25 July 2026 the new processing priorities for Nomination and Visa applications for certain Skilled visas.

From 25 July 2025, Ministerial Direction 119 replaced all processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 105.  The new Ministerial Direction removes the previous processing priority afforded to regional positions and nominations lodged by accredited sponsors.

So unfinalised applications that were previously afforded higher processing priority (e.g., Subclass 186 applications for regional positions outside the identified priority sectors) may experience longer processing times under the revised priority processing order.

Ministerial Direction 119 applies to all applications lodged on and after 25 July 2026 and also all unfinalised applications.  Prioritisation under Ministerial Direction 119 is afforded according to both occupation and the location of applicants at the time of application.

These include Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa,  Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa, Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494) visa and Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa [not previously included under Ministerial Direction 105].

Visa Subclasses

Ministerial Direction 119 (in Schedule A and B) covers:

  • Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa
  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187) visa
  • Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa
  • Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa
  • Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (Subclass 191) visa
  • Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa​
  • Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa
  • Skilled Regional (Subclass 489) visa
  • Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa
  • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494) visa
  • Skilled Regional (Subclass 887) visa
  • Business Innovation and Investment (Subclass 888) visa.

Processing Priorities

From 25 July 2026, Skilled applications are processed in the following priority order:

  1. The first and highest priority is given to nomination and visa applications that support Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
  2. The second priority is given to nomination and visa applications that support Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.
  3. The third priority is given to nomination and visa applications relating to construction, healthcare, and teaching occupations where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
  4. The fourth priority is given to all other nomination and visa applications where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
  5. The fifth and final priority is given to all other nomination and visa applications where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.

Other Skilled Visa Directions

Ministerial Direction 114 which came into effect on 12 February 2025, covers Business Innovation and Investment (Subclass 188) visa (closed July 2024) and Business Talent (Permanent) (Subclass 132) visa (closed July 2021) applications.

Ministerial Direction 120 which came into effect on 25 July 2026, covers Class BX – Distinguished Talent (Subclass 858) visa (closed November 2020), Global Talent (Subclass 858) visa (closed December 2024) and National Innovation (Subclass 858) visa​ applications.

The government has also updated its processing priorities for the Family Migration and National Innovation visa programs.  The Family Migration priorities remain largely unchanged aside from increased priority for onshore applications, while the National Innovation visa priority order continues to favor globally recognised experts, government-nominated applicants, and individuals with exceptional achievements in Tier 1 Priority Sectors (including critical technologies, renewable and low-emission technologies, and health industries).

Family Visa Processing Priorities

Family migration applications are processed in line with Ministerial Directions:

  • Ministerial Direction No. 117 – Order for considering and disposing of Family visa applications under sections 47 and 51 of the Migration Act 1958 (Direction 117), which replaced Ministerial Direction 102 on 25 July 2026; and
  • Ministerial Direction No. 103 – Order for considering and disposing of visa applications under section 91 of the Migration Act 1958 (Direction 103).

Decision makers are required to follow the priorities set out in these Ministerial Directions.  In doing this, they must have regard to the Government’s policy intentions concerning the size and composition of the Migration Program, and to Australia’s international legal obligations.

Ministerial Direction 117 gives highest priority to Family visa applications made while the primary applicant was in Australia, for a visa that can be granted while the applicant is in Australia.

Lower priority is given to Family visa applications where the primary applicant either is outside Australia at the time of application or must be outside Australia at the time of grant.

Within these categories, Ministerial Direction 117 sets out the following order for processing Family visa applications:

  1. Family migration applications that have been subject to ministerial intervention
  2. applications by a Partner or a dependent Child
  3. applications by an Orphan Relative
  4. applications by a Contributory Parent or a Contributory Aged Parent
  5. applications by a Carer
  6. applications by a Parent, Aged Parent, Remaining Relative or Aged Dependant Relative.

Ministerial Direction 103 specifies processing in queue date order for those Family Visa applications that are subject to capping and queuing.

Contributory Parent, Parent and Other Family (Carer, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative) visa applications are subject to capping and queueing.

Processing Times

Processing times will vary according to the individual circumstances of each case.  Applications may be prioritised in limited circumstances.

Ministerial Direction 117 specifies that an application may be prioritised if it involves special circumstances of a compassionate nature, and there are compelling reasons to depart from the order of priority.  Any decisions to prioritise a Family stream visa application are made on a case-by-case basis after considering the individual circumstances of the case.

Contributory Parent, Parent and Other Family (Carer, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative) visa applications are subject to capping and queueing.