𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟏𝟏𝟗

Australia has introduced a major change to the way certain skilled and employer-sponsored visa applications are prioritised.

From 25 July 2026, new processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 119 (MD 119) place greater emphasis on whether an applicant is already in Australia when their application is processed.

This means your location can now have a major impact on processing priority, alongside your occupation and nomination.

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘?

🔹 PRIORITY 1

Applicants already in Australia whose applications support Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests.

🔹 PRIORITY 2

Law enforcement or defence-related applications where the applicant is outside Australia.

🔹 PRIORITY 3

Applicants already in Australia working in key sectors including:

🏗️ Construction

🏥 Healthcare

👩‍🏫 Teaching

🔹 PRIORITY 4

Other skilled nomination and visa applications where the applicant is already in Australia.

🔹 PRIORITY 5

Other skilled nomination and visa applications where the applicant is outside Australia.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒?

The key message from the new direction is clear:

👉 Being in Australia can provide a processing-priority advantage.

An applicant already in Australia may be processed ahead of an otherwise comparable offshore applicant, depending on the applicable priority category.

The government is focusing on people already living and working in Australia while addressing workforce shortages in key sectors.

𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃?

🇦🇺 Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme

🇦🇺 Subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

🇦🇺 Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent

🇦🇺 Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated

🇦🇺 Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)

🇦🇺 Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand

🇦🇺 Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional

🇦🇺 Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

🇦🇺 Subclass 887 – Skilled Regional

🇦🇺 Subclass 888 – Business Innovation and Investment Permanent

Importantly, Subclass 482 is expressly included in the new processing-priority framework.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒?

This does not mean offshore applicants cannot receive visas.

However, offshore applicants outside the priority categories may experience lower processing priority compared with applicants already in Australia.

This could result in comparatively longer processing times for some offshore applications.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒?

An important point is that MD 119 also applies to certain applications already on hand when the direction came into effect.

Therefore, some pending applications may have their position in the processing queue affected by the new priority framework.

𝐌𝐃 𝟏𝟏𝟗 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐌𝐃 𝟏𝟎𝟓

Ministerial Direction 119 replaces the previous processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 105 from 25 July 2026.

Source: www.mia.org.au