Introduction of new skilled visa processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 119 

The Australian Government has introduced new processing priorities for a range of skilled visa nominations and applications under Ministerial Direction 119, which took effect on 25 July 2026. The new Direction replaces Ministerial Direction 105 and changes how the Department of Home Affairs prioritises many skilled visa applications.  

The changes are designed to support Australia’s workforce needs by prioritising certain occupations and giving preference to applicants who are already in Australia at the time of application.  

What has changed? 

Under Ministerial Direction 119, the processing priority given to many skilled visa applications now depends on two key factors: 

• The occupation associated with the application. 

• Whether the applicant is in Australia or outside Australia when the application is lodged.  

The Government has stated that occupations supporting Australia’s law enforcement, defence, healthcare, teaching and construction sectors are of particular national importance. The Direction is intended to ensure these applications are considered ahead of other skilled visa applications.  

Importantly, Ministerial Direction 119 applies to both new applications and many applications that were already lodged but had not yet been finalised before the Direction commenced.  

The new priority order 

The Department will generally process nomination and visa applications in the following order. 

Priority 1 

Applications related to Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant or nominee is in Australia at the time of application receive the highest processing priority.  

Priority 2 

Applications related to Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant or nominee is outside Australia at the time of application receive the second highest priority.  

Priority 3 

Applications relating to construction, healthcare or teaching occupations where the applicant or nominee is in Australia at the time of application receive the third level of priority.  

Priority 4 

All other skilled visa applications where the applicant or nominee is in Australia at the time of application are processed next.  

Priority 5 

All other skilled visa applications where the applicant or nominee is outside Australia at the time of application receive the lowest processing priority under the Direction.  

In practical terms, many onshore applicants may now benefit from a processing advantage compared with offshore applicants in the same occupation category. However, priority processing does not guarantee a faster decision and does not change the legal criteria that must be met for visa approval. 

Which occupations receive priority? 

Healthcare occupations 

The healthcare category includes a wide range of occupations identified in Ministerial Direction 119, including: 

• Health Professionals 

• Medical Scientists 

• Medical Technicians 

• Psychologists 

• Social Workers 

• Counsellors 

• Aged or Disabled Carers 

• Nursing Support Workers 

• Personal Care Assistants 

These occupations continue to be recognised as critical to Australia’s healthcare system and workforce requirements.  

Teaching occupations 

The teaching category includes: 

• School Teachers 

• School Principals 

• Child Care Centre Managers 

• Child Care Workers 

• Vocational Education Teachers 

• University Lecturers 

The inclusion of these occupations reflects ongoing workforce demand across the education and childcare sectors.  

Construction occupations 

Construction occupations have also been prioritised due to the Government’s housing and infrastructure objectives. 

The construction category includes a broad range of occupations, including: 

• Construction Managers 

• Architects 

• Civil Engineers 

• Building and Surveying Technicians 

• Safety Inspectors 

• Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers 

• Sheetmetal Workers 

• Earthmoving Plant Operators 

• Crane Operators 

• Electricians 

Ministerial Direction 119 specifically identifies construction occupations as a priority area supporting Australia’s housing and infrastructure needs.  

Which visa subclasses are affected? 

Ministerial Direction 119 applies to a broad range of employer-sponsored, skilled and regional visa programs, including: 

• 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 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (legacy applications) 

• Subclass 489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) 

• Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) 

• Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 

• Subclass 887 Skilled Regional 

• Subclass 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent)  

A significant change is that the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa is now expressly included within the processing priority framework. The Department has confirmed that this visa subclass was not previously covered by Ministerial Direction 105.  

What does this mean for employers and applicants? 

Employers sponsoring overseas workers should be aware that processing times may increasingly vary depending on both the nominated occupation and the location of the visa applicant at the time of lodgement. 

Businesses operating in healthcare, teaching and construction sectors may benefit from higher processing priority for eligible workers who are already in Australia. Likewise, employers recruiting onshore talent may see advantages under the new framework compared with sponsoring equivalent offshore candidates.  

For visa applicants, the changes highlight the importance of understanding how the timing and location of a visa application may impact its place in the Department’s processing queue.  

While priority processing can influence when an application is assessed, all applicants must still satisfy the visa requirements contained in Australia’s migration legislation.  

Key takeaway 

Ministerial Direction 119 introduces a new processing framework that prioritises: 

1. Law enforcement and defence occupations. 

2. Healthcare, teaching and construction occupations. 

3. Applicants who are already in Australia at the time of application.  

The changes apply across a range of skilled and employer-sponsored visa programs, including the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.  

As a result, employers and visa applicants should carefully consider how the new priority settings may affect their immigration planning and expected processing timeframes.

Need assistance or further information?

If you would like further information on the skilled migration program, or are an employer looking at sponsoring employees, get in contact with us for assistance.