New priority arrangements apply to pending and newly lodged skilled visa applications from 19 September 2026.
The Australian Government has replaced Ministerial Direction 119 (MD 119) with two new Ministerial Directions that reshape the order in which selected skilled visa applications are considered and finalised.
Announced by Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Tony Burke as part of the Government’s broader migration reform package, the changes are intended to better align skilled migration processing with workforce needs in essential and nationally significant sectors. The Minister specifically flagged expanded priority treatment for construction, agriculture, fisheries, resources and teaching, alongside existing priorities in healthcare and other critical areas.
The two new Directions were signed on 18 September 2026 and commenced on 19 September 2026:
- Ministerial Direction 121 (MD 121) applies exclusively to Subclass 482 visa applications.
- Ministerial Direction 122 (MD 122) applies to a range of permanent and provisional skilled visa applications previously covered by MD 119.
Importantly, the new processing order applies not only to applications lodged from 19 September 2026, but also to applications lodged before that date that had not yet been finally determined.
What changed?
Previously, Ministerial Direction 119 brought together Subclass 482 applications, other skilled visa subclasses and certain nomination applications under one priority-processing framework.
The Government has now split those arrangements into two separate Directions:
Table 1: Author's own elaboration based on Ministerial Direction No. 121 and Ministerial Direction No. 122
Both new Directions apply to visa applications only. They do not apply to nomination applications.
Who will receive priority?
Under both MD 121 and MD 122, the highest processing priority is given to primary applicants working in, or nominated for, occupations connected with:
Graphic: Author's own elaboration based on Ministerial Direction No. 121 and Ministerial Direction No. 122
This top tier applies whether the applicant was in Australia or outside Australia when the visa application was lodged.
Ministerial Direction 121: Subclass 482 visas
MD 121 applies only to applications for:
- Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visas
- Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visas
It establishes five processing priority groups:
Table 2: Author's own elaboration based on Ministerial Direction No. 121 and Ministerial Direction No. 122
Ministerial Direction 122: permanent and provisional skilled visas
MD 122 applies to visa applications for the following subclasses:
- 186 Employer Nomination Scheme
- 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
- 189 Skilled Independent
- 190 Skilled Nominated
- 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)
- 489 Skilled Regional Sponsored
- 491 Skilled Work Regional
- 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
- 887 Skilled (Residence)
- 888 Business Innovation and Investment
It establishes four processing priority groups:
Table 3: Author's own elaboration based on Ministerial Direction No. 121 and Ministerial Direction No. 122
What does this mean for applicants and employers?
These changes do not alter the substantive visa eligibility criteria. Instead, they affect the order in which the Department considers and finalises applications.
Applicants and sponsoring employers in priority sectors may benefit from earlier processing relative to other applications. However, priority processing is not a guarantee of visa grant, and processing timeframes will continue to depend on factors such as application completeness, identity and health checks, character assessments, nomination status where relevant, and Departmental caseloads.
For employers, this is a timely opportunity to review current and planned skilled visa matters, particularly where the nominated occupation falls within the newly expanded priority sectors.