Three new Ministerial Directions commenced on 25 July 2026, changing the order in which certain family, skilled and National Innovation visa applications are processed.
Ministerial Directions 117, 119 and 120 replace previous Directions and apply to relevant applications lodged from 25 July 2026, as well as covered applications lodged earlier that have not been finally determined.
The key changes are summarised below.
Ministerial Directions commencing 25 July 2026
| Direction | Applies to | Processing priority, highest to lowest | Key practical effect |
| MD 117 | Family visas, including Partner, Child, Parent and Other Family visas | First category: Onshore applications where the visa can be granted while the applicant is in Australia.Second category: Offshore applications or applications requiring the applicant to be outside Australia at the time of grant.Within each category:1. Ministerial intervention cases2. Partner and dependent child visas3. Orphan Relative visas4. Contributory Parent visas5. Carer visas6. Parent, Aged Parent, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative visas | Replaces MD 102. Onshore family visa applications now receive priority over equivalent offshore applications. Delegates may depart from the prescribed order where there are special compassionate circumstances and compelling reasons. |
| MD 119 | Skilled nominations for Subclasses 186, 187, 482 and 494, and skilled visa applications including Subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 482, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888 | 1. Onshore law enforcement and defence occupations2. Offshore law enforcement and defence occupations3. Onshore healthcare, teaching and construction occupations4. All other onshore applications5. All other offshore applications | Replaces MD 105. Strong preference is now given to onshore applicants. Construction occupations are expressly prioritised, while the previous express priorities for regional positions and accredited sponsors have been removed. |
| MD 120 | Class BX visas, principally the Subclass 858 National Innovation visa, together with undecided applications under the former Global Talent and Distinguished Talent programs | 1. Global experts with recognised top international awards2. Applicants nominated by an approved Commonwealth, State or Territory government agency3. Applicants in Tier 1 sectors4. Applicants in Tier 2 sectors5. All other applicants | Replaces MD 112. It also provides detailed guidance for assessing “exceptional and outstanding achievement”, including influential research, patents, major grants, international recognition, keynote appearances and earnings above the high-income threshold. |
MD 120 priority sectors
| Tier 1 sectors | Tier 2 sectors |
| Critical technologies | Agri-food and Ag-tech |
| Renewables and low-emission technologies | Defence capabilities and space |
| Health industries | Education |
| Financial services and FinTech | |
| Infrastructure and transport | |
| Resources |
What do these changes mean for pending applications?
The new Directions are not limited to applications lodged after 25 July 2026. They also apply to covered applications lodged earlier that remained undecided when the Directions commenced.
This means that an application already in the Department’s queue may now be considered according to a different priority order.
For example:
- An onshore Partner visa application may now receive priority over an equivalent offshore application under MD 117.
- An onshore Subclass 189 applicant in an occupation such as Solicitor would generally fall within the fourth MD 119 category and receive priority over ordinary offshore skilled applicants.
- A Subclass 858 applicant with a recognised top international award or government agency nomination may receive higher priority under MD 120.
For MD 119, the applicant’s location is generally determined at the time the application was lodged. A later change in location does not necessarily move the application into a different priority category.
Do the Directions guarantee faster processing?
No. The Directions establish the order in which applications should be considered. They do not prescribe fixed processing periods or guarantee that an application will be decided within a particular timeframe.
Processing times will continue to depend on factors including:
- the number of higher-priority applications;
- migration program planning levels;
- the completeness and complexity of the application;
- health, character and security checks; and
- whether the Department requests further information.
The commencement of a new Direction also does not restart the processing period for an application already lodged. However, applicants may move forward or backward relative to other applications depending on their new priority category.
Applicants with pending family, skilled or National Innovation visa applications should consider how the new Directions affect their position in the processing queue.
This article contains general information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.Ministerial Directions 117, 119 and 120 replace previous Directions and apply to relevant applications lodged from 25 July 2026, as well as covered applications lodged earlier that have not been finally determined.
The key changes are summarised below.
Ministerial Directions commencing 25 July 2026
| Direction | Applies to | Processing priority, highest to lowest | Key practical effect |
| MD 117 | Family visas, including Partner, Child, Parent and Other Family visas | First category: Onshore applications where the visa can be granted while the applicant is in Australia.Second category: Offshore applications or applications requiring the applicant to be outside Australia at the time of grant.Within each category:1. Ministerial intervention cases2. Partner and dependent child visas3. Orphan Relative visas4. Contributory Parent visas5. Carer visas6. Parent, Aged Parent, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative visas | Replaces MD 102. Onshore family visa applications now receive priority over equivalent offshore applications. Delegates may depart from the prescribed order where there are special compassionate circumstances and compelling reasons. |
| MD 119 | Skilled nominations for Subclasses 186, 187, 482 and 494, and skilled visa applications including Subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 482, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888 | 1. Onshore law enforcement and defence occupations2. Offshore law enforcement and defence occupations3. Onshore healthcare, teaching and construction occupations4. All other onshore applications5. All other offshore applications | Replaces MD 105. Strong preference is now given to onshore applicants. Construction occupations are expressly prioritised, while the previous express priorities for regional positions and accredited sponsors have been removed. |
| MD 120 | Class BX visas, principally the Subclass 858 National Innovation visa, together with undecided applications under the former Global Talent and Distinguished Talent programs | 1. Global experts with recognised top international awards2. Applicants nominated by an approved Commonwealth, State or Territory government agency3. Applicants in Tier 1 sectors4. Applicants in Tier 2 sectors5. All other applicants | Replaces MD 112. It also provides detailed guidance for assessing “exceptional and outstanding achievement”, including influential research, patents, major grants, international recognition, keynote appearances and earnings above the high-income threshold. |
MD 120 priority sectors
| Tier 1 sectors | Tier 2 sectors |
| Critical technologies | Agri-food and Ag-tech |
| Renewables and low-emission technologies | Defence capabilities and space |
| Health industries | Education |
| Financial services and FinTech | |
| Infrastructure and transport | |
| Resources |
What do these changes mean for pending applications?
The new Directions are not limited to applications lodged after 25 July 2026. They also apply to covered applications lodged earlier that remained undecided when the Directions commenced.
This means that an application already in the Department’s queue may now be considered according to a different priority order.
For example:
- An onshore Partner visa application may now receive priority over an equivalent offshore application under MD 117.
- An onshore Subclass 189 applicant in an occupation such as Solicitor would generally fall within the fourth MD 119 category and receive priority over ordinary offshore skilled applicants.
- A Subclass 858 applicant with a recognised top international award or government agency nomination may receive higher priority under MD 120.
For MD 119, the applicant’s location is generally determined at the time the application was lodged. A later change in location does not necessarily move the application into a different priority category.
Do the Directions guarantee faster processing?
No. The Directions establish the order in which applications should be considered. They do not prescribe fixed processing periods or guarantee that an application will be decided within a particular timeframe.
Processing times will continue to depend on factors including:
- The number of higher-priority applications;
- Migration program planning levels;
- The completeness and complexity of the application;
- Health, character and security checks; and
- Whether the Department requests further information.
The commencement of a new Direction also does not restart the processing period for an application already lodged. However, applicants may move forward or backward relative to other applications depending on their new priority category.
Applicants with pending family, skilled or National Innovation visa applications should consider how the new Directions affect their position in the processing queue.
At Aurelia Legal, we assist applicants in preparing compliant visa documentation, handling all stages of the visa process and applications. Get in touch to avoid costly errors and ensure a smooth application process.
📞 (03) 9125 8820
✉️ info@aurelialegal.com.au
This article contains general information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa criteria, policy, and processing times are subject to change. Please consult a registered migration agent or legal practitioner for advice specific to your situation.