Ministerial Direction 122 is now available. The new order of...
@gregormendel (3H ago| Updated 1H ago)Ministerial Direction 122 is now available.
The new order of visa processing (higher to lower priority) is: 1. Priority Occupations (both onshore and offshore equal priority) 2. Non-Priority Occupations (where primary applicant is onshore) 3. Non-Priority Occupations (where primary applicant is offshore AND there ARE NO other applicants) 4. Non-Priority Occupations (where primary applicant is offshore AND there ARE other applicants)
Official Notification
Processing priorities for visa applications for certain Skilled visas Visa applications for certain Skilled visas are processed according to Government policy priorities, which are outlined in Ministerial Direction 121 for temporary skilled visas and Ministerial Direction 122 for provisional and permanent skilled visas. Both Directions came into effect on 19 September 2026. From this date, Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 have replaced all processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 119.
Certain provisional and permanent Skilled visa applications are processed in the following order of priority: - Visa applications relating to Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, and Resources sectors, or Australia's law enforcement and defence interests. - Visa applications where the applicant was in Australia at the time they lodged their application. - Visa applications where the primary applicant was outside of Australia at the time they lodged their application and whose application is not combined with another person’s application at any time. - All other visa applications.
Visa subclasses included in this Direction: - 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 - Skilled Regional (Provisional) (subclass 489) visa - Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa - Skilled Regional (subclass 887) visa - Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) visa.
Official DHA Notification here Priority occupations are listed in the PDF and include construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources and defense sectors.
Showing 5 comments
hello @gregormendel
i have a question for you. if you can assist. a/ visa applications made by primary applicant related to occupation construction health etc etc (priority 1) b/ all other visa applications made by primary applicant who is in australia. ( does that mean applications with single person. ) ? c/ visas made by primary applicant who is outside australia ( single /loner person ) d/ all other visa applications ? ( what are those ) ? 4. visa applications that include primary and secondary applicants ( does that mean onshore and offshore applicants with wife and kids. ?)
So, My occupation(Engineering manager) became priority as per that direction 122, Isn't it?, sir @gregormendel
@gregormendel is retail pharmacist (offshore )is in priority list if yes then I can’t see priority mentioned on my profile?
it will take a few days to implement direction 122 logic in calculations across the website. You can check out the PDF in the pinned post on home page.
@gregormendel Thanks a lot. I checked the pdf its there in priority list in sub major group 25 health professionals. Thanks a lot again.
Finally, some good news, thank you Gregonmendel 🤗
Bad news for a lot of us offshore applicants with partner/family. Feels disheartened to see rules changed after waiting for 1.5 years. Worst part is that we don’t even know when it is going to start for us now
@key well ofcourse, this will increase burden on 491 subsequent entrant holders, plus extra processing times in partner visas