Australia changed the processing priorities for several skilled visas on 19 September 2026, when Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 came into effect. The new Directions replaced the skilled visa processing priorities previously set under Ministerial Direction 119.
Ministerial Direction 121, or MD121, covers Subclass 482 visa applications. Ministerial Direction 122, or MD122, covers ten provisional and permanent skilled visa subclasses, including the 186, 189, 190, 191, 491 and 494 visas.
The new priorities can also affect relevant applications that were already lodged before 19 September but had not yet been finally decided. They change the order in which applications are processed, not the eligibility requirements for the visas themselves.
What Are Ministerial Directions 121 and 122?
Ministerial Directions tell Department of Home Affairs decision-makers how certain applications should be prioritised. For MD121 and MD122, this means applications in some groups are considered before applications in lower-priority groups.
MD121 applies to the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), as well as remaining Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 applications that are still being processed. The TSS visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand visa on 7 December 2024. MD122 deals separately with specified provisional and permanent skilled visas.
Neither Direction changes the visa criteria an applicant must meet. A higher place in the processing order does not make someone eligible for a visa if they do not otherwise meet its requirements.
What Changed From Ministerial Direction 119?
Under MD119, temporary, provisional and permanent skilled visas were covered by the same Direction. The new system splits them into MD121 for Subclass 482 applications and MD122 for the other specified skilled visas.
The top processing group has also expanded. Agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources have joined construction, healthcare and teaching among the priority sectors, alongside occupations related to Australia's law enforcement and defence interests. These Priority 1 applications sit at the top regardless of whether the primary applicant was in or outside Australia when they lodged.
MD121 also gives the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa its own processing group. Another change is that MD121 and MD122 deal with visa applications only. MD119 had also set processing priorities for nomination applications.
Which Occupations Receive Top Processing Priority?
The Priority 1 categories are the same under MD121 and MD122, although the Directions use specific occupation definitions within each category.
Working in one of these industries does not automatically put an application in Priority 1. The nominated occupation needs to fall within the definitions set out in the relevant Direction.
How Does MD121 Prioritise Subclass 482 Applications?
MD121 sets five processing groups for Skills in Demand and remaining TSS subclass 482 visa applications. Home Affairs currently lists them in the following order.
This means an offshore applicant can still sit above an onshore applicant if the offshore application falls into Priority 1. Similarly, a Specialist Skills application sits above other general onshore 482 applications.
Where eligible family members have a combined application with the primary applicant, their applications receive the same priority as the primary application.
How Does MD122 Prioritise Permanent and Provisional Skilled Visas?
MD122 covers these ten subclasses:
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
- Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887)
- Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888)
Some of these visas are closed to new applications but still have applications awaiting a decision.
Unlike MD121, MD122 does not have a separate Specialist Skills group. After Priority 1, applicant location at the time of lodgement becomes the main distinction between the next processing groups.
If you are comparing points-tested pathways, our guide to the differences between the 189, 190 and 491 visas explains how those visas differ. MD122 changes their processing order, not their individual eligibility requirements.
Do MD121 and MD122 Apply to Applications Already Lodged?
Yes. Relevant applications lodged before 19 September 2026 are also covered if they had not been finally determined when the new Directions commenced. They are therefore processed under the new priority order rather than remaining under MD119.
Applicants do not need to lodge a new visa application simply because the processing Direction has changed. Depending on the visa, occupation and the applicant's location when they applied, an existing application may now sit in a different processing group.
Does Priority Processing Mean a Faster Visa Decision?
A higher priority means an application can be considered ahead of applications in lower-priority groups, but it does not provide a guaranteed processing timeframe.
Home Affairs says skilled visa processing can also be affected by application completeness, the volume of applications received and already on hand, health and character checks, Migration Program planning levels and Ministerial Directions. Applications are not always decided in the order they were lodged.
For Subclass 482 applications specifically, Home Affairs has warned that published processing timeframes may temporarily move backwards while applications are reorganised under MD121.
What Should Skilled Visa Applicants Do Now?
If you have a skilled visa application underway, first check whether it falls under MD121 or MD122 and where it sits in the new processing order. If you believe your occupation is in a Priority 1 sector, check the occupation definitions rather than relying on the industry your employer operates in.
You can also check the current Home Affairs skilled visa processing priorities for the latest Department information.
If you are unsure how MD121 or MD122 applies to your visa or nominated occupation, you can speak with a Registered Migration Agent at Knowbal about your circumstances.
FAQs
Does moving in or out of Australia after lodging change my processing priority?
MD121 and MD122 use your location at the time you lodged the visa application when placing certain applications into processing groups. Moving overseas or returning to Australia later does not change where you were when the application was lodged, so check your priority based on your circumstances at lodgement.
Can I ask Home Affairs to move my application into a higher priority group?
The processing groups are set by the Ministerial Directions rather than chosen by the applicant. You cannot move into a higher group simply by requesting priority. If you think your application has been placed incorrectly, check that your nominated occupation and application details match the criteria used under MD121 or MD122.
What if my employer works in a priority industry but my occupation is not on the Priority 1 list?
Working for a business in healthcare, construction, resources or another priority sector does not automatically give your application Priority 1 processing. The nominated occupation itself needs to fall within the definitions in the relevant Ministerial Direction. Check the occupation rather than relying only on the employer's industry.
Do the new Ministerial Directions also make the employer nominations process faster?
Not necessarily. MD121 and MD122 set priorities for visa applications. Unlike the previous MD119, they do not set processing priorities for nomination applications. If your visa requires an employer nomination, that nomination remains a separate part of the process and may have its own processing timeframe.
What happens if my nominated occupation changes after I lodge my visa application?
A change to the nominated occupation can affect more than processing priority because the occupation is also tied to the requirements of the visa and, for employer-sponsored pathways, the nomination. Do not assume that changing occupations will simply move the application into a different MD121 or MD122 group. Check whether the visa or nomination allows the change and what effect it could have before taking action.
