Australia has introduced new processing priorities for a range of skilled visa applications, with a stronger focus on applicants who are already in Australia.

Ministerial Direction No. 119 commenced on 25 July 2026 and replaces the previous Ministerial Direction No. 105. The new Direction determines the order in which the Department of Home Affairs will process specified skilled visa and employer nomination applications.

Importantly, Ministerial Direction 119 does not change the eligibility requirements for skilled visas or alter the skilled occupation lists. Instead, it determines which applications are given priority when being processed by the Department.

For Australian employers sponsoring overseas workers, the changes are significant because the location of the visa applicant or nominee at the time of lodgement can now affect processing priority.

Which Skilled Visas Are Affected?

Ministerial Direction 119 applies to a broad range of skilled visas, including several of the main employer-sponsored visa programs used by Australian businesses.

These include:

• Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa;
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa;
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494) visa;
• Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa;
• Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa;
• Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa; and
• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (Subclass 191) visa.

The Direction also applies to certain legacy skilled visas and the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) (Subclass 888) visa.

For employer nomination applications, Ministerial Direction 119 applies to nominations associated with the Subclass 186, 187, 482 and 494 visa programs.

Greater Processing Priority for Applicants Already in Australia

One of the most important features of Ministerial Direction 119 is the distinction between applicants who are in Australia and those who are outside Australia when their application is lodged.

Under the new processing framework, relevant applications are generally prioritised in the following order:

Priority 1: Applicants in Australia in specified occupations relating to Australian law enforcement or defence interests.

Priority 2: Applicants outside Australia in specified occupations relating to Australian law enforcement or defence interests.

Priority 3: Applicants in Australia working in specified healthcare, teaching or construction occupations.

Priority 4: Other applicants who are in Australia.

Priority 5: Other applicants who are outside Australia.

This represents an important shift in skilled visa processing policy, with most onshore skilled applicants now receiving priority over comparable offshore applicants.

For employer nomination applications, the location of the proposed visa applicant at the time the nomination is lodged is also relevant to determining processing priority.

Skills in Demand Subclass 482 Visas Now Included

A particularly important development for Australian employers is the inclusion of the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa within the new processing priorities.

The previous Ministerial Direction No. 105 did not apply to the Skills in Demand visa. Ministerial Direction 119 now expressly includes Subclass 482 applications.

As a result, an employee who is in Australia when their Subclass 482 application is lodged will generally receive a higher processing priority than an otherwise comparable employee applying from overseas.

This may be relevant for businesses planning recruitment, sponsorship and commencement dates for skilled overseas employees.

However, employers should keep in mind that processing priority does not guarantee a particular processing timeframe. The time required to finalise an application will continue to depend on factors such as the completeness and complexity of the application and any required health, character or security assessments.

Priority for Healthcare, Teaching and Construction Occupations

Ministerial Direction 119 also provides enhanced processing priority for certain applicants working in specified healthcare, teaching and construction occupations.

Where the primary applicant is in Australia when the visa application is lodged, applications involving these occupations fall within Priority 3.

The inclusion of construction occupations is particularly notable and reflects the Government’s focus on addressing workforce shortages in areas associated with housing and infrastructure delivery.

The specified occupations extend across a range of construction-related professions and trades, including certain construction managers, architects, civil engineering professionals, building and surveying technicians, electricians, structural steel and welding trades workers and plant operators.

However, the enhanced occupational priority generally applies where the applicant is in Australia. An offshore applicant in one of these occupations does not automatically receive the same Priority 3 treatment.

What Has Happened to Regional and Accredited Sponsor Priority?

Ministerial Direction 119 also changes some of the priority categories that applied under the previous Ministerial Direction.

Under Ministerial Direction 105, specific priority was given to certain employer-sponsored applications relating to positions in designated regional areas and applications involving accredited sponsors.

These categories do not appear as separate priorities within the new five-tier hierarchy under Ministerial Direction 119.

Instead, the new framework places considerably greater emphasis on whether the visa applicant or nominee is in Australia or overseas at the relevant time.

This is an important consideration for employers that previously relied on regional location or accredited sponsorship status as a basis for priority processing.

Accredited sponsorship may continue to provide other benefits within the employer-sponsored visa system, but employers should not assume that it will produce the same processing priority that applied under the previous Ministerial Direction.

Existing Visa Applications May Also Be Affected

The new processing priorities are not limited to applications lodged from 25 July 2026 onwards.

Ministerial Direction 119 also applies to relevant nominations and visa applications made before its commencement where those applications had not yet been finally determined.

This means that the processing priority of applications already within the Department’s caseload may also be affected by the new Direction.

Does This Make It Harder to Sponsor Employees from Overseas?

Ministerial Direction 119 does not prevent Australian businesses from sponsoring skilled workers who are currently overseas.

Employers can continue to sponsor eligible offshore workers under programs such as the Skills in Demand Subclass 482 visa, Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 visa and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Subclass 494 visa.

The change relates to the order in which applications are processed rather than whether an applicant is eligible for the visa.

Nevertheless, employers recruiting internationally should factor the new processing priorities into workforce planning, particularly where an overseas employee is required to commence work in Australia within a particular timeframe.

What Should Australian Employers Consider?

For employers using Australia’s skilled migration program, Ministerial Direction 119 makes forward planning increasingly important.

Businesses considering sponsoring overseas employees should assess the appropriate visa pathway as early as possible and take into account whether the proposed employee is currently in Australia or overseas.

Employers should also ensure that nomination and visa applications are prepared thoroughly before lodgement. Priority processing does not overcome missing information or other issues that may delay an application.

For businesses sponsoring multiple overseas workers or planning significant recruitment, it may also be worthwhile reviewing immigration and workforce planning strategies in light of the new processing framework.

How Hartman Immigration Can Assist

Ministerial Direction 119 represents an important change to the way skilled visa applications are prioritised by the Department of Home Affairs.

For Australian employers, the key change is the increased processing priority afforded to many skilled workers already in Australia, including applicants under the Skills in Demand Subclass 482, Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Subclass 494 visa programs.

Hartman Immigration assists Australian and international businesses with employer-sponsored migration, including sponsorship applications, Subclass 482, 186 and 494 nominations and visa applications, permanent residence pathways and strategic immigration planning.

If your business is considering sponsoring an overseas employee or would like advice regarding how the new processing priorities may affect an existing or proposed application, please contact Hartman Immigration for assistance.

This article provides general information only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Visa requirements and government policy may change, and advice should be obtained in relation to individual circumstances.