New skilled visa processing priorities under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122

Official release date: 19 September 2026 · Skilled migration

Since 19 September 2026, Directions 121 and 122 set the processing order for temporary and permanent skilled visas, replacing Direction 119 and putting key sectors such as healthcare and construction first.

Picture this. Two skilled visa applications are lodged on the same day. One moves quickly, the other seems to sit in the queue. Often the explanation is not the quality of the application, but where it sits in the Government's processing priorities. Those priorities changed on 19 September 2026.

What has changed

Here's the thing. The Minister announced the update on 17 September 2026, and from 19 September 2026 two new Ministerial Directions replaced all of the priorities set by Direction 119.

Direction 121 covers temporary skilled visas, meaning the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and the legacy TSS. Applications are prioritised in this order:

• First: occupations in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement and defence
• Second: the Specialist Skills stream
• Third: applicants who were in Australia when they lodged
• Fourth: offshore primary applicants with no combined application
• Fifth: all other applications

Direction 122 covers subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888. It follows the same order, but without the Specialist Skills tier.

What stays the same

Direction 114, which covers business visas (subclasses 188 and 132), remains in force. So does Direction 120, which covers the subclass 858 National Innovation, Distinguished Talent and Global Talent visas and took effect on 25 July 2026.

Who is affected

• Applicants for temporary and permanent employer-sponsored, skilled independent, state-nominated and regional visas
• Employers waiting on workers in priority and non-priority sectors
• Onshore applicants, who now sit in a defined tier ahead of many offshore applications

How it compares

The new Directions put a clear emphasis on sectors the Government considers essential, and they recognise applicants already in Australia as a separate priority group. If your occupation sits outside the first tier, your application is still processed, just in a different order.

What you should do

Processing priority does not change the criteria you must meet, so the basics still matter most. Lodge a complete, accurate application with genuine supporting evidence. While you wait, make sure you continue to hold a valid visa and comply with its conditions. Losing lawful status or breaching a condition during processing can lead to refusal or cancellation, so keep track of your expiry dates and plan ahead.

This is general information only and not personal advice. If you would like to talk through how this applies to you, our registered migration agents and lawyers at Auzworld are here to help.

Official source: Department of Home Affairs