Effective from 25 July 2026, Ministerial Direction 119 introduces a new order of priority in which general skilled and employer-sponsored visa applications are to be considered.

Previously focusing on employer-sponsored regional applications, Immigration has switched to focus on cases where the applicant already in Australia, regardless of location.

Healthcare and Teaching occupations are joined by Construction occupations where the applicant is onshore. No additional priority is given to applicants in these occupations who are outside Australia.

Which visa types are affected?

Direction 119 covers all employer-sponsored nominations and visas, and general skilled migration, including:

  • Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa​
  • Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa
  • Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa
  • Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa
  • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa
  • Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (subclass 191) visa

How are applications now considered?

The new order of priority is as follows:

Group 1: Applications that support Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.

Group 2: Applications that support Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.

Group 3: Applications relating to construction, healthcare, and teaching occupations where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.

Group 4: Applications where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.

Group 5: Applications where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.

These apply to all applications currently in process and those lodged after 25 July.

Law Enforcement and Defence Occupations

Law Enforcement and Defence occupation means an occupation in any of the following (each occupation is of equal priority):

  • ANZSCO Unit Group 4413 – Police – Nominated by an Australian police agency
  • Occupations in relation to AUKUS Pillar I (conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines) or II (advanced capability development)
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 4411 – Defence Force Members – Other Ranks
  • ANZSCO occupations 111212 – Defence Force Senior Officer, 139111 – Commissioned Defence Force Officer, and 139211 – Senior Non-Commissioned Defence Force Member

Construction Occupations

Construction occupation means an occupation in any of the following (each occupation is of equal priority):

  • ANZSCO Sub-Major Group 33 – Construction Trades Workers
  • ANZSCO Sub-Major Group 82 – Construction and Mining Labourers
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 1331 – Construction Managers
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 2321 – Architects and Landscape Architects
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 2332 – Civil Engineering Professionals
  • ANZSCO Until Group 3121 – Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 3126 – Safety Inspectors
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 3129 – Other Building and Engineering Technicians
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 3222 – Sheetmetal Workers
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 3223 – Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 7111 – Clay, Concrete, Glass and Stone Processing Machine Operators
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 7121 – Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 7212 – Earthmoving Plant Operators
  • ANZSCO occupations: 341111 – Electrician (General) and 341112 – Electrician (Special Class)

Healthcare Occupations

Healthcare occupation means an occupation in any of the following (each occupation is of equal priority):

  • ANZSCO Sub-major Group 25 – Health Professionals
  • ANZSCO Minor Group 411 – Health and Welfare Support Workers
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 2346 – Medical Scientists
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 2721 – Counsellors
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 2723 – Psychologists
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 2725 – Social Workers
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 3112 – Medical Technicians
  • ANZSCO occupations 423111 – Aged or Disabled Carer, 423312 – Nursing Support Worker, and 423313 – Personal Care Assistant

Teaching Occupations

Teaching occupation means an occupation in any of the following (each occupation is of equal priority):

  • ANZSCO Minor Group 241 – School Teachers
  • ANZSCO Unit Group 1341 – Child Care Centre Managers
  • ANZSCO occupations 134311 – School Principal, 242211 – Vocational Education Teacher, 421111 – Child Care Worker, and 242111 – University Lecturer

What happens to existing regional applications?

Existing applications for employer-sponsored roles in regional Australia will be reorganised based on the new processing priorities. Applicants who were a priority group 1 may find they are now in priority group 4, and should adjust their expectations on timeframes accordingly. Average processing times are published on the Immigration website here and updated monthly.

What should applicants in a higher priority do now?

Immigration’s systems will identify applications that meet the new priority arrangements based on nominated occupation and location of the applicant at the time of lodgement.

Applicants who have now moved up in priority should review if all documents, including health checks and police clearances, have been provided in order to ensure smooth processing.