Australian student visa 2026: New three-tier priority system and processing times explained

Under Australia’s new student visa system, Ministerial Direction 115 has been introduced with three processing tiers: your visa could take 1-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, or 9-12 weeks depending on whether your university has stayed within its allocated international student numbers. The schools, colleges, TAFEs and universities that over-enrolled are being penalised with slower processing times. This podcast features migration expert advice on understanding the new system and how you can check your university’s category before starting your student visa application.

The Ministerial Direction 115 came into affect on 14 November 2025, replacing Ministerial Direction 111, and fundamentally changing how student visa applications are processed. Credit: Jeff Greenberg / GETTY

Disclaimer: This information is intended as a general guide and is accurate as of the date of publication. Migration laws and policies may change over time. For advice tailored to your situation, please consult a qualified migration or legal professional.

Find all our podcasts here at: SBS Hindi Podcast Collection

You can also tune in to SBS Hindi at 5 pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app , or stream from our website.

LISTEN TO

Struggling to find a job in Australia? Here are top 10 skills employers value most

SBS Hindi

07:01English

LISTEN TO

States demand new hospital funding deal as report finds one billion dollar in annual waste

SBS Hindi

05:18Hindi