Under a new ministerial direction effective from 25 July, skilled visa applications will be processed according to a new priority order. Defence and law enforcement applicants, both onshore and offshore, will receive the highest priority, followed by onshore applicants in other critical sectors including construction, healthcare and teaching.
The government has introduced Ministerial Direction 119 to change visa processing priorities across key migration programs.
Skilled visa processing priorities update
Effective 25 July, skilled nomination and visa applications will be processed in the following order of priority:
- The first and highest priority is given to nomination and visa applications that support Australia's law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
- The second priority is given to nomination and visa applications that support Australia's law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.
- The third priority is given to nomination and visa applications relating to construction, healthcare, and teaching occupations where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
- The fourth priority is given to all other nomination and visa applications where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
- The fifth and final priority is given to all other nomination and visa applications where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.
Australia’s 2026–27 Migration Program
The program will provide 185,000 places, with around 70 per cent allocated to skilled migrants.
Across both the Skill and Family streams of the permanent Migration Program, the government will prioritise applications from onshore migrants, allocating 129,590 places to migrants already living in Australia, with an additional 300 places allocated to Special Eligibility.
The remaining 55,110 offshore places will prioritise high‑skilled migrants that help boost productivity and address Australia’s long‑term skill needs, complementing Australia’s working-age population.
"An onshore-focused program will support timely transitions to permanent residency for migrants already living, working and contributing to Australia, and further reduces the program’s impact on Net Overseas Migration (NOM)," the Department of Home Affairs website noted.
The 2026–27 Migration Program is comprised of:
- Skilled Migration Program (132,240 places, around 71 per cent of the program)
- Australian Family Program (52,460 places, around 28 per cent of the program)
- Special Eligibility (300 places)
Disclaimer: The information given in this interview is of general nature. This information may not be appropriate for your personal circumstances. Contact a registered migration agent for clear advice on your situation.
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