Australia’s New Skilled Visa Processing Priorities: Onshore Applicants, Defence, Law Enforcement

Australia’s skilled visa priorities have changed following the introduction of Ministerial Direction 119 on 25 July 2026:

• Defence and Law Enforcement are assigned the highest priority
• Construction is prioritised alongside Healthcare and Teaching
• Higher priority for skilled visa applicants who are in Australia
• Priority order now also applies to Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visas
• Work in regional areas is no longer prioritised
• Businesses with accredited sponsorship status are no longer prioritised

The changes suggest a greater policy focus on managing Net Overseas Migration (NOM) by prioritising applicants already in Australia over applicants from overseas who would add to net migration inflows.

But as a result, factors that were previously prioritised, including accredited sponsorship and regional migration, have become less significant. 

Interstaff examines Australia’s visa processing trends and the occupations available for priority visa processing.

Visa processing priority trends

Key Trend

From 2020 to 2026, visa processing priorities evolved from addressing pandemic-related labour needs, to regional and critical workforce shortages, and ultimately to prioritising onshore applicants and managing Net Overseas Migration (NOM).

In Australia, the Home Affairs Minister has the power to issue a ministerial direction outlining the order the Department of Home Affairs should process specific visas. Decisions are typically guided by Australia’s economic priorities.

2020-21: Pandemic Response

Sep 2020 Ministerial Direction 87 prioritised:

• Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)
• Employer-sponsored migration
• Critical sectors to Australia’s pandemic response and economic needs— healthcare, construction, and IT

July 2021 Ministerial Direction 92 continued the pandemic-era focus on economic recovery.

2023-2026: Migration Strategy

Dec 2023 Ministerial Direction 105 was based on the Government’s development of a medium to long-term migration strategy. Focus shifted to:

• ‘Nationally important’ occupations – healthcare and teaching
• Employer-sponsored visas
• Regional migration

March 2026 Ministerial Direction 105 updated the priority order and focused on:

• Employer-sponsored applications in regional areas
• Healthcare and teaching occupations
• Accredited sponsors
• Onshore applicants

Present: NOM Management

July 2026 Ministerial Direction 119 reflected a stronger focus on applicant location and prioritised:

• Defence and law enforcement occupations followed by construction, healthcare, and teaching
• Onshore applicants

Other changes:

• Removed priority for regional positions and accredited sponsors
• Now applies to Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visas

Skilled visa processing priorities from 25 July 2026

The new ministerial direction applies to all on-hand and current applications for the below visa subclasses:

• Employer-sponsored visas: 482 Skills in Demand, 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, 494 Regional.
• Skilled independent and other visas: 189, 190, and 491 Skilled Independent, 191, 491, 887 Regional, and 888 Business Innovation and Investment.

Skilled nomination and visa applications for the above subclasses are now processed in the below order of priority:

New Skilled Visa Priority Order

1. Applicants in Australia—Defence and Law Enforcement
2. Applicants outside Australia—Defence and Law Enforcement
3. Applicants in Australia—Construction, Healthcare, and Teaching
4. Applicants in Australia—Other industries
5. Applicants outside Australia—Other industries

The below tables provide information on the industry-specific occupations that receive priority processing.

Priority 1: Applicants in Australia—Defence and Law Enforcement

*Nominated or sponsored by the Australian Federal Police or state/territory police forces.

Priority 2: Applicants outside Australia—Defence and Law Enforcement

Prioritised occupations are as per above. Applicants outside Australia at the time of application receive second priority.

Priority 3: Applicants in Australia—Construction, Healthcare, and Teaching

Priority 4: Applicants in Australia—Other Industries

This refers to all other skilled visa applicants that are within Australia at the time of application. Applicants must be skilled and qualified in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list for their visa.

The exception is the Specialist Skills Stream of the Subclass 482 Visa, where eligibility is based on meeting the required salary threshold (occupation exclusions apply).

Priority 5: Applicants outside Australia—Other Industries

All other skilled visa applicants who are outside Australia at the time of application receive the lowest priority for government processing.

Sustainable people strategy: Global talent

Onshore applicants

Depending on the applicant’s occupation, the changes make engaging visa holders already in Australia faster and more attractive.

For employers, this may mean a greater focus on engaging workers on temporary skilled visas looking to change employers, workers seeking to transition to a different visa pathway, and permanent residence options to retain existing sponsored employees. Read more.

Subclass 482 Visa inclusion and priority sectors

With the priority order now applying to the Subclass 482 Visa, employers will need to consider how an applicant’s occupation and location at the time of application may influence processing times—particularly for non-priority sectors.

The recent additions of defence, law enforcement, and construction as priority sectors will provide quicker access to skilled talent that support national priorities in defence capability, community safety, housing, and infrastructure development.

Removal of regional migration and accredited sponsorship

Employers that previously relied on regional work locations or accredited sponsor status to receive priority processing may need to allow for longer visa and nomination processing timeframes.

Accredited sponsorship continues to offer advantages in demonstrating a strong compliance history to Home Affairs and streamlining certain sponsorship processes.

While regional migration is no longer being prioritised, several occupations that are ineligible under the standard migration program and only available through company-specific labour agreements or regional Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) have been included as priority occupations. For example, Construction and Mining Labourers, Earthmoving Plant Operators, and Personal Care Assistants and others.

Applications for these roles will continue to receive priority processing based on occupation rather than regional status.

Getting advice

Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents support employers requiring sustainable global talent strategy to strengthen workforce capabilities.

Access our immigration insights to explore:

• Migrant workforce and labour market updates
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• Temporary and permanent visa pathways

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.