1
Priority sectors
Applications relating to construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources, as well as Australia’s law-enforcement and defence interests.
Visa Updates · 19 September 2026
New Skilled Visa Processing Priorities Under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122
From 19 September 2026, Home Affairs queues skilled visas under Directions 121 and 122. These directions replaced the processing priorities that operated under Direction 119. Ozreach can help employers and skilled workers understand where a 482 or 186 application sits.
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What Changed
How Skilled Applications Are Now Queued
As of 2 October 2026, Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 are the skilled visa processing priority directions. Both commenced on 19 September 2026 and replaced the processing priorities previously operating under Ministerial Direction 119.
They tell the Department of Home Affairs the order for considering certain skilled visas. They are not a new visa, they do not promise a grant, and every applicant still has to meet the usual criteria.
Direction 121
Temporary Skilled Visas
Ministerial Direction 121 primarily covers subclass 482 Skills in Demand applications, including remaining Temporary Skill Shortage 482 applications. The Department processes these applications in the following order.
2
Specialist Skills
The Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.
3
In Australia at lodgement
Applicants who were in Australia when they lodged the visa application.
4
Offshore, not combined
Primary applicants who were outside Australia when they lodged, provided the application is not combined with another person’s application at any time.
5
All other applications
Every remaining subclass 482 application sits after the groups above.
Onshore lodgement now matters more
An ordinary Core Skills 482 applicant who was in Australia at lodgement falls into Priority 3, even if the occupation is not in one of the Priority 1 sectors.
Home Affairs’ current processing information shows the practical effect. It is presently processing 482 applications lodged in January 2026 for applicants who were in Australia at lodgement, compared with October 2025 for the general offshore categories. Specialist Skills applications are currently being processed from July 2026.
These dates are operational indicators rather than guaranteed processing times. For the official wording, see the Department of Home Affairs skilled visa processing priorities.
Direction 122
Permanent and Provisional Skilled Visas
Ministerial Direction 122 covers a wider group, including subclass 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888 applications. Subclass 186 is directly affected. The order is below.
1
Priority sectors
Construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources, plus Australia’s law-enforcement and defence interests.
2
In Australia at lodgement
The applicant was in Australia when the application was lodged.
3
Offshore, not combined
The primary applicant was outside Australia at lodgement, and the application is not combined with another person’s application at any time.
4
All other applications
Every remaining application in this group sits after the categories above.
Current subclass 186 processing cohorts
Home Affairs currently reports that it is processing subclass 186 applications lodged in the periods below. The applicant’s location on the date of lodgement can be significant for processing priority.
| MD 122 category | Current 186 processing cohort |
|---|---|
| Priority sectors | August 2024 |
| Applicant onshore at lodgement | February 2025 |
| Offshore primary applicant, application not combined | July 2024 |
| Other offshore applications | July 2024 |
Priority does not mean eligibility
Directions 121 and 122 determine the order in which applications are considered. A higher priority does not relax the substantive visa requirements.
A subclass 186 application receiving Priority 1 treatment still has to satisfy the relevant nomination and visa requirements. An onshore 482 application may receive a higher processing position under Direction 121 without that fact making an otherwise deficient nomination or visa application approvable.
Home Affairs warns that, while it transitions to the new directions, processing timeframes may fluctuate and published dates may temporarily move backwards as applications are reprioritised.
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Need help with a 482 or 186 application under the new priorities?
Speak with Ozreach about how Directions 121 and 122 may affect processing order for employer-sponsored and skilled visas. This update is general information only and is not immigration advice.
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