Ministerial Direction 119: Skilled Visa Processing Priorities in Australia

Order for considering and disposing of nominations and visa applications for certain Skilled Visas

Ministerial Direction 119 decides the order in which skilled visa applications are processed. It does not decide whether you get the visa. Order for considering and disposing of nominations and visa applications for certain Skilled Visas.

This guide covers the priority tiers, covered visas, exclusions, and what to check next.

Key Takeaways

• Ministerial Direction 119 changes the processing order, not visa outcomes. It decides which applications get looked at first. It doesn’t create a new visa, change eligibility rules, or guarantee a grant.
• Effective from 25 July 2026. It replaced Ministerial Direction 105, which had been in place since December 2023.
• Five priority tiers, based on two factors: occupation and location.
  1. Law enforcement/defence, onshore
  2. Law enforcement/defence, offshore
  3. Healthcare, teaching or construction, onshore
  4. All other occupations, onshore
  5. All other occupations, offshore
• Location at the time of application is what counts – not where you live now, and not a location change after lodgement.
• Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) is covered for the first time. Ministerial Direction 105 never applied to it.
• Regional location and Accredited Sponsor status no longer give priority. Under Ministerial Direction 105, these were top-tier factors; under Ministerial Direction 119, they carry no weight at all.
• Priority depends on exact ANZSCO codes, not just general job titles – two similarly named roles can land in different tiers.
• Existing applications were automatically re-sorted. No need to resubmit anything lodged before 25 July 2026.
• Some cases are excluded from Ministerial Direction 119 entirely: AAT/ART remittals, “readily apparent ineligible” cases, non-combined family unit applications, and employer-change nominations.
• Combined applications inherit the primary applicant’s priority tier (clause 8(4)).
• Section 85 caps still apply on top of priority order – priority decides who’s considered first within a capped class, but doesn’t raise the cap or guarantee a grant before it’s reached.
• A high priority tier can’t fix a weak application. Missing documents, expired skills assessments, or unclear evidence still cause delays regardless of tier.

What Is Ministerial Direction 119?

Ministerial Direction 119 is an instrument issued by the Minister for Home Affairs under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958.

It tells Department of Home Affairs delegates to consider certain skilled visa nomination applications and visa applications.

It replaces Ministerial Direction 105, signed 14 December 2023 and now revoked.

Ministerial Direction 119 Changes Processing Priority, Not Visa Eligibility

Ministerial Direction 119 does not:

• Create a new visa
• Change eligibility criteria for any visa subclass
• Guarantee a visa grant
• Guarantee a processing time
• Change the skilled occupation lists

A high priority application can still be refused. A low priority application can still be granted. Ministerial Direction 119 only affects the order case officers work through files.

When Did Ministerial Direction 119 Start?

Ministerial Direction 119 commenced the day after signing. The Department of Home Affairs confirms it took effect on 25 July 2026, replacing Ministerial Direction 105.

It applies to applications made before this date and not yet decided, as well as new applications. You do not need to resubmit anything.

What Is the New Ministerial Direction 119 Priority Order?

Ministerial Direction 119 sorts applications into five tiers, based on:

• The nominated occupation
• Whether the applicant was in or outside Australia at the time of application

Priority 1: Defence and Law Enforcement

Onshore applications tied to Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests and considered first.

Priority 2: Defence and Law Enforcement Applicants Offshore

Same occupation category, but the applicant was offshore at the time of application.

Priority 3: Construction, Healthcare and Teaching

Onshore applications in construction, healthcare or teaching. This tier covers the widest range of occupations.

Priority 4: Other Eligible Onshore Applicants

Every other application where the applicant is onshore.

Priority 5: Other Eligible Offshore Applicants

Every other application where the applicant is offshore. Lowest priority.

Example (illustrative only): A civil engineer applying for a Subclass 482 visa while working in Australia sits in Priority 3. The same engineer applying from overseas sits in Priority 5. Construction only lifts your priority if you are onshore.

Which Skilled Visas Does Ministerial Direction 119 Apply To?

Ministerial Direction 119covers two groups of decisions: nomination applications and visa applications.

Skilled and Regional Visa Subclasses

Nomination applications:

• Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)
• Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme)
• Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand)
• Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage)
• Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional, Provisional)

Visa applications:

• Subclass 186
• Subclass 187
• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent, Permanent)
• Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated, Permanent)
• Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence, Skilled Regional)
• Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand)
• Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage)
• Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional Sponsored, Provisional)
• Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional, Provisional)
• Subclass 494
• Subclass 888 (Business Skills, Permanent)
• Subclass 887 (Skilled, Residence)

Employer Sponsored Visas and Subclass 482

A Ministerial Direction now covers the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa for the first time. Ministerial Direction 105 did not include it.

Legacy Temporary Skill Shortage (482) applications, closed to new lodgements, remain covered too.

Which Occupations Receive Priority Under Ministerial Direction 119?

Ministerial Direction 119 defines each occupation category using ANZSCO classifications. Every occupation within a listed group has equal priority.

Healthcare, Teaching and Construction Occupations

Healthcare occupation:

• 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
• 423111: Aged or Disabled Carer
• 423312: Nursing Support Worker
• 423313: Personal Care Assistant

Teaching occupation:

• ANZSCO Minor Group 241: School Teachers
• ANZSCO Unit Group 1341: Child Care Centre Managers
• 134311: School Principal
• 242211: Vocational Education Teacher (AUS) / Polytechnic Teacher (NZ)
• 421111: Child Care Worker
• 242111: University Lecturer

Construction occupation:

• 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 Unit 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
• 341111: Electrician (General)
• 341112: Electrician (Special Class)

Defence and Law Enforcement Occupations

Defence interests include AUKUS Pillar I (nuclear-powered submarines) and Pillar II (advanced capability development), plus these roles where sponsored by the ADF or Department of Defence:

• ANZSCO Unit Group 4411: Defence Force Members, Other Ranks
• 111212: Defence Force Senior Officer
• 139111: Commissioned Defence Force Officer
• 139211: Senior Non-Commissioned Defence Force Member

Law enforcement interests cover ANZSCO Unit Group 4413 (Police), when sponsored by the AFP or a state or territory police force.

ANZSCO Codes and Occupation Classification

Priority depends on your exact ANZSCO group, not just the general sector. Check your specific code before assuming which tier applies.

Who Is Excluded from Ministerial Direction 119?

Applications Covered by Clause 4(3)

Ministerial Direction 119 does not apply to:

• Applications remitted by the AAT or ART for reconsideration
• Applications where the AAT or ART set aside a decision and substituted a new one
• Applications where eligibility is readily apparent as unable to be satisfied
• Family unit applications not combined with the primary applicant

Employer Change and Other Excluded Cases

Nomination applications for a change of employer are also excluded. The ART itself is excluded in its review function.

If your case falls into any of these categories, the standard priority tiers do not apply.

How Is Ministerial Direction 119 Different from Ministerial Direction 105?

Regional and Accredited Sponsor Priority Changes

Two things no longer carry weight under Ministerial Direction 119:

• Designated regional area location
• Accredited Sponsor status

Only occupation category and applicant location matter now.

What Changed for Employer Sponsored and Regional Visas?

Under Ministerial Direction 105, a regional 494 nomination sat at the top regardless of occupation. Under Ministerial Direction 119, it only gets top-tier treatment if the occupation is also law enforcement, defence, healthcare, teaching or construction-related. Otherwise, it sits in Priority 4 or 5, same as any other application.

How Does Ministerial Direction 119 Affect Employers and Applicants?

Why Onshore and Offshore Location Matters

Location at the time of application is what counts. Not where you plan to live. Not where you are now, if that has changed since lodgement.

Example (illustrative only): A nurse who lodges a Subclass 482 nomination while working in Australia sits in Priority 3. The same role, lodged from overseas, sits in Priority 5.

Moving from offshore to onshore: Ministerial Direction 119 ties priority to location “at the time the application is made.” It does not clearly provide for a change in tier after lodgement. Confirm your specific position with the Department or a registered migration agent.

What Employers Should Check Before Lodging

• Visa subclass covered by Schedule A or B
• Nomination type (new nomination or employer change)
• Applicant location at lodgement
• Exact ANZSCO code, not just job title
• Which of the five priority tiers applies
• Whether clause 4(3) exclusions apply
• Whether any applicants are combined with a primary applicant
• Whether the visa subclass has a section 85 cap

What Existing Applicants Need to Know

If you lodged before 25 July 2026 and your application is undecided, Ministerial Direction 119 already applies to you. You do not need to resubmit. Your file has been re-sorted based on your occupation and location at the time you applied.

Special Rules Under Ministerial Direction 119

Combined Applications and Priority Inheritance

Under clause 8(4), a visa application combined with a primary applicant’s application gets the same priority as the primary applicant.

Example (illustrative only): A primary applicant nominated in a healthcare occupation, applying onshore, sits in Priority 3. Their partner, combined on the same application, also sits in Priority 3, even though the partner is not personally nominated in a priority occupation.

Section 85 Caps and Capped Visa Places

Some visa classes have a section 85 cap: a maximum number of visas grantable in a financial year.

Clause 9 confirms Ministerial Direction 119’s priority order still applies within a capped class. Priority determines who is considered first. It does not increase the cap and does not guarantee a grant before the cap is reached.

Applications Already on Hand

Ministerial Direction 119 applies to on-hand applications, those lodged but not decided before 25 July 2026, the same way it applies to new lodgements. There is no separate transitional queue.

What Should You Do Under Ministerial Direction 119?

Check Your Visa Subclass and ANZSCO Code

Confirm your subclass is covered under Schedule A or B. Check your occupation against the exact ANZSCO group or code, not just the category name.

Confirm Your Priority Category

Combine your occupation classification with your location at the time of application to find your tier.

Make Sure Your Application Is Complete

A higher tier only means your file is picked up sooner. It does not fix a weak application.

Common issues that still cause delays:

• Missing documents
• Expired skills assessment
• Inconsistent employment evidence
• Unclear salary information

A complete, accurate application remains the biggest factor within your control.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ministerial Direction 119

Does Ministerial Direction 119 guarantee faster visa processing?

No. It sets the order in which applications are considered. It does not guarantee a decision timeframe.

Does Ministerial Direction 119 affect visa eligibility?

No. Occupation matching, skills assessment, English language, health, character, salary and sponsorship requirements are unchanged.

Does Ministerial Direction 119 apply to applications already lodged?

Yes. It applies to applications made before commencement and not yet decided, as well as new applications. You do not need to resubmit.

Can an offshore applicant gain priority after moving to Australia?

Ministerial Direction 119 ties priority to location at the time of application. It does not clearly allow a tier change after lodgement. Confirm your position with the Department or a migration agent.

What happens if my application is placed in the wrong priority category?

Ministerial Direction 119 has no separate complaint process for this. Raise it through the Department’s existing enquiry channels, or get advice from a registered migration agent.

A Note on Processing Times

Priority tier and processing time are different things. Ministerial Direction 119 does not publish guaranteed timeframes for any tier. For current estimates, check the Department of Home Affairs processing times tool directly.

Get Advice from Ghothane Lawyers 

Not sure where your application sits under Ministerial Direction 119? Ghothane Lawyers can review your occupation, visa subclass and priority tier, and explain what it means for your case. 

Book a confidential consultation with Ghothane Lawyers.