·Commonwealth of Australia·Material change·In force
Australia changes skilled-visa processing priorities under Direction 119
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Direction 119 replaced Direction 105 on 25 July 2026, changing the priority order for covered skilled nominations and visa applications, including applications already waiting.
What changed
Policy claim 1
Priority order: defined defence/law-enforcement cases in Australia; those cases outside Australia; defined construction, healthcare or teaching cases in Australia; other covered cases in Australia; other covered cases outside Australia. Priority is not a promised decision time.
Claim ID: au-2026-07-skilled-visa-processing-priorities-md119#claim-1·Cite this claim
Source: Home Affairs — skilled visa processing priorities (Australian Department of Home Affairs)·source verified ·page reviewed
Policy claim 2
Nomination priority uses the nominee’s location when the nomination was lodged; visa priority uses the primary applicant’s location when the visa application was lodged.
Claim ID: au-2026-07-skilled-visa-processing-priorities-md119#claim-2·Cite this claim
Source: Ministerial Direction 119, sections 4–8 and schedules (Australian Department of Home Affairs)·source verified ·page reviewed
Policy claim 3
The direction covers subclass 186. Its schedules and exceptions must be checked; it does not replace visa eligibility rules.
Claim ID: au-2026-07-skilled-visa-processing-priorities-md119#claim-3·Cite this claim
Source: Ministerial Direction 119, sections 4–8 and schedules (Australian Department of Home Affairs)·source verified ·page reviewed
Routes affected
Primary source
Primary source
Home Affairs — skilled visa processing priorities ↗ · Australian Department of Home Affairs
Link last verified: