Originally published: August 2023 | Last reviewed and updated: June 2026
Australia prioritises skilled visa processing for certain occupations and application types under Ministerial Direction No. 105, which came into effect on 15 December 2023. This direction replaced earlier directions (including Ministerial Direction No. 100) and sets a clear, ranked order for how the Department of Home Affairs processes applications across the key employer-sponsored and skilled migration visa subclasses.
Ministerial Direction No. 105 applies to the following visa subclasses:
Subclass 124 (Distinguished Talent)
Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)
Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme)
Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment Provisional)
Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)
Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)
Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence Skilled Regional)
Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage — now Skills in Demand)
Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional)
For healthcare and teaching professionals applying for employer-sponsored visas, this direction means visa applications can be processed significantly faster than the published global processing times. Registered nurses and teachers, in particular, have had applications assessed in as few as three days under priority arrangements.
For personalised advice on whether your occupation qualifies for priority processing, book a consultation with Augustine and Co.
The 5-Level Priority Order Under Ministerial Direction No. 105
Ministerial Direction No. 105 establishes the following ranked order of priority for skilled visa processing:
| Priority | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regional employer-sponsored visas | Employer-sponsored visa applications for positions located in a designated regional area (applies to Subclass 482, 186, and 494) |
| 2 | Healthcare or teaching occupations | Visa applications where the primary applicant works in a qualifying healthcare or teaching occupation (see full list below) |
| 3 | Accredited sponsor nominations | Employer-sponsored visa applications where the nominating employer holds Approved Sponsor with Accredited Status |
| 4 | Permanent and provisional program visas | Visa applications counting towards the Migration Program (excluding Subclass 188) |
| 5 | All other skilled visa applications | Processed in order of date of lodgement |
Important change from previous directions: Ministerial Direction No. 105 moved regional employer-sponsored visas to Priority 1, above healthcare and teaching occupations. Healthcare and teaching are now Priority 2. This differs from Ministerial Direction No. 100, where healthcare and teaching were the top priority.
Offshore applicants: Within each priority tier, offshore applicants (primary applicant located outside Australia at the time of lodgement) continue to receive priority over onshore applicants in the same tier.
Note on passport holder priority: Ministerial Direction No. 105 removed the previous priority given to holders of eligible passports (Hong Kong nationals and British National Overseas passport holders). This provision no longer applies.
Healthcare and Teaching Occupations That Qualify for Priority Processing
The following ANZSCO occupation groups and individual occupations qualify for Priority 2 processing under Ministerial Direction No. 105:
Occupation Groups:
ANZSCO Sub-major Group 25 — Health Professionals
ANZSCO Minor Group 241 — School Teachers
ANZSCO Minor Group 411 — Health and Welfare Support Workers
ANZSCO Unit Group 1341 — Child Care Centre Managers
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
Individual Occupations:
134311 — School Principal
421111 — Child Care Worker
423111 — Aged or Disabled Carer
423312 — Nursing Support Worker
423313 — Personal Care Assistant
These occupations receive priority processing regardless of whether the position is in a metropolitan or regional area. Applicants in these occupations who are also located offshore at the time of lodgement receive the highest priority within the healthcare and teaching tier.
Additional Priority: Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement
Aged care employers who have negotiated a Labour Agreement with a relevant union (ANMF, HSU, or UWU) can sponsor overseas workers for direct care roles — specifically Nursing Support Workers, Personal Care Assistants, and Aged or Disabled Carers — under the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement.
Visa applications lodged under this Labour Agreement attract priority processing under Ministerial Direction No. 105, as these occupations are within the qualifying healthcare group. Key concessions available under the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement include:
Lower English language requirements (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent, no minimum band scores)
Flexible qualification requirements (Certificate III or IV in Individual Support or equivalent overseas qualification)
Pathway to permanent residency (Subclass 186) after two years of relevant experience
Salary concessions may apply below the standard TSMIT of AUD 73,150 (TSMIT will increase to AUD 79,499 from 1 July 2026)
For aged care employers seeking to sponsor overseas workers, see our employer sponsored visa services page. Our recent blog on priority visa processing for aged care workers provides additional detail on this pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Ministerial Direction No. 105?
Ministerial Direction No. 105 is the current Australian Government direction that sets the ranked order of priority for processing skilled visa applications. It came into effect on 15 December 2023 and replaced Ministerial Direction No. 100. It applies to key employer-sponsored and skilled migration visa subclasses including Subclass 482, 186, 189, 190, 191, and 494.
Q. What is the priority order under Ministerial Direction No. 105?
The five-tier priority order is: (1) Regional employer-sponsored visas; (2) Healthcare or teaching occupations; (3) Employer-sponsored visas with accredited sponsor status; (4) Permanent and provisional program visas; (5) All other applications in lodgement date order.
Q. Do I qualify for priority processing if I am a healthcare worker applying from overseas?
Yes. Healthcare and teaching applicants who are located outside Australia at the time of lodgement receive priority within the healthcare and teaching tier. This means offshore healthcare applicants can expect significantly faster processing than the published global processing times. Registered nurses and teachers have historically had applications assessed in as few as three days under these arrangements.
Q. Which healthcare and teaching occupations qualify for priority processing?
Priority applies to ANZSCO Sub-major Group 25 (Health Professionals), Minor Group 241 (School Teachers), Minor Group 411 (Health and Welfare Support Workers), and a range of individual occupations including Aged or Disabled Carer (423111), Nursing Support Worker (423312), Personal Care Assistant (423313), School Principal (134311), and Child Care Worker (421111). The full list is provided above.
Q. Does priority processing apply to both temporary and permanent employer-sponsored visas?
Yes. Priority processing under Ministerial Direction No. 105 applies to both the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).
Q. What is the benefit of an employer having Accredited Sponsor status?
Employers with Approved Sponsor Accredited Status receive Priority 3 processing for their sponsored visa nominations and applications. This means their applicants are processed ahead of all non-priority applications, but behind regional and healthcare or teaching applications. book a consultation with our team to find out whether your employer qualifies for accredited status.
Q. How does regional location affect priority processing?
Under Ministerial Direction No. 105, employer-sponsored visa applications for positions in designated regional areas are Priority 1 — the highest priority available. This applies to Subclass 482, 186, and 494 applications. Healthcare applicants in regional areas receive a double benefit: they qualify for both the regional priority and the healthcare priority, placing them at the front of the processing queue. See our skilled regional work visas page for more on regional visa options.
Conclusion:
Ministerial Direction No. 105 provides a clear and significant processing advantage for healthcare and teaching professionals applying for Australian employer-sponsored visas, particularly those applying from offshore. For regional positions and accredited sponsors, the advantages are compounded further.
Understanding where your application sits in the priority hierarchy is an important part of planning your migration timeline and managing expectations around processing times. With Subclass 186 standard processing times currently reaching up to 19 months for 90% of applicants, priority status can represent a substantial practical difference in how quickly you receive a visa grant.
Augustine and Co. advises healthcare professionals, aged care workers, teachers, and their sponsoring employers on all aspects of the employer-sponsored visa process. Book a consultation with our team to discuss your specific circumstances.
You may also find these related resources useful:
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information provided is subject to change, and individuals should consult with a qualified immigration lawyer or consultant for personalised guidance regarding their specific circumstances.
Author
Calvin Augustine is the founding solicitor of Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers. He graduated with Honors from the University of London law school, before being admitted to practice in Malaysia and Australia (admitted in SA, appears in all Victorian Courts and Tribunals, at trial and appellate levels).
