Originally published: May 2023 | Last reviewed and updated: June 2026
Skilled visa applications in Australia are not processed on a simple first-in, first-out basis. The Department of Home Affairs processes applications according to a government-mandated priority order set by Ministerial Direction No. 105, which came into effect on 15 December 2023, replacing the earlier Ministerial Direction No. 100.
Understanding where your application sits in this priority order is critical for planning your migration timeline. Applications with lower priority may take significantly longer than the published global processing times — in some cases, well in excess of published benchmarks.
For personalised advice on your application’s likely processing timeline, book a consultation with Augustine and Co.
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 489 (Skilled Regional Provisional)
Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional)
Subclass 494 (Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional)
Subclass 858 (National Innovation Visa)
Subclass 887 (Skilled Regional)
Subclass 888 (Business Innovation and Investment Permanent)
Important: Ministerial Direction No. 105 does not apply to the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482).
The 5-Tier Priority Order Under Ministerial Direction No. 105
| Priority | Category | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regional employer-sponsored positions | Employer-sponsored applications for positions located in a designated regional area |
| 2 | Healthcare or teaching occupations | Applications where the applicant works in a qualifying ANZSCO healthcare or teaching occupation |
| 3 | Accredited sponsor nominations | Employer-sponsored applications where the nominating employer holds Approved Sponsor Accredited Status |
| 4 | Permanent and provisional program visas | Visa applications counting towards the Migration Program, excluding Subclass 188 |
| 5 | All other applications | Processed in order of lodgement date |
Within each tier: For provisional and permanent skilled visa applications, priority is given to applicants located outside Australia at the time of lodgement.
Key change from MD No. 100: Under the previous direction, healthcare and teaching occupations were Priority 1. Under MD No. 105, regional employer-sponsored positions became Priority 1 and healthcare and teaching moved to Priority 2.
Healthcare or Teaching Occupations
- 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
- ANZSCO occupations:
- 134311 – School Principal
- 421111 – Child Care Worker
- 423111 – Aged or Disabled Carer
- 423312 – Nursing Support Worker
- 423313 – Personal Care Assistant.
These occupations qualify for Priority 2 processing regardless of whether the position is in a metropolitan or regional area. Applicants in healthcare occupations applying for positions in designated regional areas receive a compounded benefit, qualifying for both Priority 1 (regional) and Priority 2 (healthcare) simultaneously. See our related article on priority visa processing for healthcare and teaching occupations overseas for further detail.
Current Processing Times Under Ministerial Direction No. 105
Understanding priority is only part of the picture. The following indicative processing times apply as at June 2026 for key visa subclasses under MD No. 105:
Applications with lower priority under MD No. 105 may significantly exceed these published times. Applications at Priority 1 (regional employer-sponsored) and Priority 2 (healthcare and teaching) are processed ahead of all others within their subclass.
How to Improve Your Application’s Processing Position
If your application is not automatically captured by Priority 1 or Priority 2, there are several strategies that can improve processing speed:
Use an Accredited Sponsor: Employers with Approved Sponsor Accredited Status benefit their employees’ applications by elevating them to Priority 3. If your employer does not yet hold Accredited Status, this may be worth pursuing before nomination. book a consultation to assess your employer’s eligibility.
Consider a regional position: Positions in designated regional areas are Priority 1. This applies to the Subclass 186, 187, and 494 pathways among others. See our skilled regional work visas page for regional visa options.
Lodge a complete, decision-ready application: While this does not change your priority tier, incomplete applications generate Requests for Further Information (RFI) that can stall processing regardless of priority status.
Ensure your occupation is on the CSOL: For employer-sponsored pathways under the Skills in Demand visa, ensure your occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List. Note that MD No. 105 does not apply to Subclass 482 — the Skills in Demand visa has its own processing arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What replaced Ministerial Direction No. 100?
Ministerial Direction No. 100 was replaced by Ministerial Direction No. 105, which came into effect on 15 December 2023. MD No. 105 carried forward most of the same priority categories but made one significant change: regional employer-sponsored positions moved from Priority 3 to Priority 1, above healthcare and teaching occupations.
Q. What is the current priority order for skilled visa processing in Australia?
Under Ministerial Direction No. 105, the order is: (1) Regional employer-sponsored positions; (2) Healthcare or teaching occupations; (3) Accredited sponsor nominations; (4) Permanent and provisional program visas; (5) All other applications by lodgement date.
Q. Does Ministerial Direction No. 105 apply to the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482)?
No. Ministerial Direction No. 105 does not apply to the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482).
Q. What happened to the priority given to Hong Kong and BNO passport holders?
Ministerial Direction No. 100 gave additional priority to holders of eligible passports, including Hong Kong nationals and British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders. Ministerial Direction No. 105, which replaced MD No. 100 in December 2023, removed this provision. It no longer applies to any applications.
Q. What is Accredited Sponsor status and how does it help my visa application?
An employer with Approved Sponsor Accredited Status has demonstrated a consistent track record of compliance with sponsorship obligations. Applications nominated by an Accredited Sponsor are processed at Priority 3 under MD No. 105, ahead of all standard employer-sponsored applications. See our employer sponsored visa services page for more detail.
Q. How long will my General Skilled Migration visa take to process?
The indicative processing time for skilled permanent visas is approximately 10 months for 50% of applications, though this varies significantly depending on the subclass, your priority tier, and whether the application is complete at lodgement. Applications at lower priority tiers may exceed published times. book a consultation with Augustine and Co. for a realistic assessment of your timeline.
Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers
Ministerial Direction No. 105 fundamentally determines how quickly your skilled visa application will be assessed. For applicants outside the top priority tiers, processing times can stretch well beyond published estimates — making early and strategic lodgement planning essential.
Understanding your priority tier before lodgement, ensuring your sponsoring employer has or is eligible for Accredited Status, and considering regional pathways where appropriate can materially affect how quickly you receive a visa outcome.
Augustine and Co. advises skilled workers and their employers on all aspects of the General Skilled Migration and employer-sponsored visa process. Book a consultation with our team to plan your application strategy.
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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).
