03/08/2026
The Australian Government has introduced Ministerial Direction 119, replacing Direction 105 and changing the order in which many skilled visa nominations and applications will be processed.
While the eligibility requirements for skilled visas have not changed, the order in which applications are considered has. This reflects the Government's continued focus on directing migration towards occupations it considers to be of the highest national priority.
Under the new Direction, the highest priority will be given to applications relating to:
✅ Defence and law enforcement occupations
Followed by:
✅ Healthcare
✅ Teaching
✅ Construction and housing-related occupations
Applications outside these priority sectors will continue to be processed, however they now sit lower in the priority order. The Direction also gives preference to many applicants who are already in Australia over equivalent applicants applying from overseas.
Why does this matter?
The Government has made it clear that Australia's skilled migration program is intended to support key industries experiencing workforce shortages and occupations considered to be in the national interest.
This is another example of migration policy being used to support broader economic and workforce objectives, particularly housing, healthcare, education and national security.
For employers and visa applicants outside these sectors, it reinforces the importance of:
‣ planning ahead;
‣ lodging well-prepared applications; and
‣ understanding that processing times may increasingly vary depending on the occupation and where the applicant is located.
Migration policy continues to evolve, and understanding these changes is becoming just as important as meeting the visa criteria themselves.
Have questions about how Direction 119 may affect your application or business? We'd be happy to help.
Book a consultation: https://migrationways.com.au/ -section
