Direction 119: Australia's New Skilled Visa Priority Order for 2026

If you have a skilled visa application in the pipeline for Australia, a new rule just changed how fast or how slowly your case gets looked at. On 24 July 2026, Tony Burke, Australia's Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, signed Direction 119 under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958. It replaces the previous rule, Direction 105, and reshuffles the queue for thousands of skilled visa and nomination applications across the country.

What Is Direction 119?

Direction 119 is a legally binding instruction from the Minister to every immigration case officer (called a "delegate") who processes skilled visa nominations and applications. It does not change who is eligible for a visa. It changes the order in which applications get reviewed.

Think of it like a fast-track lane at an airport. Everyone still needs the same passport and boarding pass but some people get called to the counter first.

Which Visa Applications Are Affected?

Direction 119 applies broadly across Australia's employer-sponsored and points-tested skilled migration streams, covering both nomination applications and visa 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 (schedule B)

• Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination, Permanent)

• Subclass 187 (Regional Employer Nomination, Permanent)

• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent, Permanent)

• Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated, Permanent)

• Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence, Skilled Regional)

• Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand and Temporary Skill Shortage)

• Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional Sponsored, Provisional)

• Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional, Provisional)

• Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional, Provisional)

• Subclass 888 (Business Skills, Permanent)

• Subclass 887 (Skilled Residence)

If your application falls under any subclass above, this Direction applies to you including applications that were already lodged and are still awaiting a decision, not just new ones filed after 24 July 2026.

The New Priority Order, Ranked

This is the part everyone actually wants to know: who gets processed first. The Direction sets a five-tier ranking, from highest to lowest priority.

Two things stand out immediately. First, being physically in Australia when you apply consistently ranks you higher than applying from overseas, occupation aside. Second, three occupation groups now get express treatment: healthcare, teaching, and construction, reflecting the government's stated priorities around housing, health workforce shortages, and education.

What Counts as "Healthcare," "Teaching," and "Construction"?

The Direction is specific about which jobs qualify. It lists them using ANZSCO occupation codes (Australia's official job classification system). Broadly:

If your nominated occupation sits in one of these groups, it is worth checking the exact ANZSCO code against your nomination paperwork, since eligibility for the priority lane depends on the precise occupation code, not just the general job title.

What Direction 119 Does Not Cover

• Applications remitted by the AAT or ART for reconsideration are excluded.

• Cases where a tribunal has already substituted its own decision are excluded.

• Applications that clearly will not meet the criteria are excluded from the priority framework.

• Family unit applicants who did not apply as part of a combined application are excluded.

• Nominations involving a change of employer are excluded.

• The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) process itself is not governed by this Direction.

• Expressions of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect are a separate step entirely and are not affected by Direction 119 at all. EOI selection continues to run under its own points-based invitation system.

Does This Apply If I Already Lodged My Application?

Yes. The Direction explicitly states it applies to applications made but not yet finally decided before its commencement, as well as to new applications filed afterward. In other words, there's no grandfathering exemption. If your case is still sitting in the queue, it now gets sorted using this new five-tier system.

Why Did the Government Make This Change?

According to the Direction's preamble, the goal is to align visa processing with national workforce priorities: supporting law enforcement and defence, addressing healthcare and teaching shortages, and boosting the construction workforce with a focus on housing supply. The government frames it as a way to allocate limited processing resources toward the occupations judged most critical to the economy and labour market right now.

Key Takeaways

• Direction 119 replaces Direction 105 and took effect the day after it was signed, 24 July 2026.

• It reorders processing priority; it does not change visa eligibility criteria.

• Being in Australia at the time of application generally ranks higher than applying from offshore.

• Healthcare, teaching, and construction occupations, along with law enforcement and defence roles, get priority treatment.

• It applies to both new and already-lodged applications across the major employer-sponsored and points-tested skilled visa subclasses.

• ART reviews and EOI submissions are not affected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Direction 119 affect the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)? Yes, subclass 189 visa applications are listed under Schedule B and are subject to the new priority order.

Is my occupation on the priority list if I work in aged care? Aged or disabled carer roles are listed under healthcare occupations, so yes, this occupation is included in the priority tier for applicants in Australia.

Will my application be refused if I'm not in a priority category? No. Direction 119 only affects the order applications are looked at, not whether they are approved. Standard visa criteria still apply.

Does this change points test requirements? No. Points testing, occupation lists, and eligibility criteria are unchanged. This Direction only governs processing order.

Does Direction 119 affect my Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect? No. An EOI is a separate, earlier step in the process, before you're invited to apply for a visa. Direction 119 only governs nomination applications and visa applications that have already been lodged. It has no effect on how EOIs are ranked, scored, or invited.

If my application was lodged before Direction 119 came into effect, does the new priority order still apply to it? Yes. The Direction specifically states it applies to applications made but not yet finally decided before its commencement, as well as new applications made afterward. There is no exemption for applications already in the queue.

Does Direction 119 apply to my case if it's currently with the ART (Administrative Review Tribunal)? No. The Direction explicitly excludes the ART. If your case is at the tribunal review stage, this priority order does not apply to that process.

What if my nomination or visa application has already been remitted for reconsideration by the AAT or ART? Applications remitted by the AAT or ART for reconsideration are excluded from Direction 119, as are cases where a tribunal has already set aside a decision and substituted its own.

I'm applying for a change of employer nomination. Does the priority order apply to me? No. Nomination applications relating to a change of employer are specifically excluded from Direction 119.

I'm a family member applying separately from the primary applicant. Am I covered? Not under the priority system, if you didn't make a combined application. Direction 119 excludes applications from people claiming to be a member of the family unit of a visa holder who did not make a combined application with that person.

Does being outside Australia disqualify me from the priority visa or nomination categories? No, but it does place you at a lower rank than an equivalent applicant who is in Australia at the time of application, occupation being equal. Applicants in law enforcement or defence occupations offshore still rank above most other applicants, including those onshore in non-priority occupations.

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