The new Ministerial Direction 121 has been issued in order to set out the new order of priority for considering temporary skilled visa applications.
It was commenced on 19 September 2026, formally revoking Direction 119 (dated 24 July 2026). It applies to the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, covering both the Specialist Skills and other streams.
Order of priority for processing applications:
- Primary applicants in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources occupations, or occupations linked to Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests
- Specialist Skills stream applicants under the Subclass 482 visa
- Other primary applicants who are onshore in Australia at the time of application
- Primary applicants offshore at the time of application, whose application is not combined with another person’s
- All other applications
Delegates may depart from this order where an application involves compelling circumstances, such as risks to community safety, continuity of essential religious, cultural or community services, or Australia’s international relations.
Click here: Direction No. 121- Migration Act 1958
