Australia issues new Ministerial Direction 119, formally prioritising on-shore skilled visa applicants
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Australia issues Ministerial Direction 119 prioritising on-shore skilled-visa applicants
Ministerial Direction 119, signed on 24 July and effective 25 July 2026, instructs Home Affairs to process skilled-visa applications lodged inside Australia ahead of comparable offshore cases, with law-enforcement, defence, healthcare, teaching and construction roles at the top. The move lets government curb new migrant inflows without cutting skilled numbers, favouring employers who already have visa-holders onshore. Businesses should expect faster outcomes for on-shore conversions and longer waits for offshore hires.
Australia issues Ministerial Direction 119, prioritising on-shore skilled-visa applicants
Home Affairs has published Ministerial Direction 119, which took effect on 25 July 2026. The direction re-orders skilled-visa processing so that: (1) law-enforcement/defence occupations are first, (2) construction, health and teaching follow, and (3) applicants already in Australia outrank equivalent offshore cases. Employers may see faster grants for on-shore staff but longer waits for overseas recruits, requiring revised workforce planning.
Australia Issues Ministerial Direction 119 Prioritising On-Shore Skilled Visa Applications
Australia’s new Ministerial Direction 119, released by the Department of Home Affairs on 29-30 July 2026, reshuffles skilled-visa queues to favour applicants already in Australia and those working in defence, construction, health and teaching. The Direction replaces the 2023 framework and now covers both permanent and temporary skilled pathways. Businesses employing on-shore talent should see faster processing, while offshore hiring may face longer waits—triggering a need to adjust mobility and workforce strategies.