New skilled visa processing priorities came into effect on 25 July 2026 under Ministerial Direction 119, changing the order in which a range of skilled visa applications are processed.
A significant change for employers is the greater priority now given to applicants who are already in Australia, alongside specific priority occupations supporting Australia’s law enforcement and defence interests, construction, healthcare and teaching. The Direction also now includes the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) program and applies to applications already on hand.
For businesses recruiting talent internationally, these changes have the potential to affect recruitment timelines, workforce planning and the ability to respond quickly to skills needs.
Read more from the Department of Home Affairs
TEMi recently held an exclusive member update examining the changes, their practical implications and what they may mean for organisations accessing global talent. A recording of the session and slides can be found in the member portal.
We want to hear from employers.
Are the new processing priorities affecting your organisation’s ability to recruit or mobilise talent from offshore? Are you experiencing longer timelines, changing hiring decisions or other workforce impacts?
TEMi is keen to understand the practical experience of employers so that we can continue to represent industry perspectives and, where appropriate, provide evidence-based feedback to Government.
