Australian Skilled Visa Processing Priorities

Immigration News

Australia's skilled visa programs are designed to select people who will make a positive contribution to the Australian economy and labour market and assist Australian businesses to access workers with skills that cannot be met from the local labour market. Considering this, the Department of Home Affairs has introduced new processing priorities for skilled visa applications. These applications are to be processed according to the Ministerial Direction No. 100 order of consideration introduced on 28 October 2022.

The priority processing order for visa applications:

1. Visa applications related to Healthcare or Teaching Occupations (see below)

2. Visa applications where applicant is nominated by an Approved sponsor with Accredited Status

3. Visa applications related to an occupation in a designated regional area

4. Visa applications that count towards the migration program (excluding certain visas)

5. All other visa applications

Within each of the above categories, priority is given to visa applications made by offshore applicants at time the application is made as well as to the holder of eligible passports. These passports include Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China passports and British National (Overseas) passports.

All other skilled visa applications are assessed in order of date of lodgement.

Healthcare or Teaching Occupations refer to occupations in any of the following groups:

· ANZSCO Sub-major Group 25 - Health Professionals

· ANZSCO Minor Group 241 - School Teachers

· ANZSCO Minor Group 411 - Health and Welfare Support Workers

· ANZSCO Unit Group 1341 - Child Care Centre Managers

· ANZSCO Unit Group 2346 - Medical Scientists

· ANZSCO Unit Group 2721 - Counsellors

· ANZSCO Unit Group 2723 - Psychologists

· ANZSCO Unit Group 2725 - Social Workers

· ANZSCO Unit Group 3112 - Medical Technicians

· ANZSCO occupations:

134311 - School Principal
421111 - Child Care Worker
423111 - Aged or Disabled Carer
423312 - Nursing Support Worker
423313 - Personal Care Assistant.

The relevant skilled visas which are impacted include the following:

· Subclass 124 (Distinguished Talent)
· Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)
· Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme)
· Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment) (Provisional)
· Subclass 189 (Skilled - Independent)
· Subclass 190 (Skilled - Nominated)
· Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional))
· Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled))
· Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage)
· Subclass 489 (Skilled - Regional (Provisional))
· Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional))
· Subclass 494 (Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional))
· Subclass 858 (Global Talent)
· Subclass 887 (Skilled - Regional)
· Subclass 888 (Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent)

If your occupation falls under any of the Healthcare and Teaching Occupations referred to by the Ministerial Direction No. 100, any new skilled visa application submitted to the Department of Home Affairs will be fast-tracked and prioritised for assessment in line with the local demand for skilled workers within these critical sectors.

To further ensure there are no delays to processing, it is important to lodge complete applications with all required supporting documents provided as soon as reasonably practical. These are considered to be decision ready applications where a decision may be made without the need to request any further information.

With over 24 years of experience in the industry, NB Migration Law can confidently and competently guide you on your Australian migration journey. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you’d like to put yourself in the best position as an overseas worker or sponsoring business.