Ministerial Direction 121, signed on 18 September 2026 and commencing on 19 September 2026, establishes a new processing order for certain temporary skilled visa applications. It applies to the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa and to remaining Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa applications that have not been finally determined.
The Direction replaces the previous Subclass 482 processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 119. It does not change the criteria for visa grant or the composition of the skilled occupation lists. Instead, it determines the order in which covered visa applications are considered and disposed of by Department of Home Affairs decision-makers.
Ministerial Direction 121 at a glance
The Direction commenced the day after it was signed and replaced Direction 119 for the temporary skilled visas it covers.
Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, Resources, and specified law-enforcement and defence interests.
Skills in Demand applications in the Specialist Skills stream receive Priority 2 if they are not already Priority 1.
Other primary applicants who were in Australia when the visa application was made fall within Priority 3.
The primary applicant must have been outside Australia at lodgement and the application must not be combined with another person’s application at any time.
The Direction also applies to covered applications made before commencement that had not been finally determined.
Which Subclass 482 applications are covered?
| Visa | How Direction 121 applies |
|---|---|
| Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) | Covered by Direction 121, including the separate Priority 2 for applications in the Specialist Skills stream. |
| Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) | Remaining TSS applications are also covered. The TSS visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand visa on 7 December 2024. |
Important: the separate Specialist Skills priority applies to the Skills in Demand visa. A remaining Temporary Skill Shortage application does not become Priority 2 merely because it is a Subclass 482 application.
The five processing priority levels
Priority 1 — Highest priority
Primary applicants in a defined Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing or Resources occupation, or in an occupation related to Australia’s law-enforcement or defence interests.
Priority 2 — Specialist Skills stream
Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) applications where the applicant seeks to satisfy the criteria for the Specialist Skills stream, unless Priority 1 already applies.
Priority 3 — Other onshore primary applicants
All other covered applications where the applicant is a primary applicant who was in Australia when the visa application was made.
Priority 4 — Certain offshore primary applicants
The primary applicant was outside Australia when the application was made and the application is not combined with another person’s application at any time.
Priority 5 — All other covered applications
All other Subclass 482 applications covered by the Direction that do not fall within one of the higher priority categories.
Combined family applications: where another person’s visa application is validly combined with the primary applicant’s application in a way permitted by the Migration Regulations, that application receives the same priority as the primary applicant’s application.
Specialist Skills stream receives its own priority
One of the major differences between Direction 121 and the processing framework for provisional and permanent skilled visas is the separate treatment of the Specialist Skills stream. A Skills in Demand application in this stream is Priority 2 if it is not already covered by Priority 1.
A Specialist Skills applicant whose occupation or position also satisfies a defined Priority 1 category is processed under the higher Priority 1 category.
This places the application ahead of the ordinary onshore, offshore and residual Subclass 482 categories in Direction 121.
Priority 1 occupations: how the definitions work
Direction 121 contains its own definitions for the occupations and positions that receive the highest processing priority. Some definitions are based on specified ANZSCO groups or occupations, while others depend on the actual work performed by the nominated position or on a specific defence or law-enforcement connection.
Do not rely on the employer’s industry alone. Employment by a construction, agricultural or resources business does not automatically make every occupation in that business Priority 1. The nominated occupation or position must fit the relevant definition in Direction 121.
The Direction also states that occupations within these defined categories are of equal priority. It does not rank qualifying Healthcare occupations above qualifying Construction, Teaching or other Priority 1 occupations.
Construction occupations
| ANZSCO code/group | Occupation or group | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Construction Trades Workers | Sub-Major Group |
| 82 | Construction and Mining Labourers | Sub-Major Group |
| 1331 | Construction Managers | Unit Group |
| 1332 | Engineering Managers | Unit Group |
| 2321 | Architects and Landscape Architects | Unit Group |
| 2332 | Civil Engineering Professionals | Unit Group |
| 3121 | Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians | Unit Group |
| 3122 | Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians | Unit Group |
| 3126 | Safety Inspectors | Unit Group |
| 3129 | Other Building and Engineering Technicians | Unit Group |
| 3222 | Sheetmetal Workers | Unit Group |
| 3223 | Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers | Unit Group |
| 7111 | Clay, Concrete, Glass and Stone Processing Machine Operators | Unit Group |
| 7121 | Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators | Unit Group |
| 7212 | Earthmoving Plant Operators | Unit Group |
| 341111 | Electrician (General) | Specific occupation |
| 341112 | Electrician (Special Class) | Specific occupation |
Related Shada occupation profiles: Civil Engineer (233211) falls within the Civil Engineering Professionals group, while Electrician (General) (341111) is expressly listed in Direction 121.
Healthcare occupations
| ANZSCO code/group | Occupation or group | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Health Professionals | Sub-Major Group |
| 411 | Health and Welfare Support Workers | Minor Group |
| 2346 | Medical Scientists | Unit Group |
| 2721 | Counsellors | Unit Group |
| 2723 | Psychologists | Unit Group |
| 2725 | Social Workers | Unit Group |
| 3112 | Medical Technicians | Unit Group |
| 423111 | Aged or Disabled Carer | Specific occupation |
| 423312 | Nursing Support Worker | Specific occupation |
| 423313 | Personal Care Assistant | Specific occupation |
Example: Clinical Psychologist (272311) falls within ANZSCO Unit Group 2723 — Psychologists.
Teaching occupations
| ANZSCO code/group | Occupation or group | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 241 | School Teachers | Minor Group |
| 1341 | Child Care Centre Managers | Unit Group |
| 134311 | School Principal | Specific occupation |
| 134411 | Faculty Head | Specific occupation |
| 242111 | University Lecturer | Specific occupation |
| 242211 | Vocational Education Teacher (AUS) / Polytechnic Teacher (NZ) | Specific occupation |
| 421111 | Child Care Worker | Specific occupation |
Agriculture, aquaculture and fishing occupations
This category is defined mainly by the work performed by the nominated position rather than by a closed list of ANZSCO codes.
Positions directly involved in the cultivation, production or harvesting of crops can fall within the definition.
The definition includes fishing and production activities involving livestock, poultry, seafood and other primary agricultural products.
Examples include animal health, irrigation, quality assurance, inspection and farm supervision.
The definition also includes specified slaughtering, dressing, boning, slicing, processing, preparation or inspection of primary agricultural products.
Resources sector occupations
The nominated position must directly support the exploration, extraction or production of minerals, oil and gas, or coal resources, including mine closure, decommissioning and rehabilitation activities. The occupation must also fall within one of the groups or occupations specified below.
| ANZSCO code/group | Occupation or group | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 2336 | Mining Engineers | Unit Group |
| 2344 | Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists | Unit Group |
| 7122 | Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers | Unit Group |
| 133513 | Production Manager (Mining) | Specific occupation |
| 232212 | Surveyor | Specific occupation |
| 232214 | Other Spatial Scientist | Specific occupation |
| 234912 | Metallurgist | Specific occupation |
| 323211 | Fitter (General) | Specific occupation |
| 323212 | Fitter and Turner | Specific occupation |
| 323213 | Fitter-Welder | Specific occupation |
| 323214 | Metal Machinist (First Class) | Specific occupation |
| 323299 | Metal Fitters and Machinists nec | Specific occupation |
The resources connection matters. Being employed by a mining or resources company is not enough by itself. The nominated position must directly support the resources activities described in the Direction.
Occupations related to Australia’s law-enforcement interests
| Requirement | Direction 121 definition |
|---|---|
| Occupation | ANZSCO Unit Group 4413 — Police. |
| Nomination or sponsorship | The applicant must be nominated or sponsored by the Australian Federal Police or one of the specified State or Territory police forces listed in Direction 121. |
Occupations related to Australia’s defence interests
| Pathway into the definition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| AUKUS | The occupation is in relation to, or supports delivery of, AUKUS Pillar I or Pillar II. |
| ADF / Department of Defence nomination or sponsorship | The applicant is nominated or sponsored by the Australian Defence Force or Department of Defence. |
| Defence support letter | The applicant has a support letter from the ADF or Department of Defence and the occupation will ordinarily be undertaken at a defence facility or supports production or supply of defence-related material or technology. |
Explore occupation information: Shada maintains occupation-specific pages covering skilled, employer-sponsored, regional and DAMA pathways. You can browse the Skilled Occupation List directory and then compare the occupation with the specific Direction 121 definition.
Assess a possible Subclass 482 pathway
Direction 121 deals with processing priority, not eligibility. A Subclass 482 pathway still depends on matters such as the nominated occupation, employer sponsorship, the relevant visa stream and the applicant’s own qualifications and circumstances.
Location and family composition can change the priority
For applications that are neither Priority 1 nor Priority 2, the primary applicant’s location at the time of lodgement becomes important. The wording of Priority 4 also makes family composition relevant for some offshore applications.
| Primary applicant at lodgement | Combined family application? | Usual priority if Priority 1 and Priority 2 do not apply |
|---|---|---|
| In Australia | No | Priority 3 |
| In Australia | Yes | Priority 3 for the primary applicant; validly combined family applications receive the same priority. |
| Outside Australia | No | Priority 4 |
| Outside Australia | Yes | Priority 5 for the primary applicant if no higher priority applies, because the condition for Priority 4 is not met. Validly combined family applications receive the primary applicant’s priority. |
Specialist Skills comes first: a Skills in Demand applicant in the Specialist Skills stream is Priority 2 if Priority 1 does not apply, regardless of whether the applicant was onshore or offshore at lodgement.
Practical examples
The examples below are simplified illustrations of how Direction 121 may operate. They are not Department of Home Affairs determinations, and the actual priority of an application depends on the facts of the case and the terms of the Direction.
Subclass 482 — Registered Nurse, offshore with spouse
Likely Priority 1Scenario: A Registered Nurse lodges a Skills in Demand application while outside Australia and includes a spouse in a combined application.
Analysis: Registered Nurses fall within ANZSCO Sub-Major Group 25 — Health Professionals. Priority 1 therefore applies before the offshore/family rules become relevant. A validly combined spouse application receives the same priority as the primary applicant.
Subclass 482 — Specialist Skills applicant, offshore and alone
Likely Priority 2Scenario: A Skills in Demand applicant in the Specialist Skills stream lodges offshore. The occupation is not within a defined Priority 1 category.
Analysis: The separate Specialist Skills provision places the application in Priority 2.
Subclass 482 — Specialist Skills applicant with family
Likely Priority 2Scenario: A Specialist Skills primary applicant lodges with a spouse and child in validly combined applications, and Priority 1 does not apply.
Analysis: The primary applicant is Priority 2. The validly combined family applications receive the same priority.
Subclass 482 — Accountant, onshore, non-Specialist Skills
Likely Priority 3Scenario: An applicant in an occupation outside Priority 1 lodges a covered Subclass 482 application while in Australia and is not applying in the Specialist Skills stream.
Analysis: As an onshore primary applicant outside Priorities 1 and 2, the application falls within Priority 3.
Subclass 482 — ICT professional, offshore and alone
Likely Priority 4Scenario: A non-Priority 1 applicant who is not in the Specialist Skills stream lodges outside Australia and the application is never combined with another person’s application.
Analysis: The two requirements for Priority 4 are met.
Subclass 482 — ICT professional, offshore with spouse
Likely Priority 5Scenario: The same type of applicant lodges outside Australia but has a spouse included in a combined application.
Analysis: If Priorities 1 and 2 do not apply, the primary applicant does not satisfy the condition for Priority 4 because the application is combined with another person’s application.
Subclass 482 — Electrician (General), offshore with family
Likely Priority 1Scenario: An Electrician (General) lodges offshore and includes family members.
Analysis: Electrician (General) — ANZSCO 341111 — is expressly included in the Construction definition, so Priority 1 applies.
Remaining TSS application lodged before 19 September 2026
Direction 121 can still applyScenario: A Temporary Skill Shortage Subclass 482 application was lodged before Direction 121 commenced and has not yet been finally determined.
Analysis: The Direction expressly applies to covered applications made before commencement that had not been finally determined. The appropriate priority then depends on the occupation and the other relevant Direction 121 factors.
What does not automatically create a higher Direction 121 priority?
Direction 121 does not create a separate priority category merely because an application has one of the following features:
These matters may still be highly important to visa eligibility, nomination, sponsorship or labour-agreement requirements. The narrower point is that they are not separate processing priority levels in Direction 121.
Existing applications are also affected
Direction 121 applies to covered visa applications made before 19 September 2026 if they had not been finally determined before commencement, as well as to applications made on or after commencement.
This means a pending Skills in Demand or remaining Temporary Skill Shortage Subclass 482 application may be processed under the new priority framework even though it was lodged before Direction 121 commenced.
Technical exclusions and exceptions
Direction 121 does not apply to visa applications remitted by the Administrative Review Tribunal for reconsideration, or to applications where the ART has set aside a decision and substituted a new decision. The Direction also does not apply to the ART itself.
The Direction does not apply where it is readily apparent that the criteria for grant of the visa would not be satisfied.
The Direction excludes a particular category of applications by family-unit applicants who did not make a combined application with the primary visa holder where the primary visa holder was in Australia when they made their visa application.
Departure from the normal order in compelling circumstances
A delegate must depart from the normal priority order for a particular application if satisfied that compelling circumstances justify doing so. Direction 121 gives examples including circumstances affecting community safety, continuity of essential religious, cultural or community services in Australia, or Australia’s international relations.
Frequently asked questions
Does Priority 1 guarantee a fast decision?
No. Direction 121 establishes relative processing order. It does not guarantee a particular decision time or a visa grant.
Does Direction 121 change Subclass 482 eligibility?
No. Applicants must still satisfy the relevant requirements under the Migration Act and Migration Regulations. The Direction changes processing priority, not the criteria for visa grant.
Is every Specialist Skills application Priority 2?
A Skills in Demand Specialist Skills application is Priority 2 unless it falls within Priority 1, in which case the higher Priority 1 applies.
Are all construction workers Priority 1?
No. The occupation must fall within the Construction definition in Direction 121, which identifies specific ANZSCO groups and occupations.
Is every mining or resources worker Priority 1?
No. The nominated position must directly support the specified resources activities and the occupation must fall within the groups or occupations identified in the Direction.
Does being in Australia automatically make a Subclass 482 application Priority 3?
Only if a higher category does not apply. Priority 1 and, for Skills in Demand applications, Priority 2 are considered first.
Does being offshore automatically mean Priority 4?
No. For Priority 4, the primary applicant must have been outside Australia when the application was made and the application must not be combined with another person’s application at any time. Higher priorities must also not apply.
Can including a spouse or child affect an offshore applicant’s priority?
Potentially. An offshore primary applicant outside Priorities 1 and 2 cannot satisfy Priority 4 if the application is combined with another person’s application. Validly combined family applications receive the same priority as the primary applicant.
Does DAMA automatically give a Subclass 482 application higher priority?
No. DAMA is not a separate Direction 121 priority category. A DAMA application may nevertheless receive Priority 1 if the occupation or nominated position satisfies one of the Priority 1 definitions.
Does Direction 121 apply to Subclass 482 applications lodged before 19 September 2026?
Yes, where the application is covered by the Direction and had not been finally determined before commencement.
Are remaining Temporary Skill Shortage applications included?
Yes. The Schedule to Direction 121 includes both Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) and Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa applications.
Official sources
For current official information, see the Department of Home Affairs page on Skilled visa processing priorities and the official Ministerial Direction 121.
General information: this article explains the processing-priority framework in general terms and is not a substitute for immigration advice about an individual matter. The correct priority can depend on the visa stream, occupation, nominated position, the applicant’s location at lodgement, family composition and other facts of the application.
