Australia's skilled visa queue just got restructured

Ministerial Direction 119 has officially been replaced. As of 19 September 2026, two new instruments govern how skilled visa applications are queued:

MD121 — Temporary Skilled visas (Skills in Demand, Subclass 482)
MD122 — Provisional & Permanent Skilled visas (186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887, 888)

Both prioritize the same seven categories: Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture/Aquaculture/Fishing, Resources, and occupations tied to law enforcement or defense interests.

A few details worth knowing if you're in this system:

→ MD121 has a fifth priority tier MD122 doesn't: Specialist Skills stream applications jump the general queue even outside the seven priority sectors.
→ MD121's compelling-circumstances exception includes "Australia's international relations" as a valid ground for reordering. MD122's does not.
→ MD122 alone addresses how priority interacts with section 85 numerical caps — relevant for several permanent categories.
→ Neither Direction changes visa eligibility — only queue position. You still need to meet every requirement under the Act and Regulations.

Pending applications lodged under the old MD119 framework are automatically carried into the new order — no need to reapply.

This is the concrete follow-through on the MD119 update flagged in the government's 17 September migration reform announcement — arriving as two separate instruments rather than one amended direction.

If your occupation sits in a priority sector, or you're navigating the Specialist Skills stream, now's the time to check exactly where you land in the new order.

A detailed analysis can be found under TLM Articles.

This update is based on information procured from official sources and public portals. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Kindly consult the relevant public authority or an immigration advisor at the Legit Migrant for guidance specific to your circumstances.