Ministerial Direction 121: 482 Visa Processing Order
Published 21 September 2026 | Last updated 21 September 2026
Ministerial Direction 121 (MD 121) sets the order in which Department of Home Affairs delegates consider subclass 482 visa applications. The Minister signed it on 18 September 2026, and it commenced the next day, on 19 September 2026. It revoked Ministerial Direction 119, which was dated 24 July 2026.
MD 121 has five tiers. A primary applicant in a priority occupation, as the Direction defines it, ranks first. Applications in the Specialist Skills stream rank second.
Key takeaways
The Minister signed MD 121 on 18 September 2026. It commenced on 19 September 2026.
It covers subclass 482 only: the Skills in Demand visa and the Temporary Skill Shortage visa.
It has five tiers. Priority occupations sit in tier 1, and the Specialist Skills stream sits in tier 2.
Neither tier 1 nor tier 2 depends on where the applicant was when they applied.
It applies to visa applications made before 19 September 2026 that the Department has not finally determined, and to applications made on or after that date.
It does not change the occupation lists or the visa requirements.
Every other skilled visa subclass sits under Ministerial Direction 122.
What is Ministerial Direction 121?
MD 121 is a direction the Minister gave under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958. Its full title is "Order for considering and disposing of visa applications for certain temporary Skilled Visas".
The Direction instructs the Minister's delegates, the Department officers who decide visa applications. It tells them which applications to consider first. It commences on the day after the Minister signs it.
The Direction states its own purpose. Priority processing goes to occupations in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources, and to occupations in Australia's law enforcement and defence interests.
The Specialist Skills stream gets further priority as a streamlined pathway for highly skilled migrants who deliver significant economic benefits to Australia. In the remaining sectors, priority goes to primary applicants already contributing to Australia before all other applicants.
You can read the full text on the Department of Home Affairs website. The Department also publishes a summary on its skilled visa processing priorities page.
What does Ministerial Direction 121 mean for 482 applicants?
Where an application sits depends on the primary applicant's occupation, the stream, their location when they applied and whether the application is combined. These examples show how the tiers work.
Primary applicant in a priority occupation. The application sits in tier 1, in or outside Australia.
Specialist Skills stream applicant outside the priority occupations. The application sits in tier 2, in or outside Australia, alone or with family in the same application.
Primary applicant in Australia, any other occupation or stream. The application sits in tier 3.
Primary applicant outside Australia, any other occupation or stream, applying alone. The application sits in tier 4.
Primary applicant outside Australia, any other occupation or stream, with a partner or child in the same application. The application sits in tier 5.
Partner or child included in the primary application. They take the same tier as the primary applicant.
Family member who lodges a separate application. MD 121 does not apply if that application is not combined with the primary visa holder's and the primary visa holder was in Australia when they applied.
Processing time still depends on other factors, including the completeness of the application. Our 482 visa processing times guide covers what to expect.
What does Ministerial Direction 121 mean for sponsors?
A 482 visa involves a nomination and a visa application. MD 121 orders the visa application. It does not mention nomination applications.
The occupation decides whether the visa application can sit in tier 1.
For agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources, the nominated position must meet the activity test in the Direction.
The stream decides whether the visa application can sit in tier 2.
The primary applicant's location at lodgement and whether the application is combined decide tiers 3 to 5.
Check the 482 visa requirements before you lodge.
Which visas does Ministerial Direction 121 cover?
The Schedule to MD 121 lists two visas. Both sit in Class GK:
Skills in Demand (Class GK) (Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand))
Temporary Skill Shortage (Class GK) (Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage))
The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024. The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024. The Direction still lists the older visa in its Schedule and notes the replacement.
The Direction covers visa applications. It does not mention nomination applications.
The other skilled visa subclasses now sit under MD 122. Those are subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888.
For the visa itself, read our 482 visa guide.
What is the order of priority under Ministerial Direction 121?
Section 7 sets five levels. Paragraph (a) is the highest priority and paragraph (e) is the lowest. RACC calls them tier 1 to tier 5.
Tier | Section 7(3) | Applications |
1 | (a) | Visa applications made by a primary applicant in relation to an occupation in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing or resources, or an occupation related to Australia's law enforcement or defence interests |
2 | (b) | Applications for a Skills in Demand (Class GK) visa in which the applicant seeks to satisfy the criteria for the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa in the Specialist Skills stream |
3 | (c) | All other visa applications where the applicant is a primary applicant who is in Australia when they make the application |
4 | (d) | Visa applications where the applicant is a primary applicant who is outside Australia when they make the application, and whose application is not combined with another person's application at any time |
5 | (e) | All other visa applications, except combined applications covered by section 7(4) |
Tiers 1 and 2 have no location condition. Tier 2 also has no primary applicant condition.
Delegates apply this order with due regard to the Government's policy intentions for the temporary visa program.
What is the Specialist Skills stream priority?
Section 7(3)(b) gives tier 2 to a Skills in Demand application where the applicant seeks to satisfy the criteria for the Specialist Skills stream. The applicant can be in or outside Australia. A primary applicant in a priority occupation still ranks higher, in tier 1.
The preamble explains the reason. The Specialist Skills stream is a streamlined pathway for highly skilled migrants who deliver significant economic benefits to Australia. The Direction gives it further priority, on top of the priority occupations.
Which occupations count as priority occupations?
Section 6 defines each priority group. Where it lists ANZSCO occupations for a group, it ranks each listed occupation equally. MD 122 uses the same definitions.
Check the ANZSCO code of the nominated occupation against these lists. You can also search occupations and their assessing authorities on our skilled occupation list.
Construction occupations
ANZSCO Sub-Major Group 33: Construction Trades Workers
ANZSCO Sub-Major Group 82: Construction and Mining Labourers
Unit 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
341111: Electrician (General)
341112: Electrician (Special Class)
Healthcare occupations
ANZSCO Sub-Major Group 25: Health Professionals
Minor Group 411: Health and Welfare Support Workers
Unit Group 2346: Medical Scientists
Unit Group 2721: Counsellors
Unit Group 2723: Psychologists
Unit Group 2725: Social Workers
Unit Group 3112: Medical Technicians
423111: Aged or Disabled Carer
423312: Nursing Support Worker
423313: Personal Care Assistant
Teaching occupations
Minor Group 241: School Teachers
Unit Group 1341: Child Care Centre Managers
134311: School Principal
134411: Faculty Head
242111: University Lecturer
242211: Vocational Education Teacher (AUS) / Polytechnic Teacher (NZ)
421111: Child Care Worker
Agriculture, aquaculture and fishing occupations
The Direction defines this group by activity, not by ANZSCO code. It covers an occupation where the nominated position is directly involved in primary produce production or supporting productivity. That includes:
cultivating, producing or harvesting crops
fishing, breeding, raising, managing or producing livestock, poultry, seafood or other primary agricultural products
agricultural production support, including animal health, irrigation, quality assurance, inspection or farm supervision
slaughtering, dressing, boning, slicing, processing, preparing or inspecting livestock, poultry, seafood or other primary agricultural products for sale, distribution or consumption
Resources sector occupations
The nominated position must directly support the exploration, extraction and production of minerals, oil and gas, or coal resources. That includes mine closure, decommissioning and rehabilitation activities. The Direction says this group includes occupations in the following, all of equal priority:
Unit Group 2336: Mining Engineers
Unit Group 2344: Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists
Unit Group 7122: Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers
133513: Production Manager (Mining)
232212: Surveyor
232214: Other Spatial Scientist
234912: Metallurgist
323211: Fitter (General)
323212: Fitter and Turner
323213: Fitter-Welder
323214: Metal Machinist (First Class)
323299: Metal Fitters and Machinists nec
Law enforcement occupations
The occupation must sit in ANZSCO Unit Group 4413 (Police). The applicant must also be nominated or sponsored by one of these forces:
Australian Federal Police
New South Wales Police Force
Northern Territory Police Force
Queensland Police Service
South Australia Police
Tasmania Police
Victoria Police
Western Australia Police Force
Defence occupations
An occupation qualifies if it meets any one of these three tests:
It relates to, or supports the delivery of, AUKUS Pillar I (conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines) or Pillar II (advanced capability development).
The applicant is nominated or sponsored by the Australian Defence Force or the Department of Defence.
The applicant has a letter of support from the Australian Defence Force or the Department of Defence, and either the applicant will ordinarily do the occupation at a defence facility, or the occupation supports the production or supply of defence-related materiel or technology.
How do combined applications work?
A visa application combined with a primary applicant's application, in a way the Migration Regulations permit, gets the same priority as the primary applicant's application. A partner or child included in the primary application follows the primary applicant's tier.
The nominated position must directly support the exploration, extraction and production of minerals, oil and gas, or coal resources. That includes mine closure, decommissioning and rehabilitation activities. The Direction says this group includes occupations in the following, all of equal priority:
What are the compelling circumstances exceptions?
Section 8 requires a delegate to depart from the standard order for a particular application. This applies when the delegate is satisfied the application involves compelling circumstances, such as those affecting:
community safety
the continuity of essential religious, cultural or community services in Australia
Australia's international relations
The words "such as" suggest the three grounds are examples. MD 122 words its exceptions differently. It names two grounds and does not include international relations.
Which applications does Ministerial Direction 121 not apply to?
Section 4(2) lists five exclusions. MD 121 does not apply to:
visa applications the ART remitted for reconsideration
visa applications where the ART set aside a decision and substituted a new decision
visa applications where it is readily apparent that the criteria for grant of the visa would not be satisfied
visa applications by an applicant who claims to be a member of the family unit of a primary visa holder, where the applicant did not make a combined application with the primary visa holder and the primary visa holder was in Australia when they made their visa application
the ART
Does Ministerial Direction 121 apply to applications lodged before 19 September 2026?
Yes. Section 4(3) states that MD 121 applies to visa applications made but not finally determined before it commenced, and to visa applications made on or after commencement.
The Direction covers applications already on hand, so it is not limited to new applications. Where you lodged before 19 September, the Direction's order now applies to your application.
What does Ministerial Direction 121 not change?
The Direction states that it does not change the composition of the skilled migration occupation lists. Applicants must still meet the requirements in the Migration Act and the Migration Regulations to receive a visa.
A higher tier moves your application ahead of lower tiers. It does not change the visa criteria or the evidence you must provide.
How is Ministerial Direction 121 different from Ministerial Direction 119?
Section 3 of MD 121 revokes Direction 119. Compared with the Direction 119 tier list RACC published before 19 September, MD 121 changes the order in three ways:
One top tier. All priority occupations sit in tier 1, whether the primary applicant applied in or outside Australia. The earlier tier list split its top tiers by location.
More priority sectors. Agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources join construction, healthcare, teaching, law enforcement and defence.
A Specialist Skills tier. The earlier tier list had no dedicated tier for the Specialist Skills stream.
For the history of the old direction, read our Ministerial Direction 119 explainer. For every current direction in one place, see our guide to Ministerial Directions and visa processing.
How is Ministerial Direction 121 different from Ministerial Direction 122?
The two directions share the same priority occupation definitions and the same top tier. They differ in the visas they cover and in how they order the rest.
Feature | Direction 121 | Direction 122 |
Visas covered | Subclass 482 | Subclasses 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 489, 491, 494, 887 and 888 |
Number of tiers | Five | Four |
Specialist Skills tier | Yes, tier 2 | No |
Exceptions | Compelling circumstances, "such as" community safety, essential services or international relations | Compelling circumstances affecting community safety or essential services |
Section 85 cap provision | No | Yes, section 8 |
Nominations | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
This matters if you move from a 482 visa to a permanent visa later. A later application for a visa in MD 122's Schedule, such as the 186, falls under MD 122, which has no Specialist Skills tier. Our 482 to permanent residency guide explains the pathways.
What should you do now?
Find the ANZSCO code of the nominated occupation and check it against the lists above.
Check whether the nominated position meets the activity tests for agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources.
Confirm which stream the application sits in.
Work out whether the primary applicant was in or outside Australia when they applied.
Check whether the application is combined with another person's.
Check the current estimate on the Department's visa processing times tools.
If you are unsure which tier applies, book a consultation with our registered migration agents.
This page is general information. It is not legal or migration advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ministerial Direction 121?
Ministerial Direction 121 is a direction under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958. It sets the order delegates consider Skills in Demand and Temporary Skill Shortage 482 visa applications. The Minister signed it on 18 September 2026, and it commenced on 19 September 2026. It uses five priority tiers and revoked Direction 119.
Is Ministerial Direction 119 still in force?
No. Section 3 of Ministerial Direction 121 revokes Direction 119, which was dated 24 July 2026. Direction 121 covers the 482 visa. Direction 122 covers ten other skilled visa subclasses. Direction 119 no longer governs any application, including applications lodged before 19 September.
Does Ministerial Direction 121 cover the Skills in Demand and Temporary Skill Shortage visas?
Yes. The Schedule lists both visas under Class GK. The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024. MD 121 does not cover the other skilled visa subclasses. Direction 122 covers those.
What is the Specialist Skills stream priority under Ministerial Direction 121?
Tier 2. Section 7(3)(b) gives tier 2 to Skills in Demand applications where the applicant seeks to satisfy the criteria for the Specialist Skills stream. This applies in or outside Australia. Priority occupations in tier 1 rank higher.
Which occupations are priority occupations under Ministerial Direction 121?
MD 121 names construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement and defence occupations. It defines most groups by ANZSCO code. It defines agriculture, aquaculture and fishing by activity. Law enforcement requires police sponsorship, and defence requires an AUKUS, Defence nomination or Defence support link.
Does Ministerial Direction 121 apply to applications lodged before 19 September 2026?
Yes. Section 4(3) applies MD 121 to visa applications made but not finally determined before commencement, and to applications made on or after it. The Direction covers those applications, so it is not limited to new ones.
Does Ministerial Direction 121 apply to nominations?
The Direction applies to visa applications for the classes in its Schedule. It does not mention nomination applications. The Department's skilled visa processing priorities page does not say how nominations are processed either. A 482 case involves a sponsor nomination, so ask your migration agent or the Department how yours is handled.
Does a higher tier mean my 482 visa will be granted faster?
A higher tier moves your application ahead of lower tiers when the Department decides which application to consider next. It does not change the visa criteria or remove the assessment. Application completeness and other factors still affect how long your application takes.
Disclaimer
The information in this article provides general guidance only. It does not constitute migration or legal advice.
Migration policies, nomination allocations, and visa requirements may change and may vary depending on each applicant's circumstances.
Applicants should seek advice from a MARA-registered migration agent or qualified immigration professional before making migration decisions.
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