The below is valid as of 19 September 2026. It may not be valid at time of reading due to constant changes to migration legislation and policy. To receive accurate advice regarding your personal situation, please book a phone consultation with our Senior Registered Migration Agent, Michelle Firth.
Direction 122 sets the processing order for selected Australian permanent and provisional skilled visa applications. If your nominated occupation is in a Priority 1 category, your visa application is processed before the other groups listed below.
The Direction applies to applications not finally decided when it started, as well as applications lodged after it started. It does not change visa eligibility rules, occupation lists or visa criteria. You must still meet all requirements for your visa.
Priority Processing for Skilled and Employer Sponsored Visas:
Direction 122 applies to the following visa subclasses:
- Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme subclass 187
- Skilled Independent subclass 189
- Skilled Nominated subclass 190
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) subclass 489
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) subclass 494
- Skilled Regional subclass 887
- Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) subclass 888
Who Gets Priority First?
Direction 122 sets four processing groups, from highest to lowest priority.
| Priority | |
| 1 | Primary applicants in a listed construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing or resources occupation, or an occupation related to Australia’s law-enforcement or defence interests |
| 2 | Other primary applicants who are in Australia when they lodge |
| 3 | Primary applicants outside Australia when they lodge, where their application has not been combined with another person’s application at any time |
| 4 | All other applications |
Family members who make a combined application receive the same priority as the primary applicant. This means a Priority 1 applicant can include eligible family members without moving into a lower priority group.
Priority 1 Construction Jobs
You are in the highest-priority group if your nominated occupation is in one of the following construction categories. Each listed group and occupation has equal Priority 1 status.
- Construction Trades Workers
- Construction and Mining Labourers
- Construction Managers
- Engineering Managers
- Architects and Landscape Architects
- Civil Engineering Professionals
- Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
- Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
- Safety Inspectors
- Other Building and Engineering Technicians
- Sheetmetal Workers
- Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
- Clay, Concrete, Glass and Stone Processing Machine Operators
- Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators
- Earthmoving Plant Operators
- Electrician (General)
- Electrician (Special Class)
Priority 1 Healthcare Jobs
The following healthcare occupations and groups are Priority 1.
- Health Professionals
- Health and Welfare Support Workers
- Medical Scientists
- Counsellors
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Medical Technicians
- Aged or Disabled Carer
- Nursing Support Worker
- Personal Care Assistant
Priority 1 Teaching Jobs
The following teaching and education occupations are Priority 1
- School Teachers
- Child Care Centre Managers
- School Principal
- Faculty Head
- University Lecturer
- Vocational Education Teacher (AUS) / Polytechnic Teacher (NZ)
- Child Care Worker
Priority 1 Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing
Direction 122 does not identify agriculture, aquaculture and fishing occupations by a fixed ANZSCO group or occupation list. Instead, it defines an eligible agriculture, aquaculture or fishing occupation by reference to the nominated position and its direct involvement in primary-produce production or supporting productivity.
This includes work directly involved in:
- Cultivating, producing or harvesting crops.
- Catching fish or breeding, raising, managing or producing livestock, poultry, seafood or other primary agricultural products.
- Agricultural-production support, including animal health, irrigation, quality assurance, inspection and farm supervision.
- Slaughtering, dressing, boning, slicing, processing, preparing or inspecting livestock, poultry, seafood or other primary agricultural products for sale, distribution or consumption.
The nominated position must genuinely meet this definition. An occupation title alone may not be enough if the actual role is not directly connected with the listed activities.
Priority 1 Resources Jobs
A resources-sector occupation is one where the nominated position directly supports the exploration, extraction or production of minerals, oil, gas or coal. This includes mine closure, decommissioning and rehabilitation work.
The listed Priority 1 resources occupations and groups are:
- Mining Engineers
- Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists
- Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers
- Production Manager (Mining)
- Surveyor
- Other Spatial Scientist
- Metallurgist
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter-Welder
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
- Metal Fitters and Machinists nec
Priority 1 Police and Defence Roles
Specific law-enforcement and defence-related positions.
Police
The applicant must be nominated or sponsored by one of the listed Australian police agencies and be in ANZSCO Unit Group 4413 — Police. The listed agencies are:
- 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
Priority 1 Defence
A defence-related occupation is Priority 1 where it:
- Relates to, or supports, AUKUS Pillar I—conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines—or AUKUS Pillar II—advanced capability development; or
- Is nominated or sponsored by the Australian Defence Force or Department of Defence; or
- Has a support letter from the Australian Defence Force or Department of Defence, and the applicant will usually work at a defence facility or the role supports the production or supply of defence-related materiel or technology.
What Priority Processing Means
Priority 1 means the Department should consider your application before Priority 2, 3 and 4 applications. It does not mean the visa is automatically approved or granted within a set time.
Your visa can still be delayed if there are missing documents, unresolved health or character requirements, issues with an employer nomination, concerns about the nominated occupation, or other visa criteria that have not been met.
Requesting Priority Processing for Your Skilled Visa Application
There are limited exceptions. A delegate can depart from the usual order where an application involves compelling circumstances affecting community safety or the continuity of essential religious, cultural or community services in Australia.
Key Takeaway
If your nominated occupation is in one of the listed Priority 1 construction, healthcare, teaching or resources groups or your role meets the specific agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, police or defence definitions, your skilled visa application may receive the highest processing priority under Direction 122.
Next Steps
Please book a consultation with a registered migration agent to obtain accurate, current and specific advice relating to your personal situation.
