Migration Policy
Australia Changes Family Visa Processing Priorities Under Ministerial Direction 117
Ministerial Direction 117 took effect on 25 July 2026, giving higher processing priority to eligible onshore Family visa applications. The Direction changes processing order but does not alter visa eligibility requirements or existing capping and queueing arrangements.
The Department of Home Affairs has introduced Ministerial Direction 117, effective from 25 July 2026. It replaces Ministerial Direction 102 and applies to existing applications not finally determined as well as new applications.
The central change
Lower priority applies where the primary applicant was outside Australia at lodgement, or where the applicant must be outside Australia at grant. Location at lodgement and the permitted place of grant now influence processing order alongside visa category.
Order between Family visa categories
- Family migration applications subject to ministerial intervention;
- partner and dependent child applications;
- orphan relative applications;
- contributory parent and contributory aged parent applications;
- carer applications;
- parent, aged parent, remaining relative and aged dependent relative applications.
Partner and child applications remain relatively high in the Family program. Within comparable categories, eligible onshore-lodged and onshore-grantable applications receive higher priority.
What does this mean for applicants?
An eligible onshore subclass 820/801 Partner visa application will generally rank ahead of a Family application lodged offshore or requiring the applicant to be offshore at grant.
- No visa eligibility requirement is reduced;
- no decision within a set time is guaranteed;
- health, character, relationship and sponsorship requirements are unchanged;
- existing caps and queues for Parent and Other Family visas remain.
Ministerial Direction 103 continues to apply to capped and queued Family applications, which may still be processed by queue date.
Can priority be requested in special circumstances?
Limited prioritisation may be considered where compassionate circumstances and compelling reasons justify departure from the ordinary order. Illness, pregnancy, family separation or personal hardship does not automatically secure priority; persuasive evidence of urgency and practical impact is normally required.