Australia Changes Family Visa Processing Priorities: What Ministerial Direction 117 Means for Applicants
Australia has introduced an important change to the way Family visa applications are prioritised for processing.
Ministerial Direction No. 117 came into effect on 25 July 2026, replacing the previous Ministerial Direction No. 102.
While the change does not alter the basic eligibility requirements for Family visas, it changes which applications receive higher processing priority — with eligible onshore applications now generally receiving priority over offshore applications.
For families considering Partner, Child, Parent or Other Family visas, understanding the new processing order may be important when planning their migration pathway.
What Is Ministerial Direction 117?
Ministerial Directions provide instructions to Department of Home Affairs decision-makers about the order in which certain visa applications should be considered.
Under Direction 117, the highest priority is generally given to Family visa applications where:
the primary applicant was in Australia when the application was lodged; and
the visa can be granted while the applicant is in Australia.
Family visa applications where the primary applicant was outside Australia at the time of application, or where the applicant must be outside Australia when the visa is granted, receive a lower processing priority.
Importantly, this is a processing priority, not a guarantee that an application will be approved faster or within a particular timeframe.
What Is the New Family Visa Priority Order?
Within the onshore and offshore categories, Direction 117 sets the following general order of processing priority:
Family visa applications that have been 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
This means that both where the applicant is located and which Family visa category they are applying under can affect processing priority.
Which Family Visas Are Affected?
Direction 117 applies broadly across Australia's Family Migration Program, including applications involving:
Partner visas
Child visas
Parent and Aged Parent visas
Contributory Parent visas
Contributory Aged Parent visas
Carer visas
Orphan Relative visas
Remaining Relative visas
Aged Dependent Relative visas
Applicants should remember that processing priority is only one part of the system. Different visa subclasses continue to have their own eligibility requirements, application conditions, annual planning levels and, in some cases, capping and queueing arrangements.
What Does This Mean for Parent Visa Applicants?
The change is particularly relevant for families considering Parent visa pathways.
Under the new direction, an eligible onshore Family visa application that can be granted in Australia generally receives higher processing priority than an offshore application.
For example, this makes the distinction between Contributory Aged Parent visas such as subclasses 864 and 884, which are onshore pathways, and offshore Contributory Parent visas such as subclasses 143 and 173, particularly important when families consider their options.
However, this does not mean that subclass 864 or 884 applicants can skip the Parent visa queue.
All Parent visa applications remain subject to capping and queueing, including:
Parent visa (subclass 103)
Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)
Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 143 and 173)
Contributory Aged Parent visas (subclasses 864 and 884)
Demand for Parent visas continues to significantly exceed the number of places available each year. As a result, waiting periods can remain very long even where an application receives a higher processing priority.
Does This Mean Subclass 864 Is Better Than Subclass 143?
Not necessarily.
Direction 117 may make the onshore/offshore distinction more relevant when comparing Parent visa strategies, but subclass 864 and subclass 143 are designed for applicants in different circumstances.
A Contributory Aged Parent visa pathway may be worth considering where the parent:
meets the applicable age requirements;
is eligible to lodge the application while in Australia;
is permitted to make a further visa application while in Australia;
does not have a visa condition that prevents a valid onshore application, where applicable; and
meets all other relevant visa criteria.
Depending on the visa, applicants may also need to satisfy requirements relating to sponsorship, the Balance of Family Test, Assurance of Support, health and character.
Simply travelling to Australia does not automatically make someone eligible for an onshore Parent visa.
Parent Visa Waiting Times Remain Significant
The Department of Home Affairs confirms that Parent visas remain subject to capping and queueing.
As of its latest published information, the Department estimates that new Contributory Parent visa applications may take around 15 years, while new Parent and Aged Parent visa applications may take approximately 33 years to process.
These figures are estimates rather than guaranteed processing times and can change depending on factors including migration planning levels, application volumes, withdrawals and refusals, and changes to processing directions.
For families considering Parent migration, this makes early planning increasingly important.
What Should Existing Applicants Do?
If you already have a Family visa application in progress, Direction 117 does not mean you need to lodge a new application.
Instead, it may be useful to review:
which visa subclass you have applied for;
whether your application is onshore or offshore;
your current queue position, where applicable;
your current visa status if you are in Australia; and
whether any alternative Family visa pathway is legally available and appropriate for your circumstances.
Withdrawing an existing application and changing to another visa pathway can have significant financial and immigration consequences, so applicants should carefully assess their circumstances before making any changes.
Planning a Family or Parent Visa Application?
Ministerial Direction 117 represents an important shift in Australia's Family visa processing priorities, particularly because eligible onshore applications now receive greater priority.
However, higher priority does not mean automatic eligibility, immediate processing or guaranteed approval.
For Parent visas in particular, age requirements, location at lodgement and grant, visa conditions, the Balance of Family Test, sponsorship, Assurance of Support, health and character requirements, and long processing queues all need to be considered together.
If you are considering bringing your partner, children or parents to Australia, MigrateHub can help you understand the available visa pathways and assess which option may be suitable for your family's circumstances.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Australian immigration laws, policies, processing priorities and visa requirements may change. Individual circumstances vary, and professional advice should be obtained where appropriate.
Comments