Australia Prioritises Onshore Visa Applicants
New ministerial directions set the order of visa processing, with offshore applicants now facing longer waits.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Immigration
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The Albanese government issued new ministerial directions in July 2026 determining the order of visa processing, giving permanent visas greater priority to applicants already onshore in Australia. Applicants offshore must now wait longer for their visas to be processed.
Why it matters
The policy is designed to help drive net overseas migration down to 245,000 in 2026-27 and 225,000 in 2027-28. Critics have raised concerns about family separation and possible breaches of international obligations on children's rights.
The government has set net overseas migration targets of 245,000 for 2026-27 and 225,000 for 2027-28. The number of offshore applicants affected by the new processing order has not been established.
The players
Tony Burke
Tony Burke is the Australian federal minister responsible for home affairs and immigration matters, and was warned by his department about criticism of the policy.
Albanese government
The Albanese government is the federal Labor administration led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, which issued the new ministerial visa directions.
The details
The Albanese government issued new ministerial directions in July determining the order of visa processing. The changes stop giving priority to employer-sponsored applications for jobs in regional Australia and have drawn backlash from the Coalition opposition.
Timeline
July 2026: The Department of Home Affairs warns Minister Tony Burke about likely criticisms, and the new visa processing directions are issued.
2026-27: Net overseas migration target of 245,000 takes effect.
2027-28: Net overseas migration target of 225,000 takes effect.
Political Context
The directions are tied to the government's net overseas migration targets of 245,000 and 225,000 for the coming two financial years. Opposition from the Coalition and concerns raised about children's rights frame the policy's contested reception.
Applicants located offshore must now expect longer waits for permanent visa processing. Employers seeking to sponsor workers for regional jobs will no longer receive priority under the new directions.
The takeaway
Visa timelines are now shaped by where an applicant is located, so offshore applicants should check current processing expectations before making plans. The policy's effect on families and children remains an open question.
Further reading
Explore more on Australian immigration policy and how visa processing rules are changing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by POLITICO.
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