Ministerial Direction 117: What the New Family Visa Processing Priorities Mean for Applicants

How Family Visa Applications Are Prioritised Under Direction 117

The infographic issued by the Migration Institute of Australia provides a useful snapshot of the processing order under Ministerial Direction 117.

Understanding this order can help applicants see where different family visa categories generally sit within the system.

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1. Minister Substituted ART Decisions

The highest priority listed under the Direction relates to cases involving Minister substituted Administrative Review Tribunal decisions.

These applications sit at the top of the processing order shown in the Direction.

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2. Partner and Child Visa Applications

Partner and child applications receive a high level of processing priority.

This category can include people applying to join or remain with their partner, spouse or eligible family members in Australia.

For many couples and families, this is particularly relevant because Partner and Child Visa applications sit ahead of several other family visa categories. You can read more about Australian family and partner visa options on our service page.

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3. Orphan Relative Applications

Orphan Relative visa applications are listed next in the processing priority.

These visas are generally relevant to eligible children whose parents cannot care for them and who have qualifying relatives in Australia.

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4. Contributory Parent Categories

Contributory Parent visa applications follow Orphan Relative applications in the processing order.

These visa pathways are designed for eligible parents seeking to join their children in Australia.

Ministerial Direction 117 does not remove the existing priority position of these visas. Instead, the new onshore and offshore grouping is considered before the normal processing order is applied.

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5. Carer Applications

Carer visa applications are listed after Contributory Parent categories.

These visas generally relate to eligible applicants who need to provide ongoing care or assistance to an Australian relative with a long term medical condition or other qualifying circumstances.

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Does Ministerial Direction 117 Apply to Existing Applications?

Yes.

According to the Direction summary, the new processing rules apply to family visa applications that were already on hand when the Direction commenced, as well as new applications.

This means you do not necessarily need to have applied after 25 July 2026 for the Direction to affect how your application is prioritised.

It can also apply to applications that have been remitted from the Administrative Review Tribunal or a predecessor of the Tribunal.

This makes the change relevant not only to new applicants, but also to many people who may already be waiting for a decision.

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What Happens to Secondary Applicants?

Ministerial Direction 117 also provides clarity for secondary applicants included in a family visa application.

According to the Direction, secondary criteria applicants receive the same processing priority as the primary applicant.

This can be important for families applying together because their priority is linked to the main applicant's application.

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Are Compassionate or Special Circumstances Still Considered?

Yes.

The Direction retains an exception for compassionate and special circumstances.

This means there may still be situations where particular circumstances can affect how an application is considered.

However, every case is different. Applicants should not assume that their personal circumstances automatically qualify for special consideration.

If you believe there are serious compassionate circumstances affecting your family visa application, professional advice may help you understand whether those circumstances are relevant to your situation.

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Does Higher Priority Mean Your Visa Will Be Approved Faster?

Not necessarily.

This is one of the most important things to understand about Ministerial Direction 117.

Processing priority and visa approval are two different things.

A higher priority determines the order in which applications may be considered. It does not guarantee that:

• Your visa will be approved
• Your application will be finalised within a particular period
• Your application will avoid further document requests
• You will automatically move ahead of every other family visa applicant

The Department still needs to assess whether you meet the requirements of the visa you have applied for.

Your documents, eligibility, health requirements, character requirements and other relevant visa conditions may still affect the application process.

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What Does This Change Mean for Onshore Family Visa Applicants?

For eligible applicants already in Australia, Ministerial Direction 117 may be particularly important.

If your visa can legally be granted while you remain in Australia, your application may fall into the first priority group.

The main change can therefore be summarised as:

Eligible onshore applications are considered before offshore applications or applications where the applicant must be offshore when the visa is granted.

This creates a clearer distinction between applicants based on their location and visa grant requirements.

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What Does It Mean for Offshore Applicants?

If you are applying from outside Australia, the change does not remove your ability to have your family visa considered.

Your application will continue to be processed according to the relevant rules and family visa category.

However, under Ministerial Direction 117, eligible onshore applicants are now placed in the first group before the normal family visa processing order is considered.

For offshore applicants, understanding your visa category, documentation and eligibility becomes even more important.

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Should You Change Your Visa Strategy Because of Direction 117?

Visa decisions should never be made based only on processing priority.

Whether you should apply onshore or offshore depends on several factors, including:

• The visa subclass you are eligible for
• Your current visa status
• Whether you can lodge the application while in Australia
• Whether the visa can be granted while you are in Australia
• Conditions attached to your current visa
• Your family circumstances
• Your immigration history

Ministerial Direction 117 changes processing priorities, but it does not change the basic eligibility rules for every family visa.

Before changing your plans, make sure you understand how the rules apply specifically to your circumstances.

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Already Applied for a Family Visa? Here Is What to Consider

If you already have an application being processed, you may want to review your situation rather than immediately making changes.

Consider confirming:

• Which family visa category you have applied for
• Whether you are currently onshore or offshore
• Whether your visa can be granted while you are in Australia
• Whether all requested documents have been supplied
• Whether your personal circumstances have changed since your application was lodged

Because Direction 117 applies to applications already on hand, your existing application may already be subject to the new priority structure.

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Planning to Apply for a Family Visa?

If you have not applied yet, the new Direction makes understanding your visa pathway even more important.

Before applying, make sure you understand both your eligibility and how your particular visa is required to be lodged and granted.

A properly prepared application can help reduce avoidable problems such as missing documents, incorrect information or misunderstanding the requirements of your visa subclass.

For family visa applications, small details can have a major impact, so it is worth understanding your options before you lodge.

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Final Thoughts on Ministerial Direction 117

Ministerial Direction 117 represents an important change to the way Australian family visa applications are prioritised.

The biggest difference is simple.

Applicant location and the place where the visa can be granted now affect processing priority before the normal family visa order is applied.

Eligible onshore applicants who can receive their visa while remaining in Australia are prioritised ahead of offshore applicants and people who must be offshore when their visa is granted. The existing family visa processing hierarchy then continues within each group.

For applicants and families, the change makes it even more important to understand which visa pathway applies to you and how your circumstances may affect the processing of your application.

Australian migration rules can change, and every family situation is different. If you are unsure how Ministerial Direction 117 may affect your current application or your plans to apply, consider contacting the team to discuss your situation with a registered and qualified migration professional.