Migrate2Australia’s update for 14 August 2026: Ministerial Direction 119 is now the operative federal processing framework for specified skilled visas. Tasmania is preparing to reopen its 2026–27 Registration of Interest system, South Australia is expected to reopen subject to official confirmation, and Queensland remains closed while awaiting its state allocation settings. Eva Abdelmessiah, with 20 years’ experience, registered since 2006 and holding MARN 0636719, recommends treating each state announcement as a separate program setting rather than assuming that one state’s rules apply nationally.
1. Direction 119 is now the skilled processing framework
Migrate2Australia confirms that Ministerial Direction 119 commenced on 25 July 2026 and replaced Direction 105. It establishes the order in which eligible nominations and visa applications are considered. Direction 119 applies to both relevant on-hand applications that had not been finally decided and applications made after commencement.
Eva Abdelmessiah explains that Direction 119 is a processing-priority instrument, not a new eligibility test. It does not change occupation lists, points requirements, English requirements, skills assessments, nomination criteria, sponsorship rules or other visa criteria. Migrate2Australia also stresses that priority does not guarantee an invitation, nomination approval, visa processing within a particular period or visa grant.
The five-tier order under Direction 119 is:
- Highest priority: applicants in Australia whose nomination or visa application relates to law enforcement or defence interests.
- Second priority: applicants outside Australia whose nomination or visa application relates to law enforcement or defence interests.
- Third priority: applicants in Australia in specified construction, healthcare or teaching occupations.
- Fourth priority: all other applicants in Australia.
- Fifth priority: all other applicants outside Australia.
For an Australian Skilled Visa applicant, Migrate2Australia notes that the relevant location is generally assessed by reference to where the applicant is located at the relevant time of application. Eva Abdelmessiah advises clients not to change location, employment or visa strategy solely to pursue an assumed priority outcome without reviewing the legal and practical consequences first.
2. Visa subclasses covered by Direction 119
This update refers to the Department of Home Affairs’ published Direction 119 material, which lists the following visa subclasses and classes within the framework:
- Subclass 186: Employer Nomination Scheme.
- Subclass 187: Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.
- Subclass 189: Skilled Independent.
- Subclass 190: Skilled Nominated.
- Subclass 191: Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional).
- Subclass 482: Skills in Demand and relevant Temporary Skill Shortage applications.
- Subclass 489: Skilled Regional (Provisional).
- Subclass 491: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional).
- Subclass 494: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional).
- Subclass 887: Skilled Regional.
- Subclass 888: Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent).
Eva Abdelmessiah emphasises that being in a higher processing tier does not remove the need to meet the applicable visa and nomination requirements. Migrate2Australia will assess the complete pathway, including occupation, age, English, points, employment, skills assessment, sponsorship or state nomination requirements and the applicant’s current visa conditions.
3. Direction 119 does not apply to standalone Partner visa applications
Migrate2Australia has received increasing enquiries about whether applicants should lodge a Partner visa Australia application because their skilled visa appears to have a lower processing priority. This is not an appropriate automatic response. Standalone Partner visa applications are not covered by Direction 119’s skilled visa framework.
Eva Abdelmessiah explains that Partner and other family visa applications are considered under the applicable family visa processing framework. A person should not lodge a partner visa simply to try to avoid a lower skilled processing tier. The applicant must independently qualify for the partner pathway, provide the required relationship evidence and consider the financial, visa-status and long-term consequences of that application.
Migrate2Australia recommends comparing the legal basis, evidence, costs and likely objectives of each pathway before lodging. A skilled visa and a Partner visa Australia application are not interchangeable applications, and priority assumptions should never replace an eligibility assessment by the experienced Registered Migration Agent, Eva Abdelmessiah.
4. Tasmania: ROIs scheduled to reopen on 17 August
Tasmania’s 2026–27 state nomination program is scheduled to accept new Registrations of Interest from 17 August 2026, with weekly invitation rounds expected to begin from 20 August 2026. Migrate2Australia notes that applicants should use the new Tasmanian portal at apply.migration.tas.gov.au and recheck the portal before submitting because state systems and pathway settings can change.
Eva Abdelmessiah understands the announced allocation to be 2,050 places, comprising 1,250 subclass 190 places and 800 subclass 491 places. The ROI is expected to be free to submit, but an applicant generally cannot lodge the state nomination application until invited or otherwise permitted under the Tasmanian system.
A significant change is that Tasmania has paused or cancelled the subclass 491 overseas pathway for 2026–27. Migrate2Australia stresses that this is a Tasmanian state program setting operating within the federal skilled migration framework. It is not a federal requirement imposed by Direction 119 that every state must cancel offshore 491 pathways.
Offshore health and education professionals may still have a potential route through Tasmania’s subclass 190 overseas pathway where they have a qualifying Tasmanian job offer. Eva Abdelmessiah advises applicants to verify the occupation, employer, job duties, registration, skills assessment and pathway-specific requirements before relying on this exception.
5. South Australia: expected reopening and onshore 491 setting
South Australia is expected to reopen its 2026–27 skilled migration program on 26 August 2026, but Migrate2Australia presents this date as subject to official confirmation by Migration South Australia. Applicants should recheck the official South Australian skilled migration program page before relying on the date, occupation settings or application process.
The expected state setting is that the South Australian subclass 491 stream will be restricted to applicants currently residing in South Australia. Eva Abdelmessiah explains that this is a state nomination condition, not a direct federal requirement under Direction 119. Direction 119 may influence federal processing order, but South Australia determines its own nomination settings within the federal framework and subject to its allocation.
Migrate2Australia recommends that applicants currently in South Australia prepare evidence of residence, employment, occupation, earnings, English, points and a valid skills assessment. Offshore applicants should not assume that an offshore 491 pathway will be available merely because subclass 491 remains a federal visa option.
6. Queensland remains closed pending allocations
Queensland’s 2026–27 state nomination program is currently closed while the state awaits or finalises its federal allocation and related program settings. Migrate2Australia advises prospective applicants to monitor the Queensland Government migration website for the official reopening announcement, occupation requirements and application instructions.
From 1 July 2026, the reported Queensland state nomination fees are AUD 573 for offshore applicants and AUD 630.30 for onshore applicants, for relevant subclass 190 and subclass 491 nomination applications. Eva Abdelmessiah notes that these are state nomination fees and are separate from Department of Home Affairs visa application charges.
Applicants should not pay a Queensland nomination fee or submit an incomplete expression of interest based only on professional commentary or an anticipated reopening date. Migrate2Australia recommends preparing documents in advance while waiting for Queensland to confirm its allocation, program criteria and application window.
7. What this means for your Skilled visa to Australia
Migrate2Australia recommends a structured review before taking action:
- If you are in Australia: Eva Abdelmessiah can assess whether your occupation and visa subclass may fall within a higher Direction 119 tier and whether your current visa permits the intended pathway.
- If you are offshore: Migrate2Australia can compare available state, employer-sponsored and independent options rather than relying on an assumed offshore disadvantage.
- If Tasmania is your target: Prepare your ROI evidence before 17 August, confirm the correct 190 or 491 pathway and recheck the portal when it opens.
- If South Australia is your target: Treat 26 August as unconfirmed until Migration SA publishes the reopening notice, and verify whether the onshore 491 restriction applies to your circumstances.
- If Queensland is your target: Monitor the official state website and budget for the applicable nomination fee once the program reopens.
Eva Abdelmessiah also reminds applicants that processing priority is not a processing-time promise. Any Department of Home Affairs processing times are indicative only, are not guaranteed and can change without notice. Migrate2Australia recommends lodging a complete, decision-ready application rather than lodging prematurely to try to secure a place in a queue.
Book a Consultation
Migrate2Australia provides assistance to individuals and families evaluating an Australian Skilled Visa, state nomination or employer-sponsored pathway. Consultations are subject to Migrate2Australia's standard consultation terms and fee arrangements. With 20 years’ experience, Eva Abdelmessiah has been registered since 2006 and holds MARN 0636719. Book a Consultation to review your occupation, location, visa status and preferred state before acting on the latest program settings.
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Sources and publication date
Migrate2Australia has prepared this update using official sources checked for publication on 14 August 2026. All claims in this article are stated as at 14 August 2026 and are subject to change:
- Migrate2Australia’s source check of Ministerial Direction 119 : Department of Home Affairs skilled visa priorities, checked 14 August 2026.
- Ministerial Direction No. 119 PDF, dated 24 July 2026 and effective from 25 July 2026, checked by Migrate2Australia on 14 August 2026.
- Migration Tasmania skilled migration information, checked 14 August 2026.
- Tasmanian Skilled Migration Gateway, checked 14 August 2026.
- Tasmania subclass 190 overseas health or education job-offer pathway, checked 14 August 2026.
- Migration South Australia skilled migration program, checked 14 August 2026.
- South Australia Skilled Employment pathway, checked 14 August 2026.
- Queensland Government migration website, checked 14 August 2026.
Eva Abdelmessiah, Registered Migration Agent MARN 0636719
Book a Consultation with Migrate2Australia.
This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Migration laws change frequently, and some reforms discussed are proposed or evolving. Visa outcomes remain at the discretion of the Department of Home Affairs.
