Effective 25 July 2026, the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) formally implemented Ministerial Direction No. 117, superseding Ministerial Direction No. 102. This directive governs the operational order of priority for allocating resources and assessing applications across the Family Migration Stream.
Direction 117 directly affects applicants for Partner Visas (Subclasses 820/801 & 309/100), Child Visas, and Prospective Marriage Visas (Subclass 300). Crucially, Direction 117 does not alter statutory eligibility criteria; rather, it dictates the sequential queuing order in which department case officers assess lodged files.
Core procedural shift: Onshore applications prioritized over Offshore
Under the previous Direction 102, Partner and Child visas shared top priority without geographical differentiation. Under Direction 117, a critical hierarchy is established:
Partner and Child visa applications lodged while the applicant is physically in Australia (Onshore) are prioritized ahead of applications lodged from outside Australia (Offshore).
Complete Order of Processing Priority under Direction 117
- Priority 1: Applications subject to personal Ministerial Intervention under the Migration Act 1958.
- Priority 2: Partner Visas (820/801 & 309/100), Prospective Marriage Visas (300), and Child Visas — with Onshore applications assessed before Offshore applications.
- Priority 3: Orphan Relative Visas (Subclasses 117 and 837).
- Priority 4: Contributory Parent Visas (Subclasses 143, 173, 864, and 884).
- Priority 5: Carer Visas (Subclasses 116 and 836).
- Priority 6: Remaining Family Visas, including Parent (103), Aged Parent (804), Remaining Relative (115/835), and Aged Dependent Relative (114/838).
Strategic implications for family visa applicants
Couples evaluating between onshore Subclass 820/801 and offshore Subclass 309/100 lodgment must weigh visa condition restrictions (such as Condition 8503 No Further Stay), lawful onshore stay duration, and Bridging Visa A (BVA) work rights against overall processing timelines.
Family visa strategy with De1 Consultancy
De1 Consultancy advises couples and families on optimal lodgment timing, relationship evidence compilation, and compliance with Ministerial Direction 117.
Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs / Ministerial Direction 117
