What is Visa Priority Processing in Australia?

Visa priority processing in Australia refers to the system that determines how offshore student visa applications are processed. On December 19, 2024, the Australian Government introduced Ministerial Direction 111 to make visa assessment fairer and faster for international students applying from outside Australia.

At Alpha Immigration and Education Consultants, we’re here to guide you through the process step-by-step.

Why was this system created?

The visa priority processing system aims to:

Create fair access across all education providers
Encourage students to study in different parts of Australia
Keep the international education sector stable and trustworthy

📌 This system applies only to students applying from outside Australia.

How does priority processing work?

There are two main categories:

Your application gets faster processing if:

You apply to a Higher Education or VET provider that hasn’t reached 80% of its 2025 New Overseas Student Commencements (NOSC)
You belong to special student groups

Standard Priority (Priority 2)

Once a provider reaches 80% of its NOSC, further applications to that provider will be processed as standard priority.

👨‍🎓 Who Qualifies for High Priority?

The following student visa applications are classified under Priority 1:

Students applying to universities or colleges under 80% of their NOSC
School students and short-term exchange students
Independent ELICOS students
Postgraduate research students
Students enrolled in TAFE, including those studying TAFE courses at Charles Darwin University
Students in aviation pilot training
Foreign Affairs, Defence, or Commonwealth-sponsored students
Scholarship recipients from the Australian Government, state or territory governments, or foreign governments
Students from certain Pacific nations and Timor-Leste
Minor dependents applying as subsequent entrants

📌 To check your education provider’s status, you can view the 2025 NOSC allocations on the Department of Education website.

🎯 What Does This Mean for Sri Lankan Students?

If you apply to Charles Sturt University or another eligible provider through Alpha Consultants, and they haven’t yet reached 80% of their quota, the Department of Home Affairs will classify your application as High Priority.

This means:

Faster processing times
Higher likelihood of timely visa decisions
Less waiting stress before your semester starts

📎 Do These Changes Affect Onshore Students?

No. These changes only apply to offshore applicants—students who are currently outside Australia.

If you’ve already applied and your visa hasn’t been finalised, it will now be processed under Ministerial Direction 111.

📝 Tips for Faster Visa Processing

Apply as early as possible
Submit all documents completely and correctly
Double-check your information to avoid delays or refusals

Remember, visa applications must still meet all legal and eligibility requirements.

🔗 Related Resources:

🌐 Source:

Content based on official update from Study Australia and Ministerial Direction 111 (PDF).