The Department of Education released its latest “Visa Prioritisation Status” table on 5 December, reflecting how offshore student-visa applications are being queued under Ministerial Direction 115 . The spreadsheet, updated weekly, assigns every registered education provider a priority tier that directly influences processing speed.
Institutions that manage enrolments within their government-allocated caps retain Tier 1 status, securing faster visa decisions that can be as quick as ten days. Providers exceeding caps are downgraded, with some now facing average processing times exceeding 40 days, affecting February 2026 intake plans.
![Weekly visa-processing priority list updated under Ministerial Direction 115]()
Global recruiters say the live transparency helps businesses forecast graduate talent pipelines. “If a university slips to Tier 3, we advise clients to adjust onboarding dates or consider alternative campuses,” notes one mobility consultant. The update is especially relevant ahead of peak January lodgements, when application volumes surge by more than 60 percent.
Employers sponsoring 485 Graduate Visa applicants should monitor their partnering institutions’ priority status to avoid onboarding delays. The Department will hold information sessions later this month to explain the methodology and appeal mechanisms.
Institutions that manage enrolments within their government-allocated caps retain Tier 1 status, securing faster visa decisions that can be as quick as ten days. Providers exceeding caps are downgraded, with some now facing average processing times exceeding 40 days, affecting February 2026 intake plans.
Global recruiters say the live transparency helps businesses forecast graduate talent pipelines. “If a university slips to Tier 3, we advise clients to adjust onboarding dates or consider alternative campuses,” notes one mobility consultant. The update is especially relevant ahead of peak January lodgements, when application volumes surge by more than 60 percent.
Employers sponsoring 485 Graduate Visa applicants should monitor their partnering institutions’ priority status to avoid onboarding delays. The Department will hold information sessions later this month to explain the methodology and appeal mechanisms.
