Australian government will prioritise processing for the student and student guardian visa programs under the Ministerial Direction No. 107. Under this direction, the highest priority is provided to:
Student visa applications lodged outside Australia by:
- Schools sector, Foreign Affairs or Defence sector, and Postgraduate Research sector applicants
- Higher Education, English Language Intesnive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS), Vocational Education and Training (VET), and Non- Award sector applicants studying at an education provider with an Evidence Level 1
- Subsequent entrant applicants (secondary applicant who did not apply with primary applicant) lodged outside Australia that include an unmarried family member under 18 years
- All Student Guardian visa applicants (lodged in or outside Australia)
All secondary applicants included in the same application of Primary applicant will be given the same priority as the primary applicant.
For packaged courses, the application will be given the priority order based on the principal course of study which is the course of study with the highest Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level.
These arrangements are in effect since 15 December 2023 and applies to all applications lodged prior to this date that are yet to be finalised.
Onshore visa applications will continue to be processed according to existing processing arrangements with no change.
Source: Department of Home Affairs
