New regulations for Australian student visas! Ministerial Order No. 115 takes effect, priority updates
The Australian Department of Home Affairs announced a new student visa processing bill on its official website today: Ministerial Direction No. 115 (MD 115). The new MD 115 will formally replace MD 111 starting from November 14.
MD 115 will integrate the 2026 enrollment thresholds (commonly known as "quotas") for each Australian educational institution previously released by the Department. Based on whether the actual number of offshore student visa applications reaches 80% or 115% of the enrollment threshold, visa processing will be classified into three priority levels: P1, P2, and P3.
Priority 1, Highest Priority Processing Level
Eligible under the following conditions:
1. Higher education institutions and VET colleges that have not reached 80% of their enrollment threshold
2. The following categories:
1) Students in the school sector for primary and secondary courses
2) Students in non-award courses or short-term exchange programs
3) Students in standalone ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students)
4) Students in TAFE (Technical and Further Education) courses
5) Students in pilot training courses
6) Students in research master's or doctoral programs
7) Students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Defense, or Australian national scholarships
8) Students from Pacific Island countries and East Timor
9) Students in transnational education programs
10) Students who are "subsequent entrants" with minor children accompanying them, as specified in section 8(4) of the legislation
Priority 2, Standard Processing Level
Eligible under the following conditions:
1. Higher education institutions and VET colleges that have reached 80% but not exceeded 115% of their enrollment threshold
2. Subsequent entrant (family member) visas that do not meet the specific conditions outlined in P1 2.10 above
Priority 3, Lower Processing Level
Higher education institutions and VET colleges that have exceeded 115% of their enrollment threshold
Additionally, MD 115 specifies the cycle for recalculating visa processing levels as:
From November 15 each year to November 14 of the following year.
Example: For offshore student visa applicants enrolling in 2026, applications submitted from November 15, 2025, will be assigned processing priority levels based on the 2026 updated enrollment thresholds.
Furthermore, MD 115 re-emphasizes the following:
1. P1-P3 only affects the priority of student visa processing and does not affect the outcome of the visa application;
2. The outcome of student visa applications is still determined based on comprehensive individual and family background factors, with particular emphasis on "integrity issues." This means that in subsequent student visa processing, the Department will continue to focus on the authenticity of all materials and information, and random checks or investigations of documents will not be relaxed.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs announced a new student visa processing bill on its official website today: Ministerial Direction No. 115 (MD 115). The new MD 115 will formally replace MD 111 starting from November 14.
MD 115 will integrate the 2026 enrollment thresholds (commonly known as "quotas") for each Australian educational institution previously released by the Department. Based on whether the actual number of offshore student visa applications reaches 80% or 115% of the enrollment threshold, visa processing will be classified into three priority levels: P1, P2, and P3.
Priority 1 (Highest Priority Processing)
Eligibility criteria:
- Higher education institutions and VET colleges that have not reached 80% of their enrollment threshold.
- Applicants in the following categories:
Priority 2 (Standard Processing)
Eligibility criteria:
- Higher education institutions and VET colleges that have reached 80% but not exceeded 115% of their enrollment threshold.
- Subsequent entrant (family member) visas that do not meet the specific conditions outlined in P1 2.10 above.
Priority 3 (Lower Priority Processing)
Higher education institutions and VET colleges that have exceeded 115% of their enrollment threshold.
Additionally, MD 115 clarifies the cycle for recalculating visa processing priority levels: November 15 each year to November 14 of the following year.
Example: For offshore student visa applicants enrolling in 2026, applications submitted from November 15, 2025 on wards will be assigned processing priority levels based on the 2026 updated enrollment thresholds.
Furthermore, MD 115 re-emphasizes the following:
- The P1-P3 levels only affect the priority of student visa processing, not the outcome of the visa application.
- Visa outcomes will still be determined based on comprehensive individual and family background factors of each application, with particular emphasis on "integrity issues." This means the Department will continue to focus on the authenticity of all materials and information in subsequent student visa processing, and random checks or investigations of documents will not be relaxed.
