Australia revises student visa policy to streamline offshore application processing

NEW DELHI: In a bid to streamline the student visa process, the Australian government has introduced new measures aimed at speeding up the processing of offshore student visa applications. The revamped visa processing system will prioritize applications based on the education provider's enrolment status, with higher education and vocational education and training providers receiving the fastest processing under "Priority 1" status. The new system ensures that once a provider reaches a certain enrolment threshold, applications will be processed at "Priority 2" – a standard pace.

The Department of Home Affairs emphasized that the revised approach is not a cap on visa approvals but rather an effort to create a more balanced system, benefitting a wider range of educational institutions across the country.

Ministerial Direction 107 (MD107), which guided the consideration and processing of Student Guardian visa applications and offshore Subclass 500 (Student) visa applications, was introduced to assist providers with effective recruitment practices for international students and support the Department of Home Affairs during a period of rising application volumes and risks. The Australian Government has acknowledged that the implementation of MD107 created uneven impacts on education providers. MD107 was revoked on 18 December 2024.

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Ministerial Direction 111 (MD111), which supersedes MD107, came into effect on 19 December 2024. MD111 applies to both unfinalised offshore Student visa applications lodged before that date and those lodged on or after it. This direction establishes priority categories for processing Student visa applications.

Australia student visa

Under MD111, Priority 1 (High) will apply to offshore Student visa applications linked to providers in the higher education and vocational education and training sectors, as long as the provider has not yet reached their prioritisation threshold, as indicated by PRISMS, the Department of Education’s enrolment management system. Once a provider reaches their prioritisation threshold, visa processing will shift to Priority 2 (Standard).

This new approach under MD111 ensures a more balanced and fair system for visa processing across a variety of provider types and locations, including regional and smaller providers. The direction is designed to support the efficient and orderly processing of visa applications, benefiting the education sector in an equitable manner, while also aligning with the Government’s broader international education objectives.

Priority 1 (High) will be processed more quickly than Priority 2 (Standard). It is important to note that MD111 is not a cap and does not establish the criteria for approving or refusing student visa applications.