Student visa processing priorities
Applications lodged by students inside Australia
We aim to assess applications in the order they are lodged, according to the date of lodgement. Processing times can vary for a range of reasons.
For an indication of processing times, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
Applications lodged by students outside Australia
Student visa applications lodged by applicants outside Australia are processed according to government policy priorities. For applications lodged before 14 November 2025, these priorities are outlined in
Ministerial Direction 111 – Order for considering and disposing of offshore Subclass 500 (Student) visa applications. For applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025, these priorities are outlined in Ministerial Direction 115 – Order for considering and disposing of offshore Subclass 500 (Student) visa applications.
A Ministerial Direction is not a visa cap, and it does not set the criteria to approve or refuse a student visa application.
How applications are prioritised under MD111
Applications are processed under two levels of priority:
- Priority 1 – High
- Priority 2 – Standard.
Refer below for information about the processing priority levels for different categories of student visas. Your priority level is determined at the time you lodge your visa and does not change whether we will grant or refuse your visa.
Priority 1 – High
Priority 1 includes applications from:
Priority 1 also includes Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training students seeking to study with education providers that have not reached their prioritisation threshold (80 per cent of their New Overseas Student Commencement (NOSC) allocation in 2025).
*Pilot training courses means the Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane), Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter), Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating), and Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor)
**Passport holders and residents of: Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Priority 2 – Standard
Priority 2 applies to:
- Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training students seeking to study with education providers that have reached their prioritisation threshold in 2025.
- subsequent entrants where the application does not include a minor.
How applications are prioritised under MD115
Applications are processed under three levels of priority:
- Priority 1
- Priority 2
- Priority 3
Refer below for information about the processing priority levels for different categories of student visas. Your priority level is determined at the time you lodge your visa and does not change whether we will grant or refuse your visa.
Priority 1
Priority 1 includes applications from:
Priority 1 also includes Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training students seeking to study with education providers that have not reached their prioritisation threshold.
*Pilot training courses means the Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane), Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter), Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating), and Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor)
**Passport holders and residents of: Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Priority 2
The Department will assign Priority 2 to applications associated with providers who have reached 80 per cent of their New Overseas Student Commencement (NOSC) allocation (their prioritisation threshold).
Priority 2 applies to:
- Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training students seeking to study with education providers that have reached their prioritisation threshold
- subsequent entrants where the application does not include a minor
Priority 3
The Department will assign Priority 3 to applications associated with providers who have exceeded their NOSC allocation by 15 per cent (their upper threshold).
Priority 3 applies to:
Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training students seeking to study with education providers that have reached their upper threshold.
How to check the priority status of your provider
Where relevant, the priority status of your visa application is based on your provider’s status at the time you lodge your application.
- Higher Education or a Dual Sector students – check the provider’s priority status at
Visa Prioritisation Status
- Vocational Education and Training students – ask your provider if they have reached their prioritisation threshold (Priority 2) or upper threshold (Priority 3)
You should note the priority status of your provider on the day you lodge your application as this determines the processing priority of your visa.
For students with a package of courses, refer to the below information about packaged confirmation of enrolments (CoEs).
Processing times under MD111 and MD115
Priority 1 applications are usually processed faster than Priority 2 and Priority 2 applications are usually processed faster than Priority 3. The priority level does not affect whether your visa is granted or refused.
The Department aims to commence processing:
- Priority 1 applications within 1 to 4 weeks of lodgement
- Priority 2 applications within 5 to 8 weeks of lodgement
- Priority 3 applications within 9 to 12 weeks of lodgement
These periods are based on 2025 lodgements and processing resources and can change, particularly when lodgements increase, and in peak periods. Allocation times are subject to change.
Processing times vary depending on volumes, integrity checks, completeness of applications and applicants meeting the identity, character and health requirements.
Find out what you can do to
help us process your application faster.
Packaged courses under MD111 and MD115
If you are applying for a package of courses with different providers, the visa priority is based on the main confirmation of enrolment (CoE). This is usually the final course in the package.
Under MD111
If the visa application was lodged before 14 November 2025, the status of the main provider and their progress towards their NOSC allocation for 2025 is used to determine the prioritisation of the visa application on the day the visa application is lodged.
Example: A student is enrolled in a package of courses starting in 2025:
- an ELICOS course at Provider A
- a Diploma at Provider B and
- a Bachelor degree at University X which starts in 2026.
The priority is set by University X when the visa is lodged in 2025:
- If University X has not reached its priority threshold for 2025, the application will be processed as Priority 1 – High.
- If University X has reached its 2025 threshold, the application will be processed as Priority 2 – Standard
Under MD115
Under MD115, the prioritisation of the visa application is determined by the education provider of the main CoE, and their progress towards their indicative allocation for the calendar year in which the application is lodged. Applications lodged between 15 November and 31 December every year are prioritised using the main provider’s progress towards their indicative allocation for the following calendar year.
Example 1: A student is enrolled in a package of courses starting in 2026 and the visa is lodged in June 2026:
- an ELICOS course at Provider C
- a Diploma at Provider D and
- a Bachelor degree at University Y which starts in 2027.
The priority is set by University Y when the visa is lodged:
- If University Y has not reached its priority threshold for 2026, the application will be processed as Priority 1.
- If University Y has reached its 2026 prioritisation threshold or upper threshold, the application will be processed as Priority 2 or Priority 3
Example 2: A student is enrolled in a package of courses starting in 2026 and the visa is lodged on 18 November 2026:
- an ELICOS course at Provider E
- a Bachelor degree at University Z which starts in 2027.
The priority is set by University Z when the visa is lodged:
- If University Z has not reached its priority threshold for 2027, the application will be processed as Priority 1.
- If University Z has reached its 2027 prioritisation threshold or upper threshold, the application will be processed as Priority 2 or Priority 3
For more information on packaged courses, visit:
Subclass 500 Student visa.
