New Ministerial Direction 111 for Offshore Students: A New Student Visa Processing Directive 

Hey! Here is a news update for you!

 

The Australian government has introduced new Ministerial Direction 111 for student visa processing as a new student visa processing directive. These recent changes came into effect on December 19, 2024, by the Department of Home Affairs, which has outlined the new student visa processing system by considering Priority 1 – High’ and ‘Priority 2 –  standard visa processing for offshore students.

 

As of the announcement of the new visa processing rule:

“The New Ministerial Direction 111 order for considering and disposing of offshore Subclass 500 (student) visa applications has 111 been introduced on December 19, 2024.”

 

The Australian Government has introduced a new Ministerial Direction 111 for offshore students. This new MD 111 has replaced the previous MD 107 in order to enhance the Subclass 500 (student) visa processing system. The purpose of this significant change is to ensure a more high-quality, equitable, and sustainable international education sector in Australia. 

 

“Direction no. 107: Order for considering and disposing of Student Guardian applications and offshore Subclass 500 student visa applications dates 14 December 2023 has revoked.”

 

Before we proceed to the details, let me understand the reason for taking this step:

 

Reasons for Replacing the MD 107 with the MD 111

To place hard caps on international students with legislation, the Australian government is still determined to limit the student’s visa processing by replacing MD 107 with MD 111. However, Australia’s enrollment caps for 2025 are off the table till now. 

 

The Department of Home Affairs, along with the Departments of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations, will continue to prioritize offshore student visa applications as the new semester approaches. 

 

Regulating the student visa application processing and surging the arrivals of offshore students can affect the overseas education industry as visa rules are going to be tightened.

 

Understand the Context of the Revocation of MD107

Previously, Ministerial Direction 107 was designed to manage the application processing of Student Guardian visas and offshore Subclass 500 student visas. The purpose of its establishment was to support education providers, who were experiencing strong recruitment practices for overseas students, and to assist the Department of Home Affairs during a period of high volume of applications and increased risk.

 

However, the government of Australia has recognized that these visa processing arrangements under Ministerial Direction 107 have not created uneven impacts among the education providers,  which is why it has led to the need for a revised approach.

 

Introduction of MD 111 on December 19, 2024

After the revision of the previous approach, the Australian Government has introduced a new Ministerial Direction 111, which is effective from December 19, 2024. The MD 111 has charged itself as a new priority category for processing offshore student visa applications. 

 

The government has revised this step to enhance the integrity and legitimacy of the overseas student visa program as well as the international education sector. This direction will apply to both pending and new applications that are lodged from offshore.

 

What are the Key Features of Ministerial Direction 111?

This direction provides an order of priority for considering and disposing of offshore Subclass 500 (Student) visa applications in an orderly manner that is aligned with national objectives and interests. There are two categories of priorities. 

 

Priority 1 – High: 

In this category, the applications that are associated with the higher education and vocational education and training sectors are included that have not yet reached their prioritization threshold, as indicated by PRISMS. In this priority, these applications will be prioritized and processed faster.

 

Note: The prioritization threshold is generally set at 80% of the education provider’s allocated number of international student enrollment. 

 

Priority 2 – Standard:

When a provider reaches a prioritized threshold, further applications will be processed under this standard priority.

 

Once an education provider reaches their prioritization threshold or a set specific limit, further applications will be processed under this standard priority.

 

This new system is specifically designed to create a balanced approach to offshore student visa processing around different provider types and locations. The regional and small providers are also included in it. It leads to the orderly and well-managed processing of visa applications, which aligns with the government’s broader international education objectives.

 

What are Higher Processing Priorities?

There are some categories of students who are given higher processing priorities, such as: 

• School Students
• Non-Award Sector Students
• Standalone ELICOS Students (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students)
• Students Enrolled with a TAFE Provider (Technical and Further Education)
• Students Enrolled in a Pilot Training Course
• Postgraduate Research Students
• Foreign Affairs Students
• Defence Students
• Students Sponsored by the Commonwealth Government
• Students with Certain Scholarships
• Students from Specific Pacific Island Nations and Timor-Leste
• Students Enrolled in Certain Transnational Education Arrangements
• Subsequent Student Visa Applicants with a Dependent Under 18 Years Old

 

Which Applications Will Be Impacted by the MD 111?

1. This direction will apply to those delegates of the Minister who consider and dispose of:

• • Offshore Subclass 500 (Student) visa application who have submitted on or after the commencement of direction
  • Offshore Subclass 500 (student) visa applications submitted before the commencement date but not finalized yet. 

2. This direction will not apply to the applications that clearly do not meet the visa requirements.

3. Additionally, this direction will not apply to the cases that are already reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal.

 

What will be the Impact of MD 111 on Students and Providers?

For Students

• Students with priority applications will experience faster processing.

 

• Students are encouraged to apply early and ensure they have submitted all required information to avoid any delays. 

 

• A fair and equitable processing of student visa applications will support and attract a wide range of students, including those from regional and small providers.

 

For Education Providers

• MDD111 will provide a more balanced approach to student visa application processing within various types of providers and locations, including regional and small providers.

 

• It will provide them with a clear understanding of their prioritization status, helping them manage their student intake and visa application processes more.

 

• MD111 supports the fair distribution of new student visa applicants, which will definitely lead to the growth and sustainability of the international education sector in Australia.

 

Final Thoughts

By continuous consultation with the international education sector throughout 2024, new Ministerial Direction 111 was developed on December 19, 2024. Overall, the purpose of MD 111 is to enhance the integrity, fairness, and efficiency of the student visa processing system. This new direction will help both students and education providers while aligning with the government’s broader international education objectives and interests. 

 

However, the Australian government will continue to engage with the education sector through webinars and discussions with other responsible bodies and share updates via official websites. But to know more news and updates regarding new processing arrangements, keep following the news and blogs section at the Migration so that you may not miss any important updates. 

 

For professional help, consult with our migration agent, Nasir Nawaz!