Look, if you are planning to study in Australia, the visa itself is not the hard part. The hard part is understanding why some applications get processed in weeks while others sit there for months.
The answer comes down to two words: provider thresholds.
The Australian government has implemented Ministerial Directions that create a tiered processing system for offshore Subclass 500 Student visa applications. Your place in the queue depends almost entirely on which education provider you choose and when you lodge your application.
Here is what you actually need to know.
The "Decision Ready" Rule: Get This Wrong and Nothing Else Matters
Before we talk about priorities, let us be clear about something. An incomplete application will sit at the bottom of every pile, regardless of which priority tier you fall into.
The Department of Home Affairs calls this "check twice, submit once." I call it the difference between waiting weeks and waiting months.
A decision ready application means:
• All documents included at lodgement, not uploaded later
• Non-English documents translated with the translator's full name, address, phone number, and qualifications
• Your name spelled exactly as it appears on your passport
• Police certificates obtained before you apply (valid if issued within 12 months)
• Health examinations completed through My Health Declarations before lodgement
If you are under 18, you also need your birth certificate and both parents' passports.
One more thing: do not book your flight until your visa is granted. I have seen too many people learn this lesson the expensive way.
How Offshore Student Visa Priorities Actually Work
There are two Ministerial Directions currently in play. Which one applies to you depends on when you lodge your application.
Applications Lodged Before 14 November 2025: MD 111
MD 111 uses a two-tier system.
Priority 1 (High) includes:
• School students, non-award students, and standalone ELICOS students
• TAFE students (including specific TAFE courses at Charles Darwin University)
• Postgraduate research students (PhD)
• Students sponsored by DFAT, Defence, or holding government scholarships
• Students from Pacific nations and Timor-Leste
• Higher Education and VET students whose providers have not reached 80% of their 2025 allocation
• Subsequent entrants where the application includes a child under 18
Priority 2 (Standard) applies to Higher Education and VET students whose providers have already reached that 80% threshold.
Applications Lodged On or After 14 November 2025: MD 115
MD 115 creates three tiers. This is where it gets interesting.
Priority 1: Providers below 80% of their indicative allocation. Processing commences within 1 to 4 weeks.
Priority 2: Providers between 80% and 115% of their allocation. Processing commences within 5 to 8 weeks.
Priority 3: Providers above 115% of their allocation. Processing commences within 9 to 12 weeks.
That is a significant difference. Priority 1 could see processing start within a week. Priority 3 might not even begin for three months.
The Details That Trip People Up
Your priority is locked in at the moment you lodge. If your provider crosses a threshold the day after you submit, it does not affect your application.
If you are doing a packaged course (say, English followed by a diploma followed by a degree), your priority is based on your main Confirmation of Enrolment. That is usually the final course in the package.
And here is something people forget: integrity checks apply to everyone. Even Priority 1 applications can take longer if the Department identifies concerns. A clean application with strong documentation moves faster than a technically prioritised one that raises questions.
How to Check Your Provider's Status
For Higher Education providers, the Department publishes a Visa Prioritisation Status list. Check it before you finalise your enrolment.
For VET providers, there is no public list. You need to ask the provider directly whether they have reached their prioritisation threshold (Priority 2) or upper threshold (Priority 3).
This matters more than most students realise. Two identical students applying on the same day for the same course type can have completely different processing times purely because they chose different providers.
What Should You Do Now
If you are serious about studying in Australia, do not leave this to chance. The difference between a provider at 75% of their allocation and one at 116% could mean months of waiting.
Check your provider's threshold status before you accept your offer. Get your health checks and police certificates before you lodge. Make sure every document is complete and correctly translated.
If you are not sure where your provider sits, or you want someone to review your application before you submit it, book a consultation with our team. We work with individuals navigating every stage of the Australian visa system, and we can tell you exactly where you stand before you commit to a course that puts you in the wrong queue.
The rules are not complicated once you understand them. But getting them wrong costs time you cannot get back.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, book a consultation.
