Ministerial Direction 117 & subclass 117 – DHA update 13 Aug 2026

Key data from Ministerial Direction 117 for subclass 117 and family visas

What Ministerial Direction 117 actually does

Ministerial Direction 117 is a processing priority direction, not a new visa and not an approval shortcut. It replaced Ministerial Direction 102 on 25 July 2026 and now guides decision makers on the order in which certain family visa applications are considered and processed, including partner, child, orphan relative, parent and carer visas.

The Direction gives the highest priority to family visa applications lodged while the primary applicant was in Australia, where the visa can be granted while the applicant is in Australia. Lower priority applies where the primary applicant was outside Australia at lodgement or must be outside Australia at grant. This processing order can affect how long subclass 117 visa Australia cases and related family visas wait in the system.

Family visa processing priority order under Direction 117

Within the broad onshore–offshore distinction, Ministerial Direction 117 sets a clear processing priority order for family visa types. This explains why a partner visa, an orphan relative visa Australia case or a parent visa may move at very different speeds, even though they all sit under the family migration program.

Ministerial intervention cases sit at the top because they involve special circumstances where the Minister has personally intervened. Partner and dependent child applications then sit ahead of orphan relative, parent, carer and remaining relative categories. For migration agents managing orphan relative visa 837 or offshore child cases like subclass 101, this table is the reference point when explaining why some files move faster than others.

Onshore family visas now receive stronger priority in some cases

Home Affairs states that under Ministerial Direction 117, the highest priority goes to family visa applications where the primary applicant was in Australia at lodgement and the visa can be granted while they are in Australia. Lower priority is given where the primary applicant was outside Australia at application or must be outside at grant. Offshore cases are still processed, but they sit behind onshore cases within the same visa category.

Analysis of parent visa waiting times and orphan relative impacts under Direction 117

Parent visas: capping, queueing and very long estimates

Parent visa processing behaves very differently from many other family visas because of capping and queueing. Capping means there is a maximum number of visas that can be granted in a migration program year. Once that cap is reached, no more visas in that category are granted that year. Queueing means eligible applications then wait until places open in future years.

Home Affairs confirms that all Parent visa applications are subject to capping and queueing, including Parent subclass 103, Aged Parent subclass 804, Contributory Parent subclasses 143 and 173, and Contributory Aged Parent subclasses 864 and 884. This structure is why parent applicants can wait many years, even after lodging a valid application and meeting criteria. Lowest since September 2025.

A 15‑year estimate for Contributory Parent visas is still a long horizon. The Direction confirms that while contributory options generally have higher government charges and have historically moved faster than non‑contributory Parent and Aged Parent visas, they remain a long‑term pathway rather than a quick reunification solution. A 33‑year estimate for non‑contributory Parent and Aged Parent visas underlines how constrained these categories are for new applicants.

Where orphan relative visas sit in the queue

Under Ministerial Direction 117, applications by an orphan relative sit at priority level 3, just below partner and dependent child applications and above contributory parent, carer and other parent‑type visas. For those tracking orphan relative visa 837 or offshore orphan relative subclass 117, this position in the order is central to any discussion of orphan relative visa processing time.

The Direction itself does not publish specific processing times for subclass 117 or subclass 837, but it does show that orphan relative cases are treated differently from parent cases and carer visas in the queue. Our analysis of ImmiIQ data uses this priority ladder as a structural reference when comparing family visa cohorts, even though exact processing timeframes must still be taken from DHA’s separate processing time pages for each subclass, such as Child 802 or related family visas.

Home Affairs says it cannot provide exact processing timeframes for Parent visas because they are subject to capping and queueing.

How Ministerial Direction 103 still interacts with queued family visas

Ministerial Direction 117 sets the broader family visa priority order, but Home Affairs also refers to Ministerial Direction 103 for applications subject to capping and queueing. The source text confirms this link but does not provide the full detail of Direction 103 in the same document, so any detailed queue‑position analysis for parent visas still requires reference to the separate Direction 103 instrument.

Next steps for agents, applicants and education providers using Direction 117

How can this Direction be turned into practical planning without guessing? The data in the DHA publication points to a few structured actions for migration agents, family visa applicants and institutions supporting affected families.

1. 01Map each family visa case to its priority level under Ministerial Direction 117 (partner/dependent child, orphan relative, contributory parent, non‑contributory parent, carer, remaining relative). This helps explain relative waiting times between family members.
2. 02Check whether the primary applicant was onshore or offshore at lodgement, and whether the visa can be granted onshore. This factor now directly affects processing priority for many family visas, including child and orphan relative subclasses.
3. 03For parent visas, treat 15‑year and 33‑year timeframes as planning anchors, not guarantees. DHA states these are estimates only, subject to capping, queueing and annual planning levels.
4. 04Use DHA subclass pages and tools like the ImmiIQ points calculator and EOI tools for an integrated view where skilled migration options are part of a broader family strategy.
5. 05Where families are considering study‑linked pathways or future sponsorship capacity, education providers may align course planning with the likely timing of permanent residence outcomes in related family streams.

Some families may also look at temporary options such as visitor visas, sponsored family visitor pathways or temporary parent visas while waiting on long parent queues. The source notes that these do not replace permanent parent visas, but they may help families plan time together during extended processing periods.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute migration advice. Always consult a Registered Migration Agent (RMA) for advice specific to your circumstances.

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