Parent Visa Processing Priority: How Direction 117 Changed the Queue

The order in which the Department of Home Affairs processes family visas changed on 25 July 2026. Ministerial Direction 117 replaced Direction 102 and now separates applications into two groups: those made in Australia that can be granted in Australia, and everyone else. The onshore group is processed first. This guide explains what that means for parent visa applicants already in the queue and for families still deciding which visa to apply for.

What changed

Before 25 July 2026, family visas were processed under Direction 102. Location now matters first. Under Direction 117, the Department looks first at whether the main applicant was in Australia when they applied and whether the visa can be granted in Australia. Those applications form the first tier and are processed before the second tier.

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The two tiers

Tier	Who is in it	Parent visas usually in this tier
First tier	Main applicant was in Australia at application and the visa can be granted in Australia	804, 864 and 884
Second tier	Main applicant was outside Australia at application, or must be outside Australia at grant	103, 143 and 173 (most cases)

A 143 lodged in Australia by a current or recent 173 holder can be granted in Australia, and so can Retirement Pathway applications. Whether a particular application falls in the first tier depends on its facts, so get advice if you are unsure.

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The order within each tier

Inside each tier, the Department follows the same visa processing order:

1. applications where the Minister has intervened;
2. partner, prospective marriage and dependent child visas;
3. orphan relative visas;
4. contributory parent visas (143, 173, 864 and 884);
5. carer visas;
6. non-contributory parent visas (103 and 804), remaining relative and aged dependent relative visas.

Secondary applicants, such as a partner included in the application, take the same priority as the main applicant.

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What this means for parents

Comparison	Effect of Direction 117
Onshore 864 or 884 v offshore 143 or 173	The onshore application is now in the higher tier
Onshore 804 v offshore 103	The 804 is now in the higher tier, although it is still last within that tier
Onshore 804 v offshore 143	The 804 is in the higher tier, even though the 143 is a contributory visa

Priority is not the same as a grant. Parent visas are capped each program year. Once the places for the year are used, no more visas can be granted until the next year, and applications wait in a queue. Direction 117 changes the order in which applications are worked on. It does not create more places.

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Queue date rules that still apply

A separate direction on capped visas still sets the order within the queue. In general, applications are queued in the order they are assessed as meeting the requirements, with some important rules:

• Switching to a contributory visa: if you apply for a 143 or 864 while your 103 or 804 is still undecided, the new application generally keeps the earlier lodgement date.
• Moving from temporary to permanent: a 143 or 864 lodged by a 173 or 884 holder takes the lodgement date of the temporary visa application. See moving from a 173 or 884 to a permanent parent visa.
• Retirement Pathway: former 405 and 410 holders have their own queues.

The Department can still process an application out of order where there are compassionate or compelling circumstances.

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Should you change your strategy?

Some families may now ask whether a parent should try to apply in Australia. Be careful before doing this:

• Age: the 804, 864 and 884 are only for parents who have reached Age Pension age. An application made too early is invalid. See the aged parent age requirement.
• Visa conditions: a visitor visa with a no further stay condition, such as 8503, blocks an application in Australia unless it is waived.
• Section 48: a person subject to the section 48 bar cannot apply for a parent visa in Australia.
• Bridging visas: only some parent visa applications in Australia come with a bridging visa. Most offshore parent visa applicants who are in Australia as visitors do not get one.
• Only one application: you generally cannot make a new parent visa application while another one is still undecided.

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What you should do now

• Check which tier you are in: it depends on where the main applicant was at lodgement and where the visa can be granted.
• Do not withdraw in a hurry: withdrawing an application can cost you your queue date.
• Check the age rule before applying onshore: an under-age 804, 864 or 884 application is invalid.
• Get advice on switching: moving to a contributory visa can keep your earlier queue date.