Australia’s Student visa processing 2026: Ministerial Direction 115

On 14 November 2025, the Australian Government’s Ministerial Direction 115 came into effect, and will remain in place for 2026. The new MD115 replaces the old MD111.

Under MD115, higher processing priority is given to education providers who manage their new international student numbers according to their indicative allocations under the National Planning Level (NPL).

Key changes

• For 2026, the Government has set the NPL at 295,000 New Overseas Student Commencements (NOSCs) - 25,000 places higher than in 2025.
• Providers have been issued indicative allocations in line with this level.
• No active international education provider will receive a 2026 allocation that is less than their 2025 allocation.
• MD115 outlines three processing priorities based on an education provider’s progress against their NOSC allocation.

Exemptions and special conditions

Certain student cohorts will not count toward the NOSC totals. For example, students who transition from Australian secondary schools or from embedded pathway providers into a publicly-funded university will not be counted towards the provider’s NPL total.

Who does this effect?

These changes only apply to offshore Student visa applications (lodged outside of Australia).

If a student applied for an offshore Student visa prior to 14 November 2025 their application will continue to be prioritized under MD111 settings. If a student applied for an offshore Student visa on or after 14 November 2025, their application will be processed under MD115.