Australia rolls out new processing rules for student visas under Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115)

International students applying for a Student Visa (Subclass 500) from outside Australia will now have their applications processed under a new prioritisation system — Ministerial Direction 115 (MD 115), which came into effect 14 November 2025.

What changes under MD 115

• Offshore visa applications submitted on or after 14 November 2025 will be assessed under MD 115. Applications lodged before that date will continue under the previous rules under Ministerial Direction 111 (MD 111).
• Under MD 115, visa processing is no longer “first-come, first-served.” Instead, applications are prioritized based on the intake and enrollment status of the institution to which the student is applying. Institutions that remain within their allocated international-student quota are likely to receive “faster” processing, while those that exceed limits may see delays.
• This three-tier processing approach — often described as “fast / standard / slow” lanes — aims to distribute international student load more evenly across institutions and prevent overcrowding at popular campuses.

Why the change

According to Study Australia, the shift reflects a broader government goal to support the long-term sustainability, quality, and integrity of Australia’s international education system. The earlier MD 111 system was designed to begin this rebalancing; MD 115 refines and extends that effort.

What it means for students

• Prospective international students (from India and elsewhere) should note that the choice of institution now matters more than ever: applying to a provider within their quota may lead to quicker visa decisions.
• Institutions with high international enrollments may face slower processing. This may result in longer wait times or additional scrutiny for applicants applying to such providers.
• Students who applied before 14 November 2025 are unaffected by the change and will have their visas processed under the existing MD 111 rules.

Source: Student visa processing update | Study Australia