Vietnamese workers: why already being in Australia may now speed up a skilled visa

Visa guide · 2026-08-22 · 3 min read

Australia has changed how it handles many skilled visa applications. The new order may help people who are already in Australia. It may slow down people who are still overseas, including workers in Vietnam. This guide explains the change in simple words.

What changed?

In July, the government introduced a new directive. Before, the rule was simple: first in, first served. Now applications are sorted into five priority tiers. A tier is a level. Higher tiers are processed first.

Defence and law enforcement workers are at the top. The next group is workers in construction, healthcare and teaching, but only if they already live in Australia. Other applicants who apply from overseas are now at the bottom, unless they work in defence or policing.

What does it mean for a worker overseas?

Offshore applicants may wait much longer. Delays can stretch up to 12 months, and this is on top of any backlog that was already there. Many nurses and teachers that Australia needs are in this group.

The system looks at where you are, not only what you do. So an offshore nurse can be overtaken by an applicant in Australia who has a different job. Industry people say a marketing manager already in Australia could be processed faster than a nurse who waits overseas. Business groups call the change a "blunt tool".

Why is this happening?

The government wants to lower Net Overseas Migration. This is the number of people arriving minus the number leaving. It is now roughly 300,000. The target is 225,000 by 2028. The highest number, after the borders reopened, was 556,000.

Other ideas are also being discussed. One idea is to remove work rights from some people whose protection claims were rejected. The group on bridging visas has grown from roughly 130,000 in 2017 to over 413,000. International students are now over 528,000. Politicians do not agree on how to cut. Some want fewer students, and some want to protect backpacker visas for regional and farm work.

Simple steps you can take

Expect a longer wait. If you apply from Vietnam, think of 12 months as a normal time, not a worst case.
Ask for trusted advice before you apply. Rules can change very fast.
Prepare your papers now. If a police certificate is requested, a Vietnamese citizen usually applies for the Judicial Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2).
Keep certified English translations of your Vietnamese certificates and degrees ready.
Think about an English test such as IELTS or PTE if your visa or employer may need one.

The official visa listing shows the visas that Australia offers.

Please stay safe

When rules change, some people say they can make your visa faster for a payment. Be careful. Deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Do not pay anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a job or a visa.

What employers should do

Employers who sponsor workers from overseas should plan for the longer wait now, especially in health and education. Applicants who are already in Australia may see their cases move faster than they expected.

More changes are expected when the full migration plan is announced. Keep learning, stay calm and keep your documents ready.

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