Queensland Nomination | Skilled Visa 190 & 491

Queensland currently nominates for two skilled visa subclasses:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – a permanent visa
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – a provisional visa for eligible skilled workers who live and work in regional Queensland

Queensland nomination is competitive and places are limited. Applicants must satisfy both the Australian Government's visa requirements and Migration Queensland's nomination requirements.

Current program update: Queensland's Registrations of Interest for the 2025–26 State Nominated Migration Program are currently closed because available nomination places have been filled. Migration Queensland is awaiting future program settings and allocation information from the Australian Government.

Queensland Skilled Visa Options

Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent skilled visa for eligible applicants nominated by an Australian state or territory.

A Queensland nomination can provide 5 additional points towards the Australian points test.

Successful applicants can live and work in Queensland as permanent residents, subject to the visa conditions.

Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional Visa

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is designed for eligible skilled workers who live and work in designated regional areas.

A Queensland nomination for subclass 491 provides 15 additional points under the points test.

The 491 is a provisional visa and may provide a pathway to permanent residence through subclass 191, provided the relevant requirements are met.

Queensland Nomination Pathways

Migration Queensland currently identifies several potential skilled nomination pathways, including:

• Skilled workers living in Queensland
• Skilled workers living outside Australia
• Building and construction workers
• Queensland university graduates
• Small business owners in regional Queensland for subclass 491

The eligibility criteria differ between pathways, so applicants should assess the pathway that applies to their circumstances rather than relying on general Queensland nomination requirements.

Skilled Workers Living in Queensland

Applicants already living and working in Queensland may be considered through the Queensland onshore pathway.

Current Migration Queensland requirements include:

• An occupation on the relevant Queensland Onshore Skills List
• At least 65 points under the Australian Government points test
• At least Competent English
• Relevant post-qualification skilled employment
• Compliance with the applicable visa subclass requirements
• A commitment to continue living and working in Queensland

For the current published onshore criteria, applicants seeking consideration for:

Subclass 491: must have lived and worked in regional Queensland for at least 6 months immediately before registering their interest.

Subclass 190: must have lived and worked in Queensland for at least 9 months immediately before registering their interest.

The relevant employment must generally be after completion of the applicant's qualification, have the same first three ANZSCO digits as the nominated occupation and be at least 20 hours per week under the current published criteria.

Skilled Workers Living Outside Australia

Queensland can also consider eligible skilled workers who are living offshore.

Under the current published offshore criteria, applicants generally need:

• An occupation on the Queensland Offshore Skills List
• At least 65 points
• At least Competent English
• At least one year of skilled employment experience in the nominated or closely related occupation
• Current employment in the nominated or closely related occupation at the relevant selection stage
• Commitment to living and working in Queensland

Some occupations may be eligible only for subclass 491 rather than subclass 190.

Queensland Building and Construction Pathway

Queensland has a dedicated pathway for eligible building and construction workers.

This pathway is designed to support workforce needs in Queensland's construction sector.

Eligible occupations must appear on the relevant Queensland Building and Construction skills list and satisfy the applicable pathway requirements.

Depending on the occupation and visa eligibility, candidates may be considered for subclass 190 or subclass 491.

Some occupations may only be eligible for subclass 491 where they fall within the applicable regional occupation requirements.

Queensland University Graduates

Graduates of eligible Queensland universities and tertiary institutions may have additional nomination opportunities.

The current Queensland graduate pathway covers eligible graduates with:

• A Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• PhD

The qualification must meet the applicable Australian Study Requirement and must have been completed entirely in Queensland at an eligible institution.

Your Queensland qualification does not necessarily have to be directly related to your nominated occupation, subject to the current Queensland requirements.

Graduate pathways can have additional requirements relating to the qualification, graduation date, employment, occupation and visa subclass.

Small Business Owners in Regional Queensland

Queensland also identifies a pathway for eligible small business owners in regional Queensland under subclass 491.

This pathway is subject to specific requirements concerning the business, ownership, operation, location and applicant circumstances.

It should not be confused with a general business migration pathway or treated as an automatic route to permanent residence.

Applicants should review the current Migration Queensland requirements before relying on this option.

Queensland Skills Lists

Queensland uses different skills lists depending on the nomination pathway.

These can include:

• Queensland Onshore Skills List
• Queensland Offshore Skills List
• Building and Construction skills list
• Other pathway-specific occupation requirements

An occupation may be eligible for one Queensland pathway but not another.

Some occupations can also be limited to subclass 491.

Therefore, simply finding your occupation on a Queensland list does not automatically mean that you qualify for every Queensland nomination pathway.

Queensland Nomination Eligibility

Your eligibility generally needs to be assessed against two sets of requirements:

Australian Government Requirements

Depending on the visa, these can include:

• Age
• Eligible occupation
• Positive skills assessment
• English
• Points score
• Invitation
• Health
• Character
• Other visa-specific requirements

Migration Queensland Requirements

Queensland may also assess:

• Occupation
• Employment
• Salary
• Qualifications
• Location
• Regional employment
• English
• Skills and experience
• Partner circumstances
• Workforce priorities
• Commitment to Queensland

You must satisfy both sets of requirements to proceed successfully.

Queensland Expression of Interest

Before registering your interest with Queensland, you generally need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Australian Government's SkillSelect system.

Your EOI should accurately contain information about:

• Age
• Occupation
• Skills assessment
• English
• Qualifications
• Skilled employment
• Points
• Current location
• Partner circumstances
• Visa preferences

Queensland uses information from your SkillSelect EOI when assessing candidates.

Your EOI should therefore be accurate and supported by appropriate evidence.

Registration of Interest – Queensland ROI

After submitting an EOI, eligible applicants can submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) to Migration Queensland when the relevant program is open.

The Queensland ROI process is separate from the SkillSelect EOI.

A typical process is:

SkillSelect EOI → Queensland ROI → Queensland Selection → Invitation to Apply for Nomination → Nomination Application → Home Affairs Visa Process

Queensland does not allow applicants to directly apply for the skilled visa through the state. You must first receive an invitation from Migration Queensland to proceed with the state nomination process.

Queensland Selection Process

Queensland receives a high level of interest from skilled migrants, while nomination places are limited.

Selection can consider factors such as:

• Skills
• Qualifications
• Work experience
• Salary
• Employment location
• Age
• English
• Partner's skills
• Occupation priorities
• Regional workforce needs

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee selection or nomination.

Queensland Nomination and Points

For points-tested skilled migration:

Subclass 190: Queensland nomination contributes 5 points.

Subclass 491: Queensland nomination contributes 15 points.

Applicants must also meet the applicable Australian Government points requirement and other visa criteria.

A minimum points score does not guarantee a Queensland invitation.

Queensland 190 Pathway to Permanent Residency

The subclass 190 is a permanent visa.

A potential pathway is:

Skills Assessment → English → SkillSelect EOI → Queensland ROI → Selection → Queensland Nomination → Home Affairs Invitation → Subclass 190 → Permanent Residence

Applicants must satisfy both Queensland nomination requirements and the Department of Home Affairs visa requirements.

Queensland 491 Pathway to Permanent Residency

The subclass 491 is a provisional regional visa.

Eligible holders may potentially progress to the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after satisfying the applicable requirements.

A potential pathway is:

Skills Assessment → EOI → Queensland ROI → Nomination → 491 → Regional Residence & Other Requirements → 191 PR

Subclass 491 should therefore be considered as part of a longer-term regional migration strategy rather than as an immediate permanent visa.

Commitment to Queensland

Queensland expects successful nominees to make a genuine commitment to living and working in the state.

Under the current published criteria, nominees must commit to continue living and working in:

• Queensland for at least 2 years after a subclass 190 grant
• Regional Queensland for at least 3 years after a subclass 491 grant

These are Queensland nomination commitments and should not be confused with the separate legal requirements of the visa itself.

Queensland Nomination Documents

Depending on your pathway, you may need documents such as:

• Passport bio page
• Skills assessment
• English test result
• Qualification certificates
• Academic transcripts
• Employment references
• Payslips
• Employment contract
• Employer letter
• Superannuation evidence
• Bank statements where relevant
• Queensland residential evidence
• Regional employment evidence
• Visa evidence
• Graduation certificate or course completion letter
• Evidence supporting your EOI and ROI claims

Migration Queensland publishes a pathway-specific documentation checklist.

Chef and Hospitality Applicants

Queensland's current onshore criteria contain specific restrictions for Chefs and Cooks.

For the current published pathway, chefs and cooks are unable to apply through the Queensland onshore pathway when their employment is in takeaway or fast-food businesses.

This is an important example of why an occupation being listed as eligible does not necessarily mean every type of employment will qualify.

Queensland Regional Migration

Regional Queensland can provide opportunities for applicants who are willing to live and work outside Brisbane and other metropolitan areas.

A regional strategy may be particularly relevant to applicants considering:

• Subclass 491
• Regional employment
• Regional Queensland graduates
• Building and construction occupations
• Regional healthcare
• Hospitality
• Trades
• Other occupations in demand in regional communities

The actual regional location and occupation requirements should be checked before choosing a 491 strategy.

Common Queensland Nomination Mistakes

Applicants should avoid:

• Using an outdated Queensland occupation list
• Confusing EOI with ROI
• Submitting an inaccurate EOI
• Claiming unsupported points
• Using an expired skills assessment
• Failing to meet Queensland employment requirements
• Ignoring regional requirements for subclass 491
• Assuming 65 points guarantees nomination
• Assuming an occupation is eligible for both 190 and 491
• Applying under the wrong Queensland pathway
• Providing inconsistent employment evidence
• Assuming Queensland nomination guarantees visa approval
• Relying on previous program-year requirements

Queensland program settings can change between program years, so applicants should verify the current requirements before submitting an ROI.

Queensland Nomination Is Not a Visa Grant

Queensland nomination and the Australian visa application are separate stages.

Migration Queensland assesses candidates for state nomination.

The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs makes the final decision on the visa application.

Receiving Queensland nomination does not automatically guarantee a visa grant.

Why Choose The Visa?

Queensland nomination can be competitive, and the best pathway depends on your occupation, employment, qualifications, points, location and long-term migration goals.

The Visa can help assess:

• Queensland 190 eligibility
• Queensland 491 eligibility
• Occupation eligibility
• Skills assessment
• English requirements
• Points score
• Onshore options
• Offshore options
• Regional opportunities
• Queensland graduate pathways
• Building and construction pathways
• Employer-sponsored alternatives
• Potential PR pathways

Our Registered Migration Agent can help you understand your options and develop a migration strategy based on your individual circumstances.

Get Your Queensland Nomination Assessment

Are you planning to migrate to Queensland through skilled migration?

Contact The Visa for a personalised assessment of your Queensland nomination and Australian skilled visa options.

Registered Migration Agent: Navneet Kaur
MARN: 2318181

Phone: +61 430 077 714
Email: [email protected]
Website: thevisa.com.au

Queensland nomination is competitive and subject to available places, program settings and selection criteria. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation, nomination or visa grant.