Australian State Sponsored Migration visas provides a great way to immigrate to Australia. This article does not deal with Investor visas but only deal with General Skills pointed tested immigration visas. The Options available to you include permanent and temporary Visa options. main Visa subclasses are:
Visa 489 – Skilled — Regional (Provisional) – This visa is closed to new applications
Each state and territory government have their own processes for nomination in addition to the criterian under the Migration Act, the process is complicated and if you do not approach it the correct way the first time, the consequences may be devastating and include possible entry/visa bars to Australia. We recommend that you book an appointment for an assessment.
On this page
- Migration Queensland Skilled Migration Program open
- Migration Queensland requirements
- Pathways
- Expressions of Interest
- Skilled Program requirements
- Selection factors
Migration Queensland Skilled Migration Program open
Migration Queensland recently held a face-to-face skilled migration information session with stakeholders. In the session, Migration Queensland announced that the Queensland Skilled Migration Program for 2025-26 will open for Registration of Interest (ROI), 19 September 2025.
Migration Queensland has been provided with a small interim allocation of 250 places and the remainder of the allocation is expected to be provided by the end of September.
Candidates must submit a new ROI for 2025-26 if they are seeking a Queensland nomination.
Candidates can only have one ROI active at a time. If multiple ROIs are submitted only the most recent ROI is considered.
Applicants are advised to print or save a copy of the ROI at the time of submission as Migration Queensland cannot provide a copy of the ROI afterwards.
Migration Queensland requirements
Occupation Lists
If your nominated occupation is not on the list below, you are not eligible for Queensland nomination in 2025-26.
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- Revised onshore and offshore occupation lists.
Points
Have a score of 65 or higher in the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ points test.
English
Have at least competent English, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs definition.
Work experience
Immediately before registering your interest in Queensland nomination, you have been living and working in:
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- Regional Queensland for the past 6 months for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), or:
- Queensland for the past 9 months for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190).
This work experience must be:
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- After you completed your qualification
- In an occupation that has the same first 3 digits in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) code as your nominated occupation
- At least 20 hours per week.
We also note the following:
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- You must still be in a role that meets the above requirements when you submit your ROI, when you are selected for invitation, and when you are nominated
- Casual work is accepted
- Multiple eligible jobs can be combined to meet requirements
- Work from home is allowed, where your employer has a physical presence in Queensland.
Pathways
- New onshore pathway for Building and Construction workforce
- The Offshore Energy Workers pathway will be removed
- Subclass 491 Small Business Owners program will close from 19 September
- business purchased or started after 19 September 2025 will not be eligible
- business purchased or started before 19 September 2025 may still be invited to apply.
Expressions of Interest
- No need to create a new Expression of Interest (EOI) every year – EOIs up to 715 days old will be accepted
- The EOI can include other states as well, not limited to Queensland.
Skilled Program requirements
- Ongoing work requirement removed for onshore applicants
- Work hours requirement reduced to 20 hours per week
- Changes to Queensland work experience requirements
- Casual work now accepted
- Settlement funds no longer required for offshore.
Selection factors
- Skills and Qualifications; Work Experience, Salary (onshore only), English competency, Age, Partner Skills (Occupation and English), Location of employment (onshore only)
- Revised ROI questions for partner
- New method of calculation of annualised earnings – which may be different to annual salary, method is different if self-employed or employed.
Migration Queensland have advised that they will run more frequent small rounds in the 2025-26 program year.
Clients are advised to monitor our website for updates.
The participating State or Territories are:
— Australia's migration system is complex — Minister [22 Feb 2023]
Each state and territory government have their own processes for nomination in addition to the criterian under the Migration Act, the process is complicated and if you do not approach it the correct way the first time, the consequences may be devastating and include possible entry/visa bars to Australia. We recommend that you book an appointment for an assessment.
