How to take advantage of the recent re-opening of Queensland’s skilled migration program?

The QLD state government has reopened its state migration program and is looking to address state-wide or region-wide skills gaps in an effort to assist industry address labour shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic.   

Occupations list 

Queensland Skilled Occupation Lists (QSOLs) are selected from The Department of Home Affairs relevant list of eligible skilled occupations Legislative Instrument 19/051. This is a very expansive list; however, it must be noted that there are quotas for specific occupations with a high level of applications.   

Eligibility criteria 

To be eligible for a Queensland nomination, you must meet both the Australian Department of Home Affairs criteria and Migration Queensland criteria for your chosen visa category.  

Home Affairs criteria requires you to: 

• have a points-test result of 65 or higher, inclusive of state nomination points; 

• have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation;  

• be under 45 years of age;  

• meet the minimum English language requirement of competent, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority; and submit additional documents, if invited to lodge an application for a 190 or 491 visa.  

Which are the State-nominated skilled visa options  

1. Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) 

The 190 is a points-tested visa for skilled workers. You can live anywhere in QLD (including Brisbane) permanently. Whereas the graduate degree stream also offers streamlined conditions for Queensland PhD graduates.  

Two streams are currently available for the 190 visa:  

Skilled workers living in Queensland
This visa is for skilled onshore workers and Queensland PhD graduates who wish to permanently live and work in Queensland.  

Requirements: 

• Have a points-test result of 80 or higher. 

• Have Proficient English. 

• Provide evidence of full-time post-qualification employment (minimum of 35 hours per week) over the past 6 months in Queensland in your nominated occupation immediately before submitting your EOI. 

• Provide evidence of ongoing employment with a Queensland employer that is registered in Queensland for a further 12 months (minimum of 35 hours per week).   

• Commit to living and working in Queensland for 2 years. 

Graduates of a Queensland university
This visa is for onshore PhD Graduates who wish to live and work in Queensland permanently.  

Requirements: 

• Have an occupation on LIN 19/051  

• Finished 100% of course in Queensland and has had a decision on thesis or graduated in the last 2 years  

• No job required  

2. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) 

The Skilled Regional (491 visa) is a 5-year points tested visa that converts to PR after as few as 3 years. It requires nominated skilled workers to live and be employed in regional Queensland, and subclass 491 visa holders are also eligible for Medicare. On the 491, you cannot live in Brisbane (you can only live in a regional area – everywhere in Qld except Brisbane)  

Three streams currently available for the 491 visa: 

Skilled workers living in Queensland 

Requirements: 

• Have a points-test result of 65 or higher. 

• Have an occupation on Home Affairs’ relevant list of eligible skilled occupations (LIN 19/051).  

• Have Proficient English.  

• Provide evidence that you have been living in regional Queensland and undertaking full-time post-qualification employment (minimum of 35 hours per week) in your nominated occupation over the past 3 months immediately before submitting your EOI.  

• Provide evidence of ongoing employment with a Queensland employer in a designated regional area that is registered in Queensland for a further 12 months (minimum of 35 hours per week). For a 491 visa, this must be ongoing employment.  

• Commit to living and working in Queensland for 3 years from visa grant. 

Graduates of a Queensland university 

Requirements for PhD Graduates 

• Have an occupation on LIN 19/051. 

• Finished 100% of course in Queensland and has had a decision on thesis or graduated in the last 2 years. 

• No job required. 

Requirements for Masters and Bachelor Graduates 

• Have an occupation on LIN 19/051. 

• Studied at a Queensland university/Institute. 

• Completed 100% of course.  

• GPA 6.0 or higher.  

• Have Proficient English or higher. 

• Have a minimum of 3 months’ work experience of at least 20 hours per week (after graduation) in the nominated or closely related occupation. 

• Job offer for a minimum of 20 hours per week for 12 months.  

Small business owners operating in regional Queensland 

• Have an occupation on the Legislative Instrument (LIN 19/051).  

• Operate the business successfully for at least 6 months prior to EOI or 2 years for start-ups. 

• Be on a visa that allows full-time work and operation of the business (minimum of 35 hours per week). 

• Have purchased an existing business in regional Queensland.  

Note: This is not available for home-based businesses. Franchise businesses must have been operating for at least 2 years before the purchase in the current location.  

• Purchased a business for a minimum of $100,000, or have been operating a profitable start-up for a minimum of 2 years with a turnover of $200,000 in the year directly prior to application.  

• Have 100% ownership of the business – partnerships or joint ventures are not eligible. 

• Have been trading in the business for 6 months before application.  

• Employ one employee who is an Australian resident, working a minimum of 20 hours per week. 

• Provide evidence of sufficient settlement funds  

Note: An Australian resident in this situation is an Australian permanent resident, Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen on a Special Category visa (subclass 444).  

Applicable regions  

You must live and work within one of the following postcodes to be eligible for this visa:  

4124–4125, 4133, 4183–4184, 4207–4275, 4280–4287, 4306–4498, 4507, 4517–4519, 4550–4575, 4580–4895.  

How do I apply QLD state nomination? 

You require State Nomination to apply for both pathways for either the State Nominated (Subclass 190) or Regional Nominated Visa (Subclass 491) in QLD.  

Below are the steps to apply for QLD nomination:  

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with SkillSelect and select “Queensland” as your nominating state of choice.  

2. Be invited to apply for state nomination.  

3. Apply for Qld visa nomination, complete the relevant nomination application.  

4. Receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to lodge your visa application  

5. Apply for the visa you have been selected for. 

Potential Pathway  

The 190 is a permanent visa and allows you to live anywhere. So, generally speaking, it is a more desirable visa.   

Whereas the 491 is a 5-year provisional visa where you need to continue living and working in a designated regional area for at least three years before applying for Permanent Residency.    

Key Takeaway

If you’re an international student or currently on a temporary work visa in Queensland, their state program has re-opened. They are looking for skilled migrants to fill a range of critical skill shortages.  

The occupation list is expansive, generally speaking, you will require at least 80 points for the 190 and 65 for the 491. It should be noted that preference will be given to higher ranked applicants from each category. Competition will be hot, and Migration Queensland has signalled it will only accept “decision-ready” applications. So, it’s more important than ever to get the proper guidance and maximise your chances of success!