Queensland State Nomination for Subclass 190 & 491

Migration Queensland currently considers candidates under five main streams for 190 and 491:  

• Skilled workers living in Queensland (onshore) 

• Skilled workers living outside Australia (offshore) 

• Building and construction workers 

• Queensland university graduates 

• Small business owners in regional Queensland (Subclass 491 Small Business Owner only) 

Below is a summary of the key requirements for each. 

On 18 November 2025, the Australian Government confirmed the final state and territory nomination allocations for the 2025–26 program year. For Queensland, the allocation is:  

• Skilled Nominated (subclass 190): 1,850 places 

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491): 750 places 

• Total: 2,600 nomination places 

For context, in 2024–25 Queensland was allocated only 1,200 places (600× 190 and 600 × 491), so the 2025–26 program will provide plenty of opportunities for skilled workers who wish to migrate to this fast-growing state. 

Applies to: Subclass 190 and 491 applicants who are already in Queensland. 

To apply for this stream, onshore candidates must: 

• Have an occupation on the Queensland Onshore Skills List. 

• Achieve a points-test score of at least 65 (including state nomination points where applicable). 

• Have at least Competent English (which is IELTS 6.0 or equivalent). 

• Have been living and working in Queensland for a minimum period immediately before registering their ROI (Registration of Interest): 

• At least 6 months for Subclass 491 (in regional Queensland), or 

• At least 9 months for Subclass 190 (anywhere in Queensland). 

• Have post-qualification work experience of at least 20 hours per week, in a role with the same first three ANZSCO digits as the nominated occupation. 

• Casual work is accepted. 

• Multiple part-time or casual roles can be combined. 

• Work-from-home is allowed if the employer has a physical presence in Queensland. 

• Still be employed in an eligible role at the time of: 

• lodging the Registration of Interest (ROI) 

• receiving an invitation, and 

• being nominated.  

Applies to: Skilled workers currently overseas. 

To apply for this stream, offshore candidates must meet the following criteria:  

• Have an occupation on the Queensland Offshore Skills List. 

• Have a points-test score of at least 65. 

• Have at least Competent English, which is IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. 

• Have at least 1 year of skilled employment in: 

• the nominated occupation, or 

• a closely related occupation. 

• Still be working in the nominated (or closely related) occupation at the time of invitation and nomination. 

• Commit to living and working: 

• in Queensland for at least 2 years (Subclass 190), or 

• in regional Queensland for at least 3 years (Subclass 491) from the date the visa is granted.  

This is a targeted pathway to support Queensland’s construction workforce due to the serious shortage of labour source in this industry.  

To be eligible for this stream, candidates must: 

• Have an occupation on the Onshore Skills List specifically marked as part of the building and construction workforce pathway. 

• Have at least 65 points and Competent English (which is IELTS 6.0 or equivalent). 

• Have been living and working in Queensland for the past 3 months immediately before registering their ROI. 

• Be working in post-qualification employment at 20 hours per week or more, in a role with the same first three ANZSCO digits as their nominated occupation. 

• Still be employed in such a role when they: 

• submit their ROI, 

• are invited, and 

• are nominated.  

As with the general onshore stream, casual work and combined roles are accepted, and work-from-home is permitted if the employer has a physical presence in Queensland. 

This stream is designed for international graduates of Queensland universities. 

Candidates must: 

• Have an occupation on the Queensland Onshore Skills List. 

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

• Have at least Competent English (which is IELTS 6.0 or equivalent). 

• Have completed 100% of an eligible qualification in Queensland (Bachelor, Master or PhD) that satisfies the Australian Study Requirement and have graduated after 1 July 2021. The degree does not need to be related to the nominated occupation. 

• Have been living and working in Queensland (regional for 491) for at least: 

• 6 months for Subclass 491 (in regional Queensland), or 

• 9 months for Subclass 190. 

• Have post-qualification work experience in any Skill Level 1 occupation for at least 20 hours per week. 

• Casual and multiple roles are allowed; Work From Home is permitted if the employer has a physical presence in Queensland. 

• Still be employed in such a role at the time of ROI, invitation, and nomination.  

This stream is designed for international graduates of Queensland universities. 

Candidates must: 

• Have an occupation on the Queensland Onshore Skills List. 

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

• Have at least Competent English (which is IELTS 6.0 or equivalent). 

• Have completed 100% of an eligible qualification in Queensland (Bachelor, Master or PhD) that satisfies the Australian Study Requirement and have graduated after 1 July 2021. The degree does not need to be related to the nominated occupation. 

• Have been living and working in Queensland (regional for 491) for at least: 

• 6 months for Subclass 491 (in regional Queensland), or 

• 9 months for Subclass 190. 

• Have post-qualification work experience in any Skill Level 1 occupation for at least 20 hours per week. 

• Casual and multiple roles are allowed; Work From Home is permitted if the employer has a physical presence in Queensland. 

• Still be employed in such a role at the time of ROI, invitation, and nomination.  

This stream is available only for Subclass 491 and is aimed at entrepreneurs who own and operate a business in a regional Queensland. 

Core Eligibility 

To apply for this stream, candidates must:  

• Have an eligible occupation listed in LIN 19/051 and a positive skills assessment. 

• Be under 45 years of age. 

• Have at least Competent English (which is IELTS 6.0 or equivalent). 

• Achieve 65 points (including state nomination points). 

• Be living in regional Queensland in an eligible postcode. 

• Own and operate 100% of a business located in a regional postcode. 

• Have purchased or started the business on or before 19 September 2025 (businesses started after this date are not eligible under this program). 

• Ensure the business type is acceptable under Migration Queensland guidelines. 

• Continue operating the business for at least three years after the 491 visa is granted and comply with all 491 visa conditions. 

Pathway 1: Business Purchase 

To qualify under the Business Purchase pathway, you must:  

• Purchase an existing registered business outside South East Queensland for at least AUD $100,000. 

• Employ: 

• 1 Australian resident for at least 20 hours per week, or 

• 2 Australian residents for 10 hours each per week. 

• Show that the business has been operating in the same location for at least 2 years before you bought it and continue in that location. 

• Fully settle the business purchase and operate it for at least 6 months after settlement. 

• Submit your ROI within 18 months of settlement (or by any program deadlines). 

• Ensure the business is in an eligible postcode: If purchased between 14 September 2024 and 19 September 2025, it must be in postcodes 4370–4390, 4400–4428, 4454–4498, 4570–4571, 4580–4895; otherwise, it must be in any 491 regional postcode. 

Pathway 2: Start-up Business 

For the Start-up pathway, you must:  

• Start the business on or before 19 September 2025 and submit your ROI within the state’s deadlines. 

• Operate a profitable business for at least 2 years, with at least $200,000 turnover in the 12 months before submitting the ROI. 

• Note: Businesses started between 1 May 2025 and 19 September 2025 may be exempt from the full 2-year operation requirement, but they must still meet the profit and $200,000 turnover criteria. 

• Operate the business in an eligible 491 regional postcode. 

While details can vary between streams, the general process for Queensland state nomination usually involves four main steps:  

• Skills Assessment 

• Obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority. 

• Expression of Interest (EOI) 

• Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect (DOHA system), selecting Queensland as a preferred state and the correct visa subclass(es). 

• Registration of Interest (ROI) with Migration Queensland 

• When your stream is open, submit an ROI to MQ with evidence of meeting their criteria. 

• For work or business streams, you may be asked for supporting documents such as: 

• employment contracts 

• bank statements 

• tax documents or annual income statements (often preferred instead of numerous payslips).  

• Invitation & Nomination 

• If Migration Queensland selects your ROI, they will invite you to lodge a state nomination application. 

• If approved, you receive state nomination and can proceed to lodge the visa application with DOHA within the specified timeframe. 

Remember, meeting requirements does not guarantee an invitation. Selections can depend on factors like occupation ceilings, program priorities and the quality and completeness of your evidence. 

For personalised advice, especially if your situation is complex (multiple roles, career changes, business structures, or close to age limits), contact our experienced registered migration agent on 07 3003 1899 or hello@solmigration.com today. 

• Check program status regularly: Streams open and close depending on quotas and demand. 

• Keep documents ready: Payslips, bank statements, tax records, degree certificates, skills assessment, and business documents (if applicable). 

• Be honest and consistent: Information must match across EOI, ROI, and visa application. 

• Plan your settlement: Queensland, and especially regional Queensland, offers strong employment and business opportunities—but you must genuinely commit to living and working there for the required period. 

If you tell us more about your situation (onshore/offshore, occupation, work history), we can help you map your profile against migration streams and draft a clearer strategy. Contact us today on 07 3003 1899 or hello@solmigration.com.