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BSMQ State Nomination Program
There is currently a large backlog for both business and skilled applications. We thank you for your patience with extended processing times.
Business Program
The BSMQ business program closed at 12am (midnight AEST) on 24 February 2021. EOI’s submitted on Skillselect before this time will picked-up and considered for nomination.
Applications already invited and under consideration will continue to be assessed until the dates outlined below.
Subclass 132 visa applicants
Subclass 132 applicants who have received an invitation to upload documents must submit all supporting documents by Tuesday 20 April 2021.
This is the last cut off date to upload documents, as the final nomination date for nomination to the Department of Home Affairs is Tuesday 27 April 2021.
If you are unable to submit your documents by Tuesday 20 April 2021, your application will be closed.
Your subclass 132 visa application must be lodged with the Department of Home Affairs within 60 days of nomination, and the latest, by 30 June 2021. From the 1 July 2021 the subclass 132 stream will cease.
Subclass 188 applicants
Subclass 188 applicants who have received an invitation to upload documents must submit all supporting documents in the two-week period provided by BSMQ. Failure to do so could see the invitation cancelled.
The last cut off date to upload documents to BSMQ for the subclass is Friday 18 June 2021.
The last date for nomination by BSMQ under the current 188 criteria is 30 June. However, you can submit your visa application to Home Affairs after this date, as long as it meets the normal 60 day requirement.
If you receive a nomination from 1 July 2021 by BSMQ you will be subject to the new subclass 188 criteria.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa (from 65 points and above)
Only onshore applicants working in Queensland will be considered.
The Subclass 491 visa is open to COVID critical skill or sectors as outlined by the Department of Home Affairs in:
Please see guidelines here: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/critical-skills-and-sectors#toc-1.
Please note: there is no specific skills list, however applicants must meet one of the critical skills or sectors as listed above and email migration@qld.gov.au detailing how you meet this, including details of employer and role, and how this position is assisting in the COVID response or recovery.
You must also have been working for a minimum of 3 months in a regional location in Queensland and have a job offer for an additional 12 Months from your employer in your nominated occupation.
Please ensure you review the ‘I’m working in Queensland’ page for further requirements.
491- SBO (Small Business Owner) Pathway
The 491-SBO (Small Business Owners) pathway is OPEN.
IMPORTANT: Applicants need to submit a 491-SBO Assessment Form prior to submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), so that your EOI will be picked up.
From 1 April 2021 – the pre-existing business purchased will need to have been in operation for 2 years instead of 1 year.
There will also need to be a minimum purchase price of $100,000 (rather than total investment in the business).
Furthermore, commission agents or leasing agents of franchises (such as petrol stations), and home-based businesses (such as courier and cleaning businesses) will not be considered.
These requirements are aimed at ensuring the program is sustainable in the long-term.
Please note: businesses that have been purchased prior to 1 April 2021 are not subject to these requirements, however there must be a valid contract provided for the business before this date (i.e. business must have settled).
We are unable to process applicants who are s48 barred.
Please only submit one EOI. It is possible to select both visa subclasses (190 and 491) on the one EOI. We will assess you against both and if you qualify for the 190, you will be nominated for this (subject to quota capacity).
If you have submitted your EOI today prior to this message, we will still assess your eligibility as stated above.
Unfortunately we are unable to answer enquiries regarding where an application is in the queue, or whether an application has been picked up. This is due to the BSMQ team currently processing a significant backlog of business and skilled applications. Please be aware that as a result of this, processing timeframes will be extended.
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