BSMQ State Nomination Program
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.
BSMQ closed due to the significant backlog of applications currently in our pipeline.
BSMQ will advise in April whether we will open again for the 2020-21 program year.
Guidelines
Priority processing for:
BSMQ will also prioritise businesses which create jobs, OR support COVID recovery industries, OR are located in a regional area.
Skilled Program
The BSMQ Skilled program is now CLOSED (please note: 491-SBO is OPEN). The next skilled opening will be in April 2021.
EOI’s submitted from 1–7 February 2021 will continue to be assessed based on the below 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.
The Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Subclass 190 visa (from 80 points and above as a priority)
Only onshore applicants working in Queensland will be considered.
The Subclass 190 visa is open to the Department of Home Affairs Priority Skills Migration Occupation List (17 occupations in total for 190). Applicants with 80 points and above will be considered as a priority, with applicants below 80 points being subject to quota places being available.
Please see the Department of Home Affairs Priority Skills Migration Occupation list.
(Please note: occupation of Maintenance Planner (312911) is 491 only)
You must also have been working for 6 months and have a job offer for an additional 12 months from your employer in a nominated occupation.
190 visa applicants do not need to send a supporting email to their EOI.
Please ensure you review the ‘I’m working in Queensland’ page for further requirements.
Please note: Alumni (Queensland Masters and PHD graduates) must meet the working in Queensland criteria as detailed above.
We will be prioritising applications based on the above COVID criteria and occupations and will not prioritise visas expiring.
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, sub-leases 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.
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.
Please do not call or email regarding your place in the queue or whether your application has been picked up as this significantly slows down processing times.
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“We felt that we needed a change because life seemed to be passing by so quickly. We also wanted a healthier lifestyle and to be more connected with nature, especially for our kids. Queensland had everything we wanted – beautiful nature, a healthier environment and a lifestyle that suited us as people much better.”
Hospital Pharmacist, Kenya
After working at a Government Hospital in Nairobi and then living in England for 8 years, Beverly has been living in Queensland with her daughter for the last 2 years.
Registered Nurse, Russia
Iuliia arrived in Australia on a student visa and became a registered nurse after graduation. She enjoys her job and lifestyles in Queensland while having a passion for professional dancing.
Optometrist, South Africa
UK-based optometrist Nicolle Beer moved to Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, after finding love while on a visit home to Johannesburg in 2008. Since then she has had a son and daughter, and become an Australian citizen.
Nutritionist, India
Anerty moved to Queensland on a state nominated regional visa, fell in love with Toowoomba and found her soulmate. She enjoys working in regional Queensland because of the work culture and respect for family life.
Data Scientist, United Kingdom
Darryl first moved to Queensland to do his PhD studies and continued working as a research fellow for a couple of years at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He then decided to permanently migrate to Queensland through a state nominated skilled visa after seeing the opportunities in the start-up space and for further development of his company.
Innovative medical and non-medical technology, Chinese
Mr Li is the Director of TOMI Group and after visiting Queensland, he decided that Brisbane would be an ideal place to set up his Australian subsidiary, TOMI Australia. He also brought his family to settle in Queensland.
Kite surfing, China
Mr Jiahai Jin moved with his family to the Gold Coast, and has pursued his passion for kite surfing by setting up a tourism and training business. He is the only Chinese & English bilingual IKO level 2 instructor in Australia.
Mechanical Engineer, Venezuela
Mr Julio Cegarra Figueroa, a Venezuelan mechanical engineer, was offered a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity to move to the Capricorn Coast, Central Queensland. He brought his entire family across, and are now building a new life together.
Aqauaculture Farmer, Vietnam
Mr Ngoc Bao Ahn Cai and his family moved from Vietnam to Cairns, Queensland. Forging a new career in Aquaculture, his family has flourished in their new home of Queensland.
Food and agribusiness, China
Mr Jinguo Han visited Queensland and was deeply impressed by its beautiful environment, fresh air and great lifestyle. Since he and his family moved, Jinguo established his own agribusiness and his son has married.
Businessman, China
Mr Changchun Ji, Chairman of Fullshare Group, made frequent visits to Australia and came across some tremendous opportunities to invest in Queensland’s tourism industry. He has not looked back since.
Brisbane, a multicultural city built around the Brisbane River. It has a subtropical climate and outdoor lifestyle. The city offers an active urban life, while having many diverse getaways in nearby regions – from coastal escapes to rural retreats. With 12 months of sunshine filled days and clear blue skies, it’s no wonder Brisbane locals say “Beautiful one day, perfect the next.”
The Gold Coast is strategically located on the east coast of Australia, less than an hour’s drive south of Brisbane. In addition to its seaside lifestyle, the city offers a wide variety of recreational activities, including world renowned theme parks.
Located about 100km north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast is well-known for its pristine beaches, scenic drives and unspoiled national parks. From the ocean to the hinterland, Sunshine Coast restaurants take advantage of fresh local produce.
Toowoomba, one of Queensland’s largest regional urban centres, is well known as the ‘Garden City.’ South West Queensland is known for fine wines, fresh produce and stunning wildflowers. It is the business and service hub for the entire region.
Showcasing some of nature’s best assets, including the iconic Fraser Island — one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the region is a popular tourist destination. More than 80% of the region’s population lives in the urban centres, which offer diverse lifestyles from rural to seaside living.
Central Queensland offers an enviable tropical climate with access to islands, waterways, national parks, and beaches providing all year round boating and recreational activities. Rockhampton, well-known as the ‘beef capital of the world’, acts as a business gateway for the mining and agricultural industries, while the Gladstone region is a thriving industrial base served by one of Australia’s busiest ports.
This beautiful region is famous for its tropical beaches and world famous island destinations. The urban centres provide numerous dining options — from casual waterside meals to rainforest retreats, hotels and cafes. There are also golf courses, theatres, and entertainment venues offering weekend arts and international and local performances.
Townsville has access to world class education facilities, leading edge healthcare, affordable housing, entertainment, dining precincts and a wide range of outdoor recreation options. The city has a range of government, community and business headquarters for the northern half of the state.
At the heart of Far North Queensland, Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage rainforests. It is a multicultural society, known for its adventure activities, Coral Sea and lush rainforests.
Central West Queensland is known for its wide open skies, breathtaking landscapes and warm, dry climate. The region is serviced by major highways, a long-distance passenger rail service and six airports.
