IMPORTANT NEWS: The Migration Queensland Skilled Program is now CLOSED for the 2021–22 program year.

The Migration Queensland Skilled Program (subclass 190 and 491 visas) is now closed due to the nomination allocation for 2021–22 program year being filled.

If you have already received an invitation, your application will continue to be processed by Migration Queensland.

However, it is important that you submit the required documents and pay the application fee within the required 14-day period, otherwise your application will be closed.

If you have not received an invitation, you will need to submit a new EOI when the 2022–23 Skilled Program opens next financial year.

Exception: If you are a 491-SBO applicant and have submitted your EOI and 491-Small Business Owners Assessment Form via our website by Friday 6 May 2022, you will still receive an invitation, however, given the large demand for this pathway the processing time may be up to 8–12 weeks.

For those who have not submitted an EOI and 491-Small Business Owners Assessment Form for the 491-SBO by Friday 6 May 2022, you will need to submit a new EOI and form when the 2022–23 Skilled Program opens next financial year.

The Migration Queensland business program remains open for nominations in 2021–22.

Graduates of a Queensland university

This pathway is for high performing graduates, who have graduated from a Queensland university from a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree or PhD, and are currently onshore in Queensland.

Features and eligibility

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa (from 65 points and above)

Graduates may apply for a subclass 491 visa only (unless you are a Queensland PhD graduate). If you would like to apply for a subclass 190 visa you must meet the “Skilled Workers Living in Queensland”.

Only onshore applicants working in Queensland will be considered.

PhD Graduates (190 and 491)

• 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

Masters and Bachelor Graduates (491 only)

• 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

Labour hire employment

If you are employed through a labour hire company, make sure that they are registered in Queensland. All labour hire providers operating in Queensland must be licensed under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017, including those based interstate or overseas who supply workers in Queensland.

You will be required to provide evidence that your labour hire company complies with these registration requirements. Your Statement of service must be written by the company you have been placed within.

Application process

Step 1

Review your eligibility criteria, visa conditions, and document checklist on the Department of Home Affairs website and the Migration Queensland website. Ensure that you meet both the Home Affairs criteria and Migration Queensland criteria and that you have all your documentation – including proof of registration, if required for your occupation – ready before you apply.

Step 2

For Queensland state nomination, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with SkillSelect. Ensure that all information, such as work experience, is included in your EOI. Preference will be given to applicants who select “Queensland” as their nominating state of choice.

Step 3

Migration Queensland assesses all EOIs that meet the above Home Affairs and Migration Queensland criteria. If you are successful, you will receive an email invitation to lodge an application and be requested to provide the documents required.

Note: You must upload these documents digitally through the Document Portal link in your invitation email. Migration Queensland no longer accepts documents sent by email or post. You can only upload one document per file. If you have multiple documents, merge, and save them as one file.

Step 4

When you have received your invitation from Migration Queensland:

1. upload the required documents, and
2. pay the non-refundable application fee to finalise your application. Do not pay the fee until you have been invited to apply and all your documents have been uploaded. Migration Queensland will then review your application and may request any further information.

Note: You will be given 14 days to finalise your application from the date of invitation. If you are unable to provide the relevant information within this time frame, your application will be closed and you will need to submit a new EOI if you wish to seek Queensland nomination again.

Step 5

Once Migration Queensland has received and approved your completed application, you will receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to lodge your visa application. You will be given 60 days to lodge your application with them.

Note: If you realise that you have made a mistake on your submitted EOI after receiving a nomination, or if you miss the lodgement date, you will have to wait 6 months before applying again.

Migration Queensland documentation

Please ensure that you:

• familiarise yourself with the application process,
• meet both the Home Affairs criteria and Migration Queensland criteria for your chosen visa, and
• have the following documentation prepared prior to lodging an EOI.

If you meet Queensland state nomination requirements, you will be invited by Migration Queensland to lodge further documentation.

Please do not tell us when you have lodged your documents or paid the processing fee.

If you do not meet requirements you will not receive an invitation and will need to speak with an Australian Registered Migration Agent or immigration lawyer about other possible visa pathways.