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Migration Queensland Temporarily Closes Registrations of Interest for 2025-26 State Nominated Migration Programme for Of

🇦🇺 AustraliaWork Permits2 recorded versionsLast change 30 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

Queensland offers state nomination to skilled workers living outside Australia for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Applicants must meet both Australian Department of Home Affairs and Migration Queensland's criteria. Key requirements include having an occupation on the Queensland Offshore Skills List, a score of 65 or higher in the Australian Department of Home Affairs' points test, at least competent English, and a minimum of one year's skilled employment experience in their nominated or a closely related occupation. Applicants must be currently employed in their nominated or a closely related occupation at the time of invitation and nomination. A commitment to live and work in Queensland for a specified period post-visa grant is also required: three years for subclass 491 visa holders in regional Queensland, or two years for subclass 190 visa holders anywhere in Queensland.

Overview

Migration Queensland has announced the temporary closure of Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for the 2025-26 State Nominated Migration Programme (SNMP) for offshore skilled workers. This means that individuals residing outside Australia can no longer submit an ROI for Queensland state nomination for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) until further notice. Future programme settings and eligibility requirements will be published at a later date.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Skilled workers residing offshore with occupations on the Queensland Offshore Skills List
  • Individuals seeking state nomination for a Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190)
  • Individuals seeking state nomination for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
  • Skilled workers needing to meet minimum points test scores and English language requirements
  • Skilled workers needing to demonstrate at least one year of skilled employment experience

What changed in the latest version

Before

There was no verified previous version in the available information. So, it was not possible to compare with earlier rules.

After

Queensland offers state nomination to skilled workers who live outside Australia. This is for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Applicants must meet rules from both the Australian Department of Home Affairs and Migration Queensland. Key rules include having a job on the Queensland Offshore Skills List. They also need a score of 65 or more in the Australian Department of Home Affairs' points test. Applicants must have at least competent English. They also need a minimum of one year's skilled work experience in their nominated job or a closely related job. Applicants must be working in their nominated or a closely related job when they get an invitation and nomination. They must also promise to live and work in Queensland after they get their visa. This promise is for a set time: * Three years for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) holders in regional Queensland. * Two years for Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) holders anywhere in Queensland.

These rules decide who Queensland can nominate for a skilled visa. This directly affects who can apply and how skilled workers living outside Australia plan their applications. Applicants must meet specific requirements. These include having a job on the list, a certain points score, English skills, and work experience. Meeting these is vital to be considered for state nomination. Successful applicants must promise to live and work in Queensland after they get their visa. This means they must plan their move and job search carefully. The closure of Registrations of Interest for the 2025-26 programme means new applications have stopped for now. Future applicants must wait for new announcements. These announcements might include changed eligibility rules or new opening dates.

Explained simply

Imagine Queensland is a popular club, and to get in, you need a special invitation from them. If you live outside Australia and wanted one of these invitations, the club has just announced they're not giving out any more invitations for now. You'll have to wait until they tell everyone when they'll start sending them out again, and what new rules there might be to get one. So, if you were hoping to move to Queensland as a skilled worker, you'll need to pause your plans and keep an eye on their website for updates.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Date unavailablePublishedHigh impact
    Migration Queensland Temporarily Closes Registrations of Interest for 2025-26 State Nominated Migration Programme for Offshore Skilled Workers

    Migration Queensland has announced the rules for skilled workers who live outside Australia. These workers want to apply for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Applicants must have a job on the Queensland Offshore Skills List. They must also score at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs' points test. They need to show good English skills. A key rule is having at least one year of skilled work experience in their nominated job. They must also be working in that job when they get an invitation and nomination. Successful applicants must promise to live and work in Queensland. This promise is for two or three years, depending on the visa subclass they get. Registrations of Interest for the 2025-26 State Nominated Migration Programme are currently closed. Migration Queensland will publish updates about future programme rules and opening dates later.

  2. v2Date unavailableEffectiveHigh impact
    Migration Queensland Closes Registrations of Interest for 2025-26 Skilled Migration Programme

    Follows v1 · Migration Queensland Temporarily Closes Registrations of Interest for 2025-26 State Nominated Migration Programme for Offshore Skilled Workers

    Queensland has changed its State Nominated Migration Programme (SNMP) for skilled visas. People applying do not need to send a new Expression of Interest (EOI) each year. This is because EOIs in SkillSelect are now valid for two years. Queensland will check EOIs that are up to 715 days old. Also, applicants do not have to choose 'Queensland' as their only state of interest in their EOI anymore. However, the Registration of Interest (ROI) process for the 2025-26 programme year is now closed. All places for nomination have been filled. Migration Queensland is waiting for more information from the Australian Government about how the programme will work in the future.

Other routes in this country

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