Skilled Migration Program:
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) Queensland Nomination requirements
The Subclass 491 visa is a 5-year provisional state nominated visa with a pathway to permanent residency.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) | This visa is a provisional visa that allows nominated skilled workers to work and live in REGIONAL Queensland for five years, and is a pathway to permanent residency. Employment can be undertaken in the following ways:
Applicable regions Excludes Greater Brisbane Area and the Gold Coast. Includes the following postcodes: 4124 to 4125, 4133, 4211, 4270 to 4272, 4275, 4280, 4285, 4287, 4307 to 4499, 4515, 4517 to 4519, 4522 to 4899. Please note: postcodes will be updated prior to the subclass 491 visa commencing on 16 November 2019. |
Related:
- Queensland 190 visa requirements
- 491 visa criteria for Queensland
- 491 visa – Queensland Small Business Owners Pathway
- Queensland Skilled Occupation Lists (QSOL)
- State requirements for 190 visa
Skilled workers living in Queensland
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – This visa allows nominated skilled workers to live and work in regional Queensland for 5 years and is a pathway to permanent residency.
You may undertake employment through:
- work for one or more employers,
- work at two part-time jobs, or
- work in your own business as an owner or operator.
Applicable regions
You must live and work within one of the following post codes to be eligible for the 491 Regional visa:
4124–4125, 4133, 4183–4184, 4207–4275, 4280–4287, 4306–4498, 4507, 4517–4519, 4550–4575, 4580–4895.
Note: If you are a current holder of a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) or have applied for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), you will not be eligible for nomination for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190). This restriction also applies to the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489).
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a Queensland nomination, you must meet both the Australian Department of Home Affairs criteria and Migration Queensland criteria for your chosen visa category.
Home Affairs criteria requires you to:
- have a points-test result of 65 or higher, inclusive of state nomination points;
- have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation;
- be under 45 years of age;
- meet the minimum English language requirement of competent, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority; and submit additional documents, if invited to lodge an application for a 190 or 491 visa.
Migration Queensland criteria requires you to:
- have a points-test result of 65 or higher for 491 (please note that Migration Queensland will be selecting from the highest points for each occupation).
- have an occupation on Home Affairs’ relevant list of eligible skilled occupations
- have Proficient English (IELTS 7 in all bands or equivalent).
- If you are lodging an Expression of Interest for a 491 visa: Provide evidence that you have been living in regional Queensland and undertaking full-time post-qualification employment (minimum of 35 hours per week) over the past 3 months in your nominated occupation immediately prior to submitting your EOI.
- provide evidence of ongoing employment with a Queensland employer that is registered in Queensland for a further 12 months (minimum of 35 hours per week). For a 491 visa, this must be ongoing employment in a regional area.
- commit to living and working in Queensland for 3 years for the 491 from visa grant.
Please note: Businesses must have an office in Queensland. A virtual office will not be accepted.
Further Selection Process Summary
- Quotas for specific occupations with a high level of applications (table below).
Occupation grouping | Occupations | Quota |
Finance | Accountant (General), Finance Manager, Management Accountant | 50 each
150 total |
Engineers | Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Engineering Technologist | 50 each
200 total |
ICT | Software Engineer, Developer Programmer, ICT Business Analyst, Software & Application Programmers NEC | 50 each
200 total |
Quantity Surveyor | Quantity Surveyor | 30 each/total |
Nurses | Aged Care, Critical Care & Emergency, NEC nurses | 50 each
150 total |
Trades | Motor Mechanic, Cook | 30 each
60 total |
Caveats for Selected Occupations
- Accountants (General)
- preference will be given to applicants employed in an accounting firm
- must be a CPA or are studying towards become a CPA.
- Internal and External Auditors
- must have a job as an Auditor (not an Accountant).
- Cooks and Chefs
- No takeaway or fast-food businesses.
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 Licencing 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.
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.
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 (491 visa)
- Have an occupation on this list
- 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 this list
- Studied at a Queensland university/Institute
- Completed 100% of course
- GPA 6.0 or higher
- Have Proficient English or higher (IELTS 7 in all bands or equivalent)
- 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.
The 491 Small Business Owners (SBO) Pathway
This option can be used to reward small business owners in regional Queensland for investing in the local business community and provides employment opportunities for local residents. For more information see here.
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 Immigration Eligibility 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.
Step 3
Migration Queensland assesses all EOIs that meet the above Home Affairs Immigration Eligibility Criteria 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.
Step 4
When you have received your invitation from Migration Queensland you must provide the required documents, and pay the relevant application fees
Note: You will be given 14 days to finalise your application from the date of invitation. Applications not finalised within the time frame 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.
Inherited assets and 188 visas
Massive changes proposed for the Migration System
Direct pathway to Australian Citizenship for New Zealanders
Exchange rates and business visas – Converting foreign currencies to AUD
Eligible investment and qualifying business criteria for 188 visa