491 visa criteria for Queensland

The Migration Queensland (MQ) Program will open on 16 August 2022 with Queensland’s new nomination criteria and factsheets published on the MQ website (16 August 2022, not available until then):
Skilled Migration Program:
Migration Queensland will only accept a brand new EOI submitted on Skillselect from the 16 August 2022, updating existing EOI’s submitted prior to the 16 August 2022 will not be invited. Please ensure you have carefully read and understood the new criteria relevant to your stream or pathway, and that you meet criteria before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).
This 2022-23 financial year Skilled Migration Program will be open to both onshore and offshore applicants, and provide pathways for skilled workers, graduates, and small business owners.
 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:

  • Work for one or more employers
  • Two part-time jobs
  • Work in own business as an owner/operator

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:

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.

Recent News

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