The Department of Home Affairs allows the Queensland (QLD) Government to nominate applicants for the following visa types:
- Skilled Work Regional Visa (Provisional) – Subclass 491
- Skilled Nominated Visa (Permanent) – Subclass 190
If you are interested in being considered by the QLD Government, you need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) visa SkillSelect. SkillSelect is the program administered by the Department of Home Affairs.
Skilled Migration Program
Queensland’s skilled migration program has three streams:
- Graduates of a Queensland University
- Skilled workers living in Queensland
- Skilled workers living offshore – CLOSED
Graduates & the Skilled Migration Program
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. Applicants who have a Queensland PhD can apply for the subclass 190 visa if they meet the Skilled Workers Living in Queensland criteria. To see further information about this stream, see our pages on the 190 visa requirements and the 491 visa requirements.
Skilled Workers Living in Queensland
Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) – This visa is for onshore skilled workers and Queensland PhD graduates who wish to live and work in Queensland permanently.
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.
Queensland Skilled Occupation List
The Queensland Skilled Occupation List (QSOL) is released by Migration Queensland each financial year once the skilled migration program opens. The QSOL seeks to address critical skill shortages in Queensland by listing those occupations that are in highest demand. Once an occupation’s quota is reached it may be removed from the QSOL.
To determine if your occupation is in high-demand, see the our page on Queensland Skilled Occupation Lists (QSOL) to view the list.
Quotas for Specific Occupations
The QLD Government have imposed quotas on particular occupation groups due to the high number of occupations that are received.
| 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
The QLD Government have also applied the following caveats to specific occupations:
- Accountants (General)
- preference will be given to applicants employed in an accounting firm
- must be a CPA or CA, or are studying towards becoming a CPA or CA.
- Internal and External Auditors
- must have a job as an Auditor (not an Accountant).
- Cooks and Chefs
- No takeaway or fast-food businesses.
QLD Government Nominations – 2021-22 Program Year
Number of intending migrants who received nominations in February 2022
| Visa subclass | QLD |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | 219 |
| Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) State and Territory Nominated | 131 |
Number of intending migrants who received nominations from the NSW Government from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
| Visa subclass | QLD |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | 787 |
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) State and Territory Nominated | 403 |
Bridging Visa R
Genuine Student (GS)
Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)
NSW 491 Pathway 1 – Apply directly to NSW
Upcoming Immigration Changes 2024