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September 18, 2025
Starting your migration journey to Queensland calls for trusted and up-to-date information. The 2025/2026 skilled visa program brought key updates. These changes affect onshore skilled workers, international graduates, construction professionals, and offshore applicants. So, we have prepared this guide to give you clear direction through the new process with confidence.
Inside the blog, you will find a close look at the eligibility steps, the most recent policy movements, and advice that can strengthen your chance of nomination in Queensland. The pathways for Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visas are explained here. You will also see information on the closure of the Small Business Owner (SBO) pathway.
The Queensland migration program will reopen on September 19, 2025. It marks a decisive effort to respond to pressing skill shortages. The focus remains on keeping skilled workers already in Australia and welcoming seasoned professionals from overseas. Migration Queensland is making the process smoother, so applicants face less friction. These updates expand real options for qualified people. The plan reshapes work experience requirements, acceptable job roles, and priority fields. The aim is to build a sustainable workforce for Queensland’s future.
The migration process is evolving. Understanding these fundamental shifts is the first step toward a successful application.
If you are already living and working in Queensland, your contribution is recognised and respected. The updated onshore pathway provides a clear route for skilled workers who wish to secure state nomination.
Your chosen occupation must be included on the Queensland Onshore Skills List. The Onshore 190 skills list contains 158 occupations. Similarly, the Onshore 491 skills list contains 201 occupations. This list shifts to reflect theNew Queensland Migration Requirements state’s changing labour priorities, which ensures it remains relevant.
You are required to reach a minimum of 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs test. This is the core standard that applies to every applicant.
You must demonstrate at least a competent level of English, which supports both professional participation and community integration.
For a subclass 491 visa, you need 6 months of employment in Queensland. Whereas, if you opt for a subclass 190 visa, then you will have 9 months before you submit your Registration of Interest (ROI). The work must come after your qualification and directly connect to your nominated occupation.
Your employment must involve at least 20 hours each week. You also need to still be in this position when your ROI is submitted and when Migration Queensland finalises selection. It is also mentioned that casual work is accepted. You can also do multiple jobs to meet the work hours requirement.
Remote work is permitted, provided your employer maintains a physical base in Queensland.
This pathway delivers a structured and rewarding nomination option for skilled workers already established in the state.
Read on: Australia Permanent Migration Program Planning Level Announced for 2025-26
Queensland is calling for skilled professionals from overseas who can contribute tangible experience from established careers. The new settings for offshore applicants have been refined to prioritise depth of skill and proven capability.
Your occupation must be included on the Queensland Offshore Skills List. The Offshore 190 category currently identifies 101 roles, and the Offshore 491 category outlines 113 roles. These lists are revised to keep pace with labour demand across the state.
A score of at least 65 on the Home Affairs points test is required. Meeting this standard confirms eligibility to enter the program.
Applicants must show a competent level of English. This reinforces workplace readiness as well as the capacity to adapt in daily life.
You need 1 year of skilled employment in your nominated occupation. Only declared experience linked to that role will be counted. You must remain employed in it at the time of invitation and nomination.
The former requirement to provide settlement funds has now been removed, which creates a more direct path through the process.
This pathway appeals to experienced professionals bringing advanced skills to Queensland’s economy and long‑term ambitions.
Find out more: New English Language Criteria for Australian Immigration Explained
In a direct response to Queensland’s building and infrastructure demand, a dedicated pathway has opened for construction workers. This pathway fast‑tracks skilled candidates into the state’s workforce where shortages are most pressing.
For this pathway, your nominated occupation must appear on the Queensland Onshore Skills List. The list includes 46 distinct roles that authorities recognise as essential for construction.
A minimum of 65 points on the Home Affairs test is required. This remains the entry threshold for eligibility.
Applicants need to show at least a competent level of English. This ensures readiness for workplaces and smooth integration.
You must complete three months of relevant employment in Queensland. This must occur after you receive your qualification and be tied directly to your nominated occupation. The role must provide a minimum of twenty hours each week.
Invited candidates may qualify for the Skilled Nominated Permanent Visa (subclass 190). The employment must fall within related roles that sit under the same ANZSCO Minor Group at the three‑digit level.
This pathway delivers a faster and more reliable route to permanent residency. It has been designed to address a critical skills gap shaping Queensland’s growing construction industry.
The state is rewarding international students who place their trust and effort into education here. For graduates of a Queensland institution, the path to skilled nomination has become more approachable.
Your nominated occupation must appear on the Queensland Onshore Skills List.
A score of at least 65 on the Home Affairs points test is required. This remains the starting ground for applicants.
You must hold at least a competent level of English. This confirms readiness to study, work, and integrate effectively.
Applicants need 6 months of relevant work in Queensland for a 491 visa or 9 months for a 190 visa. This employment must follow your qualification and be completed before submitting your ROI. You must work at least twenty hours each week. One recent change is that such employment can now be in any Skill Level 1 occupation.
You must hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD from a Queensland institution. The course must be completed in full in Queensland. Graduation must also be from July 1, 2021, or later.
This initiative supports capable graduates who wish to remain in Queensland. It rewards commitment to study and fosters future growth in the community.
Learn more: Top 7 Courses in Australia that Lead to Permanent Residency in 2025
Please be aware of a critical change for those considering the SBO pathway. This immigration pathway is being phased out.
The subclass 491 SBO pathway closed on September 19, 2025. From that date forward, no new businesses have been accepted into this option.
If you purchased or established your business before the closure, you may remain eligible for an invitation during the 2025-26 financial year. A new ROI must be submitted with updated and accurate business details.
Eligibility for Eligible Applicants
For applicants with existing businesses, the following criteria were required.
Your nominated occupation had to appear on the LIN 19/051 list.
A minimum of 65 points on the Home Affairs test was compulsory.
At least a competent level of English was necessary.
The business had to operate in an eligible regional Queensland postcode.
From the date of purchase or start, you had to own 100 percent of the business. You could share ownership only with a spouse or de facto partner.
You needed to operate the business full‑time, and once granted the 491 visa, you had to commit to at least three years of continued operation.
If you did not meet the SBO conditions before its closure, other state visa options remain open. Ehelp Consultants can help explore the alternatives and guide you toward the right pathway.
Next up: National Innovation Visa: NSW Migration Update for 2025
Migration Queensland does not rely on the Home Affairs points test when ranking candidates. Instead, it applies its own internal system that measures several defined factors. This approach reflects the priorities of the state and how it aims to meet ongoing workforce needs.
1. Factors Considered
Assessors rank candidates according to their skills and formal qualifications. They also consider employment history, salary level for onshore applicants, English proficiency, age, and a partner’s skills in both occupation and English ability. For onshore applicants, they additionally weigh the location of employment.
2. Invitation Rounds
Authorities make selections at different points throughout the financial year, holding invitation rounds that reflect the skills the state needs most at that time.
3. ROI Submission
The process starts when applicants submit a Registration of Interest directly to Migration Queensland. This first step places every applicant on the same pathway before authorities issue any invitations.
4. Selection and Invitation
Migration Queensland reviews registrations, then selects and invites suitable candidates to apply for state nomination. Once invited, applicants have 14 days to submit the required documents and pay the application fee.
5. Visa Application
After securing a state nomination, applicants receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to apply for a visa. They must lodge the application within 60 days.
This process is rarely straightforward. Without guidance, you will spend time and effort, yet still miss subtle points that matter. Ehelp Consultants deals only with Australian migration and brings hard won knowledge to the new QLD requirements. Since September 2025, the rules have shifted, and each change demands sharp attention. Our team keeps pace so your application carries accuracy and authority.
The new Queensland migration requirements for 2025/2026 provide a clearer direction for skilled migrants and graduates. Adjustments in work hours and the arrival of new priority streams open strong opportunities. For offshore professionals, the focus is now on proven experience. These rules highlight the value of your skills and show Queensland’s intent to build growth with talent.
If you live in Queensland or are preparing to move, staying updated is vital. Outdated details can damage your prospects. Ehelp Consultants delivers guidance shaped to current rules and gives your application real strength.
Your future begins with informed planning. Contact Ehelp Consultants today and take the next step.
Key changes include a reduced 20-hour per week work minimum, acceptance of casual roles, and a new construction worker pathway. The settlement fund requirement for offshore applicants has been removed, and the process is now streamlined with a direct Registration of Interest (ROI) to Migration Queensland.
Yes, the 2025-2026 rules accept both casual work and remote (work-from-home) arrangements. For casual roles, you must meet the 20-hour weekly minimum. For remote work, your employer must maintain a physical office in Queensland.
Work experience requirements depend on the pathway:
• Onshore Skilled Workers: 9 months for a Subclass 190 visa or 6 months for a Subclass 491 visa.
• Offshore Applicants: 1 year of skilled employment.
• Construction Pathway: 3 months of relevant work for a Subclass 190 visa.
No, the Small Business Owner (SBO) pathway closed to new applicants on September 19, 2025. However, transitional arrangements may apply if you established your business before the closure date, allowing you to be considered by submitting a new Registration of Interest (ROI).
Migration Queensland uses its own internal ranking system, not just the Home Affairs points test. It assesses candidates based on factors like skills, qualifications, employment history, and English level. Invitations are then issued in rounds based on the state’s current skill shortages.
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