What is the Queensland State Nominated Migration Program?
The Queensland State Nominated Migration Program is designed to fill critical skills shortages by providing skilled migrants with a pathway to live and work in Queensland, Australia.
To be considered for a Queensland state nomination, you must satisfy the eligibility criteria for both:
The Migration Queensland criteria for your chosen skilled visa pathway.
The Department of Home Affairs' criteria for your chosen visa.
How many places are available for the 2025-26 Queensland Skilled Migration Program?
The Department of Home Affairs has granted Queensland 2,600 nomination places in the national skilled nomination program.
Queensland’s 2025-26 skilled visa allocations include:
Visa subclass | Places |
|---|---|
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa | 1,850 places |
Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa | 750 places |
Already submitted an ROI?
Make sure your Registration of Interest (ROI) is up-to-date and reflects your current skills, work experience, and employment details.
If you’ve submitted more than one ROI, Queensland will assess your most recent submission.
Interested in living and working in Queensland?
You can now submit your Registration of Interest (ROI) on Queensland’s online application portal.
If you’re lodging an ROI for the first time, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, including the latest program updates, the Queensland Skilled Occupation List, IELTS requirements, and other key steps in the state nomination process.
Queensland 2025-26 Skilled Occupation List
All potential applicants must have an eligible occupation that is:
listed on the Department of Home Affairs’ Skilled Occupation List.
eligible for the visa subclass they are applying for.
listed on Queensland’s onshore or offshore skilled occupation list.
If you’re living in Queensland, check the Queensland onshore skilled occupation list.
If you’re applying from overseas, check the Queensland offshore skilled occupation list.
What are the in-demand occupations in Queensland, Australia, in 2026?
Queensland’s job market is growing fast. Over the next four years, the state expects to add 185,000 new jobs and increase its employment by up to 6.2 per cent.
If you’re a skilled migrant planning to apply for state nomination in the future, knowing which occupations will stay in demand in Queensland can help you make an informed PR pathway.
Based on the updated Queensland Skilled Occupation List and combined employment data from different industries, here are the in-demand occupations in Queensland in 2026:
Healthcare & Social Assistance (nurses, medical workers, aged-care staff)
Construction (builders, tradies, construction managers)
Professional & Technical Services (engineers, IT specialists, consultants)
Education & Training (teachers, trainers, childcare and education staff)
Retail Trade (shop workers, managers, retail support)
Key insights
Healthcare remains the top industry
In 2025, the 'Health care and social assistance’ industry had the largest increase in employment (8.3%) in Queensland.
On its 2025-26 budget, the state allocated $33.1B for its health services, which includes creating more jobs for health workers
On the Queensland Onshore Skilled Occupation List, the healthcare sector has the largest number of roles listed (95 roles).
Major infrastructure projects increase demand for construction and engineering roles
Queensland allocated a $116.8 billion budget to its infrastructure sector in 2025–26.
The upcoming Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a major driver. The government has allocated $864 million for Games venues and $950 million for Athletes' Villages.
Because of these projects, demand for construction workers, engineers, and tradespeople is high. Queensland has even created a new pathway for construction workers.
Education and training to create 19,000 jobs
Education and training remain in Queensland’s top industries. It is expected to grow to 7.6 per cent (19,000 jobs) by 2028–29. There are also 20 education-related roles listed in the Queensland Onshore Skilled Occupation List.
Why these industry insights matter to you
In 2026, these industries provide the strongest outlook for job opportunities. If you are a skilled migrant planning permanent residency through state nomination, you can use this information to choose an occupation with high demand.
If you have already submitted your ROI and you work in any of these industries, this can mean better chances for you to get a nomination.
If you’re considering a career change, talk to the friendly team at IDP and find out how we can help you reach your career and migration goals!
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Queensland 2025-26 new skilled migration program requirements
For the 2025-26 program, Queensland updated some of its requirements, which can make it easier for you to meet the eligibility criteria for work experience.
You must still be working in an eligible role when you submit your ROI, when you’re selected, and when you’re nominated.
You can now include casual work when meeting the experience requirements.
You can combine multiple jobs to meet the work requirement.
Work-from-home experience is allowed if your employer has a physical presence in Queensland.
If you already hold or have applied for a 491 or 489 visa, you cannot apply for the 190 visa.
Know more about the 2025-25 new Queensland program requirements and what they mean for skilled migrants and international students.
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What are the available visa options?
There are two visa subclasses available under Queensland's skilled migration program:
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa eligibility requirements
This visa allows you to live and work in Australia permanently.
If you’re an onshore skilled worker in Queensland
You must:
Have a job on the Queensland Onshore Skills List.
Have at least 65 points on the Australian Department of Home Affairs points test.
Have competent English.
Have been living and working in Queensland for 9 months before submitting your registration of interest.
Your work experience must:
Be completed after you finished your qualification.
Be at least 20 hours per week.
Be in a job with the same first three ANZSCO digits as your nominated occupation.
If you’re a university graduate in Queensland
You must:
Have a Queensland bachelor's degree, master’s degree or PhD
Have a job on the Queensland Onshore Skills List.
Have at least 65 points on the Australian Department of Home Affairs points test.
Have competent English.
Have been living and working in Queensland for 9 months.
Your work experience must:
Be completed after you finished your qualification.
Be at least 20 hours per week.
Be in your nominated occupation or any Skill Level 1 occupation.
Skilled Regional (subclass 491) visa eligibility requirements
If you’re an onshore skilled worker in Queensland
The same requirements for Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa apply, except you should be living and working in Regional Queensland for 6 months before registering your interest.
If you’re a university graduate in Queensland
The same requirements for Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa apply, except you should be living and working in Regional Queensland for 6 months before registering your interest.
What IELTS score do I need to achieve?
To be considered for a Queensland state nomination, you must achieve a minimum IELTS band score of 6.0 for each of the 4 components to demonstrate that you have a competent level of English.
The Department of Home Affairs accepts IELTS One Skill Retake for both the subclass 190 and 491 visas.
If your occupation or professional registration authority requires an IELTS score higher than 6.0, you will need to meet that requirement instead to be considered for a Queensland state nomination. Make sure you’re prepared for your state nomination application by booking your IELTS test today. Available at over 4000 locations worldwide, it’s easy to find an IELTS test centre near you!
Booking your IELTS test - A step-by-step guide
How do I apply for a Queensland nomination?
Before applying for a Queensland nomination, you must carefully check the eligibility criteria from Migration Queensland, as well as the Department of Home Affairs. If you are confident that you satisfy all the requirements, you can follow these steps to apply to the Queensland State Nomination Skilled program:
1. Collect your documentation
You must provide evidence that you have met the eligibility requirements set out by Migration Queensland and the Department of Home Affairs. Documents that may be required include:
Personal identification documents
IELTS test results
Proof of professional registration (if your occupation requires this)
A suitable skills assessment
Academic transcripts
Work experience-related document (if the chosen pathway requires)
2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Use SkillSelect to submit an EOI for state nomination. You will be asked to provide information relevant to your EOI, including details about your work experience. In order for your EOI to be considered, you must select ‘Queensland’ as the only state you’d like to receive a nomination from.
3. Wait for an invitation
Not the most exciting step, we know. Migration Queensland will consider all EOIs that meet the eligibility requirements. If you are selected to receive a nomination, you will receive an email invitation to formally apply for a state nomination.
4. Apply for your state nomination
When you receive your invitation from Migration Australia to apply for state nomination, you will be asked to:
Upload your documents
Pay the application fee
You can only upload one document per file. If you have more than one document for a file, please merge these so that they can be uploaded as a single file.
Once you have received your invitation, you have 14 days to finish your application. It is very important to finish and submit your application during this time. If you do not finish your application within 14 days, you will need to submit a new EOI and start the process over.
5. Receive your nomination and apply for your visa
If you are nominated by Migration Queensland, you will receive an email invitation from the Department of Home Affairs asking you to submit your visa application. Your visa application must be submitted within 60 days from the date of the invitation.
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FAQs
1. What is the nomination quota for Queensland?
Queensland has a total of 2,600 nomination places for 2025–26. This includes 1,850 places for subclass 190 and 750 places for subclass 491 visas.
2. Is Queensland open for a 190 visa?
Yes. Queensland is currently accepting applications for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa.
3. Can I submit multiple EOIs for Queensland nomination?
Yes. You can have multiple EOIs, but only one EOI can be considered for state nomination at a time. When you submit your Registration of Interest (ROI), choose the EOI that reflects your most recent and relevant experiences.
4. Can I update my EOI if my circumstances have changed?
Yes. Make sure your EOI is up to date with your latest job, address, or English test results. This ensures Migration Queensland considers your most accurate information.
5. How does Migration Queensland invite candidates to apply?
Candidates are invited based on factors such as skills, qualifications, work experience, salary, job location, age, English ability, and partner skills. Priority is given to occupations in high-demand industries and regional areas
Article sources:
The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory Queensland Budget 2025-26 Industries in Queensland Queensland onshore skilled occupation list Migration Queensland - Skilled workers living in Queensland (onshore) Migration Queensland - Queensland university graduates
Why choose IELTS?
IELTS is the world's most popular English test for a reason. Why choose IELTS?
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Immigration and the law
Legislation about immigration changes frequently. It’s important to check the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for changes that may apply to you. If you are interested in Australian student visas, work visas, or looking to migrate permanently, you need to lodge an application with the Australian Government. You may want to consider getting support from a lawyer or migration agent.