Queensland Skilled Migration Program for 2022-2023 Now Open for Onshore and Offshore Applicants
Last Tuesday, Queensland opens its skilled migration program for the financial year 2022-2023 for both offshore and onshore applicants.
Queensland Migration Program Updates
Skilled Migration Program
Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa Subclass 190 - For skilled workers who wish to live and work in Queensland permanently.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 - For nominated skilled workers who intend to live and work in regional Queensland for 5 years with a pathway option to permanent residency.
Queensland Graduates and PhD holders
Pathway option for graduates in a PhD, Doctorate, Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree. Eligible applicants must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) on SkillSelect before submitting a Graduate Pathways Assessment Form.
Eligibility criteria:
You have point test results of
80 or higher for subclass 190 visa
65 points or higher for subclass 491 visa
You meet the minimum English language requirement (Proficient)
For PhD and Doctorate Graduates (190 & 491 visas)
Currently residing in Queensland
Have completed 100% of the PhD/Doctorate at a Queensland-based institution
Have had a decision on your thesis and graduated in the last 2 years
Have an occupation on LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities
No job required
Masters Graduate
190 nomination criteria
Currently residing in Queensland
Completed 100% of Master’s degree (by research of coursework) at a Queensland-based institution
Have graduated in the last two years
Have a Master’s Degree and skills assessment in a STEM field (see table below)
Be employed full-time (35 hours per week minimum) in Queensland in the nominated or closely related STEM occupation (see table below)
491 visa
Currently residing in Queensland
Have completed 100% f the Master’s Degree (by the research of coursework) at a Queensland-based institution
Have graduated in the last two years
Have an occupation on LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities
Employed full-time (minimum of 35 hours per week) in Queensland in the nominated or closely related occupation within the regional area.
Bachelor Graduates (491 only)
Currently residing in Queensland
Have completed 100% of Bachelor’s degree at a Queensland-based institution
Have graduated in the last two years
Have a grade point average of at least 5.5 (or equivalent)
Have an occupation on LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities
Employed full-time (minimum of 35 hours per week) in regional Queensland in the nominated or closely related occupation.
Skilled migrants currently residing in Queensland
Applicable Regions
For subclass 491 visa, you must reside and work within one of the postcodes listed in the table below:
If you currently hold or have applied for a valid Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 491, you will not be eligible for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa subclass 190.
For those who are nominated or applied for the 491 visa before 5 March 2022, further valid postcodes can be found in LIN 20/292. In addition, for those who were granted a 491 visa before 19 November 2019, the Gold Coast is not an eligible region.
Eligibility Criteria:
Department of Home Affairs
Under 45 years of age
Meet the minimum English language requirements of competent, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority
Have at least 65 points including the state nomination points
Have positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation
Submit additional documents, if invited to lodge an application for 190 visa or 491 visa
Queensland Nomination Criteria:
You have point test result of
80 points or higher for subclass 190 visa
65 points or higher for subclass 491 visa
Have an occupation on Home Affairs relevant list of eligible skilled occupations (LIN 19/051)
Have at least proficient English (except for Trades Occupation which requires at least competent English)
If you are lodging an EOI:
Subclass 190 visa - You can provide evidence that you have been living in Queensland and undertaking full-time post-qualification employment (minimum of 35 hours per week) over the past 6 months in your nominated occupation immediately before submitting your EOI.
Subclass 491 visa - You can provide evidence that you have been living in Queensland and undertaking full-time post-qualification employment (minimum of 35 hours per week) over the past 3 months in your nominated occupation immediately before submitting your EOI.
Can provide evidence of ongoing employment with a Queensland employer that is registered in Queensland for a further 12 months (min of 35 hours per week)- For 491 visa, this must be ongoing employment in a regional area.
Committed to living and working in Queensland for
2 years for 190 visas
3 years for the 491 visa
Caveats for Selected Occupations
Accountants
Only applicants employed in an accounting firm will receive an invitation
Must be a CPA or CA or;
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
Skilled Migrants currently residing offshore
Eligibility Criteria:
Department of Home Affairs
Under 45 years of age
Meet the minimum English language requirements of competent, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority
Have at least 65 points including the state nomination points
Have positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation
Submit additional documents, if invited to lodge an application for a 190 visa or 491 visa
Queensland Nomination Criteria:
You have a point test result of
80 points or higher for subclass 190 visa
65 points or higher for subclass 491 visa
Have an occupation on the Offshore Skilled Occupation List (QSOL)
Have at least proficient English (except where otherwise specified)
Have a minimum of 3 years of post-study work experience (except where otherwise specified)
Labour Hire Employment
If you are employed via a labour hire company, the company must be registered in Queensland. The company must be licensed under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017. That includes those based interstate or overseas who provide workers in Queensland.
Business Skilled Migration Program
Queensland still has a highly competitive program with limited interim nomination allocation from the Department of Home Affairs.
Business Innovation stream
This stream allows highly qualified individuals to own and manage a new or existing business in Queensland. A provisional visa valid for 5 years with a permanent pathway via subclass 888 Business Innovation and Investment visa.
Eligibility Criteria
Must demonstrate a genuine commitment to Queensland
Must have net business and personal assets of at least AUD 1.25 million ready to be transferred to Queensland upon visa grant
Must invest in one or two qualifying business(es) in Queensland in visa grant:
At least AUD 400,000 if the proposed business will be established in the Greater Brisbane and Gold Coast region or;
At least AUD 300,000 if the proposed business will be established in regional Queensland
Additional Requirements:
Export business must develop international markets for Queensland products
The general importing business will not be accepted unless the imported products are highly innovative, advanced in technology, or currently unavailable in Queensland.
You should also provide value-adding services to the imported products such as customised design, product assembly installation, testing, repair, maintenance, etc.
Property Development business will not be accepted.
Business Investor stream
This stream would allow highly qualified individuals to invest in complying investment funds. A provisional visa valid for 5 years with a permanent pathway via subclass 888 Business Innovation and Investment visa. Upon holding the provisional visa for 3 years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency. You should also know that the investor stream cannot be extended.
Eligibility Criteria
Must demonstrate a genuine commitment to Queensland
Must have net business and personal assets of at least AUD 3 million ready to be transferred to Queensland upon visa grant (including AUD 2.5 million for complying investment and AUD 500,000 for Settlement in Queensland)
Complying Investment Framework (CIF)
20% in Venture Capital & Growth Private Equity funds (VCPE) that invest in start-ups and small private companies.
30% in approved managed funds that must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
50% in balancing investments of managed funds.
Significant Investor stream
This stream would allow highly qualified individuals to make significant complying investments in Queensland. This visa will be valid for 5 years with a permanent pathway via subclass 888 Business Innovation and Investment visa. Upon holding the provisional visa for 3 years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency. A significant investor stream can be extended up to 2 times.
Eligibility Criteria
Must demonstrate a genuine commitment to Queensland
Must have a net asset of at least AUD 5 million which will be invested in Complying Investment in accordance to CIF.
Complying Investment Framework (CIF)
20% in Venture Capital & Growth Private Equity funds (VCPE) that invest in start-ups and small private companies.
30% in approved managed funds that must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
50% in balancing investments of managed funds.
Entrepreneur stream
This stream is for startup and early-stage entrepreneurs who have been endorsed to develop their concepts in Queensland. A provisional visa valid for 5 years with a permanent pathway via subclass 888 Business Innovation and Investment visa. Upon holding the provisional visa for 3 years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency. A significant investor stream can be extended up to 2 times.
Eligibility Criteria
Must have at least Competent English
Commitment to Queensland
Have a genuine and realistic commitment to permanently live and work in Queensland and continue to contribute to Queensland’s economy and society through the entrepreneurial activity
The proposed business must be located in Queensland and;
Have a registered ABN
Viability of the business plan for your entrepreneurial activity
Innovation and Competitive Advantage - Unique or new about the product or service; what competitors exist in the market and how it differ from competitors; you own or have access to any intellectual property associated with the product/service
Market Potential - what is the known demand for the product or service; who are the targeted customers; scalable business concept
Viability – Your plan to commercialise and market the product or service to secure customers
Budget – Your anticipated funding required to develop the entrepreneurial activity including a breakdown of funding sources and expected business costs over an initial 3-year period; your personal contribution funding amount
Capability – a Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume outlining your qualifications, skills and business background relevant to the entrepreneurial activity
Connecting in Queensland – How will the entrepreneurial activity benefit Queensland’s economy and society?
Adequate funding available to deliver your business plan
Australian Government Agency
Publicly funded research or innovation organisation
Queensland higher education provider, or
Investor registered as an Australian Venture Capital Limited Partnership or Early-Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership
Australian Investment Council members - who are private capital investment firms
Angel Loop Inc. - an Angel Investor Network.
Sufficient funds for settlement in Queensland
Queensland Preferred Sectors
Climate Change Mitigation
Food or Agricultural Technology
Advanced Manufacturing
Aerospace
Biofutures
Defence
Digital Technologies, eg cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Extended Reality (XR), robotics, autonomy, software-as-a-service (SaaS)
Screen Industry
Hydrogen Industry Development
Resources Recovery
Mining Equipment, Technology and Services
Tourism
Excluded business proposals:
Cafés and restaurants
Consulting businesses
Export/import businesses
Retail businesses
Property development
Residential real estate
Labour hire
Purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Queensland.
Service Providers within Queensland’s Innovation Ecosystem
Small Business Owners in Regional Queensland
A pathway for migrants who are currently residing and operating a small business in a regional area.
Applicable Regions
For subclass 491 visa, you must reside and work within one of the postcodes listed in the table below:
2022-2023 Criteria Clarification
No vendor financing
No share transfer (must have a contract of business sale)
Cannot purchase a business from family member
Cannot relocate or sell a business before receiving approval from MQ
Cannot purchase a business previously owned by a 491-SBO applicant
Commission agents or leasing agents of franchises (such as petrol stations), and home-based businesses (including those with virtual offices) will not be considered
Applicants must operate their business for at least 3 years in a regional area (and may be subject to monitoring) after the grant of the visa.
Eligibility Criteria
Department of Home Affairs
Under 45 years of age
Meet the minimum English language requirements of competent, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority
Have at least 65 points including the state nomination points
Have positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation
Submit additional documents, if invited to lodge an application for 190 visa or 491 visa
Queensland Nomination Criteria:
Have an occupation on the Legislative Instrument (LIN 19/051)
Hold a valid visa that allows full-time work and operation of business (minimum of 35 hours per week)
Have purchased an existing business in regional Queensland (home-based businesses are excluded - valid businesses must have been operating for at least 2 years prior to purchase in the current location including franchises)
Purchased a business for a minimum of AUD 100,000 or have been operating a profitable start-up for a minimum of 2 years with a turnover of AUD 200,000 in the year directly prior to application
Have 100% ownership of the business
Have been trading in a business for 6 months before application
Employ at least 1 Australian resident who works a minimum of 20 hours per week or;
2 Australian resident employees working 10 hours a week
Can provide evidence of sufficient settlement funds
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