Queensland 2026-27 State Nomination Guide for 190 and 491 Visas (ROI Opens 6 November 2026)
Last updated Nov 2, 2026
Queensland 2026-27 quick answer
Queensland has published its 2026-27 State Nominated Migration Program, and Registrations of Interest (ROIs) open on 6 November 2026, according to the Migration Queensland home page.
Every applicant must submit a new ROI for 2026-27. This includes people who registered in an earlier year and were not nominated.
Queensland nominates for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Each ROI covers one subclass only, and only one ROI can be active at a time.
Applicants living in Queensland must have lodged their 2025-26 tax return and received their ATO Notice of Assessment before they submit an ROI. Submitting an ROI does not guarantee an invitation.
Key facts Queensland State Nominated Migration Program as at 2 November 2026:
Item | Detail |
ROI opening date | 6 November 2026 |
New ROI needed | Yes, for every applicant |
Visas | Subclass 190 (permanent) and subclass 491 (regional, provisional) |
Onshore tax rule | 2025-26 tax return lodged and ATO Notice of Assessment received before the ROI |
Selection | Competitive. Queensland does not primarily select on points |
Time to respond to an invitation | 14 calendar days |
State nomination fee after invitation | A$573.00 offshore, A$630.30 onshore including GST, non-refundable |
Pathways | Onshore, offshore, building and construction, Queensland graduates, regional small business owners |
Sources for each row are listed at the end of this guide.
What Queensland has confirmed for 2026-27
Migration Queensland has updated the program requirements for 2026-27. It asks applicants to review the skilled visa pathways, the Queensland skilled occupation lists and the skilled visa documentation checklist before applying.
These points are confirmed on the official pages:
All applicants submit a new ROI for 2026-27, including those who submitted one in a previous year without receiving nomination.
Onshore applicants need their 2025-26 tax return lodged and their ATO Notice of Assessment before the ROI. The ROI asks for the taxable income shown on that Notice of Assessment.
A new SkillSelect EOI is not required each program year. Queensland considers EOIs up to 715 days old, but it will not consider an EOI that expires within 14 days.
Applicants must meet Queensland's criteria when they submit the ROI, and again when invited and when nominated.
An ROI cannot be updated once submitted. If circumstances change, submit a new ROI. If you submit several, only the most recent is considered.
Which occupations were added or removed compared with 2025-26 is not covered in this guide. Check the official lists directly.
Who can apply for Queensland nomination
Queensland lists five skilled pathways: skilled workers living in Queensland, skilled workers living offshore, building and construction workers, graduates of a Queensland university and small business owners operating in regional Queensland.
This guide sets out the onshore and offshore rules. The other three pathways have their own official pages with separate criteria.
Every applicant must also meet Department of Home Affairs requirements: a points score of at least 65, competent English and a valid skills assessment for an occupation on the relevant Queensland list.
State nomination adds 5 points for the 190 and 15 points for the 491 in the points test. See the Home Affairs 190 points table and 491 points table.
Onshore and offshore requirements compared
Requirement | Onshore, subclass 190 | Onshore, subclass 491 | Offshore, subclass 190 or 491 |
Occupation list | Queensland onshore skilled occupation list | Queensland onshore skilled occupation list | Queensland offshore skilled occupation list |
Points and English | 65 points or more and competent English | 65 points or more and competent English | 65 points or more and competent English |
Qualifying residence and work | Living and working in Queensland for at least 9 of the last 12 months before the ROI | Living and working in regional Queensland for at least 6 of the last 9 months before the ROI | At least 1 year of skilled employment within the last 3 years at the time of the ROI |
Currently employed | Yes. Working in Queensland for a Queensland-based employer at ROI, invitation and nomination | Yes. Same as the 190 | Not required at ROI, invitation or nomination |
Quality of work experience | Gained after qualification, at least 20 paid hours a week, in the nominated or a closely related occupation. Casual work accepted. Several jobs can be combined | Same as the 190 | Gained after qualification, at least 20 hours a week, in the nominated or a closely related occupation. Casual work accepted. Several jobs can be combined |
Commitment after grant | Live and work in Queensland for at least 2 years after the visa is granted | Live and work in regional Queensland for at least 3 years after the visa is granted | At least 2 years in Queensland (190) or 3 years in regional Queensland (491), counted from arrival in Australia on the visa |
Notes that apply across the table:
A closely related occupation means one with the same first 3 digits of the ANZSCO code as the nominated occupation.
Regional Queensland follows the Home Affairs regional postcodes.
Some occupations are eligible for the 491 only. The Queensland list shows which subclasses each occupation can use.
Queensland will not nominate you for the 190 if you have been nominated for, have applied for or hold a 491 or 489 visa.
Onshore, chefs and cooks working in takeaway or fast-food businesses are not eligible.
Offshore, only work experience you declared as related to your nominated occupation in your EOI is considered.
How to apply for Queensland nomination step by step
Queensland uses two registrations. First a federal Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, then a state Registration of Interest (ROI) on the Migration Queensland website.
Check your route. Confirm your occupation is on the Queensland onshore or offshore list, and whether it is open to the 190, the 491 or both.
Submit or update your SkillSelect EOI. State whether you want nomination for the 190, the 491 or both, and make sure every claimed point is accurate. You may select Queensland and other states in the same EOI. If you live in Queensland, your EOI must list Australia as your usual country of residence.
Check your EOI date. Queensland considers EOIs up to 715 days old and ignores any EOI due to expire within 14 days. If yours is close to expiry, submit a new EOI first.
Onshore applicants only: lodge your 2025-26 tax return and wait for your ATO Notice of Assessment.
Submit one ROI from 6 November 2026. You enter your EOI number, passport number, ANZSCO code, visa subclass and confirmation that your work experience meets the pathway. You also enter your partner's English proficiency and ANZSCO code if applicable. Onshore applicants add their Queensland employment and residency details and their 2025-26 taxable income from the Notice of Assessment.
Save or print the confirmation page after you submit. Migration Queensland cannot provide copies of submitted ROIs.
The official how to apply page lists these steps and the later stages.
How Queensland selects candidates and what happens after an invitation
Migration Queensland assesses your EOI and ROI together and invites the most competitive candidates at the time of selection. It does not primarily select on the Home Affairs points score.
Factors it may consider:
skills and qualifications
work experience, salary and ability to secure and maintain employment
location of employment within Queensland
age
English proficiency
partner's skills and English proficiency
Current workforce demand and skills shortages across Queensland are also considered, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas.
What happens after an invitation
An invitation arrives at the email address listed in your EOI. From that point:
You have 14 calendar days to upload the required documents and application form and to pay the application fee.
If the application is incomplete after 14 days, it is closed. You will not be invited again in the same program year.
You must still meet all criteria when invited and when nominated.
After Queensland nominates you, Home Affairs invites you to apply for the visa. You have 60 days to lodge. If you miss that window, you will not be invited to apply for Queensland nomination again in the same program year.
If Queensland approves a nomination and later finds incorrect information or unsupported points in your EOI, you will not receive another Queensland nomination in the same program year.
Queensland nomination fees
Visa | Offshore applicant (no GST) | Onshore applicant (includes 10% GST) |
Subclass 190 | A$573.00 | A$630.30 |
Subclass 491 | A$573.00 | A$630.30 |
Migration Queensland states that fees are not refunded under any circumstances, including a refused visa. The federal visa application charge is separate and set by the Department of Home Affairs. Check the official fee page before paying.
Documents Queensland asks for within the 14 days
Onshore pathway, per the official onshore page:
State nomination application form, provided with the invitation
Passport bio page
Recent VEVO statement
Skills assessment, or registration evidence for some occupations such as medical practitioners and solicitors
Evidence of your Queensland address: a lease, or a utility bill from the last three months. Bank, phone and internet bills are not accepted
Employment contract for each eligible job in the qualifying period
Signed Statement of Service from each employer
Up to 3 payslips per employer
2025-26 ATO Notice of Assessment
Offshore pathway, per the official offshore page:
State nomination application form, provided with the invitation
Skills assessment, or registration evidence for some occupations
Passport bio page
Up to 3 payslips per employer
Employer reference letter for each skilled job claimed in your EOI
Offshore documents must be in English. A certified English translation is required for any other language, and a translation done by the applicant is not accepted.
Common myths about the 2026-27 Queensland program
Myth | Reality |
My 2025-26 ROI carries over | A new ROI is required for 2026-27, including for applicants who registered before and were not nominated |
Offshore applicants must still be employed when invited | The official offshore page says current employment in the nominated occupation is not required at ROI, invitation or nomination. At least 1 year of skilled employment in the last 3 years is required at the ROI |
The highest points score gets the invitation | Queensland does not primarily select on points. It also looks at skills, work experience, salary, location of employment, age, English and partner factors |
I can edit my ROI after submitting | An ROI cannot be updated. Submit a new one, and only the most recent is considered |
I need a new EOI every year | Not necessarily. Queensland accepts an accurate EOI up to 715 days old, unless it expires within 14 days |
One ROI can cover both the 190 and the 491 | Each ROI covers one visa subclass only, and only one ROI can be active at a time |
Meeting every criterion guarantees an invitation | It does not. Places are limited and Queensland invites the most competitive candidates at the time of selection |
What this guide does not confirm
These points were not stated on the official pages reviewed for this guide:
Queensland's 2026-27 allocation of subclass 190 and 491 nomination places
Which occupations were added or removed in the 2026-27 occupation lists
The full criteria for the building and construction, Queensland graduate and regional small business owner pathways
The federal visa application charge, which the Department of Home Affairs sets separately
Program settings and fees can change during the year. Check Migration Queensland before you submit an ROI or pay a fee.
Frequently asked questions
When do Queensland ROIs open for 2026-27?
Registrations of Interest open on 6 November 2026, according to Migration Queensland. Queensland has already published its 2026-27 State Nominated Migration Program. Applicants living in Queensland need their 2025-26 tax return lodged and their ATO Notice of Assessment received before they can submit an ROI.
Do I need a new ROI if I registered last year?
Yes. Every applicant must submit a new ROI for 2026-27, including people who registered in an earlier program year and were not nominated. You do not need a new SkillSelect EOI unless yours is inaccurate or due to expire within 14 days.
What is the difference between Queensland 190 and 491 nomination?
The 190 is a permanent visa and requires a commitment to live and work in Queensland for at least 2 years after grant. The 491 is a provisional regional visa and requires 3 years in regional Queensland. The onshore residence test also differs: 9 of the last 12 months in Queensland for the 190, and 6 of the last 9 months in regional Queensland for the 491.
Do offshore applicants need to be working when they apply?
No. Migration Queensland says offshore applicants are not required to be currently employed in their nominated occupation when they submit the ROI, are invited or are nominated. They do need at least 1 year of skilled employment within the last 3 years at the time of the ROI.
How much does Queensland nomination cost?
After an invitation, Migration Queensland charges A$573.00 for offshore applicants and A$630.30 for onshore applicants including 10% GST, for both the 190 and 491. The fee is not refunded under any circumstances. The federal visa application charge is separate and set by the Department of Home Affairs.
How long do I have to submit documents after an invitation?
You have 14 calendar days to upload the required documents and application form and pay the fee. If the application is incomplete after 14 days, it is closed and you will not be invited again in the same program year.
Does 65 points guarantee a Queensland invitation?
No. 65 points is the minimum on the Home Affairs points test, but Migration Queensland does not primarily select on points. It also considers skills, work experience, salary, location of employment, age, English and partner factors. Meeting every criterion does not guarantee an invitation.
Can I use an existing SkillSelect EOI?
Yes, if it is accurate and current. Queensland considers EOIs up to 715 days old and does not consider an EOI due to expire within 14 days. If you live in Queensland, your EOI must list Australia as your usual country of residence.
Official sources and related guides
Pages opened and checked on 2 November 2026:
Referenced by Migration Queensland:
Related RACC guides:
This guide is general information current as at 2 November 2026. It is not migration advice for your circumstances. RACC is a MARA-registered migration agency in Melbourne. To check your Queensland pathway before the ROI opens, book a consultation.
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