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Skilled Migration Brisbane & Queensland — Subclass 190 & 491 State Nomination 2026

If Brisbane is your target, Subclass 190 is your pathway — permanent residency with the right to live anywhere in Queensland including metropolitan Brisbane.

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If you are open to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, or Toowoomba, Subclass 491 requires a lower base points score — and most of Queensland outside Brisbane metro qualifies as regional.

Queensland’s 2025–26 program is one of the most active in Australia — 2,600 places, a streamlined ROI system, and casual work now counting toward eligibility. Key traps: the 9-month onshore residency requirement for 190, the 6-month regional requirement for 491, and the hard rule that having held a 491 or 489 visa blocks Queensland 190 nomination.

✓ Program Status — Queensland 2025–26 (Last verified: May 2026)

Queensland's 2025–26 State Nominated Migration Program is OPEN and accepting Registrations of Interest for both Subclass 190 and Subclass 491. Total allocation: 2,600 places — 1,850 for Subclass 190 and 750 for Subclass 491. You must submit a new ROI each year — only your most recent ROI is considered. Save or print your ROI confirmation immediately — Migration Queensland cannot reissue it. Verify at migration.qld.gov.au .

Quick Visa Facts — Queensland 2025–26

 Subclass 190Subclass 491
Visa typePermanent residencyProvisional (5 yrs) → PR via Subclass 191
2025–26 places1,850750
Minimum points65 total (60 base + 5 nomination)65 total (50 base + 15 nomination)
AgeUnder 45 at nominationUnder 45 at nomination
EnglishCompetent (IELTS 6.0 each band)Competent (IELTS 6.0 each band)
Onshore residency9 months in QLD at 20hrs+/week6 months in regional QLD at 20hrs+/week
Casual work acceptedYes (from 2025–26)Yes (from 2025–26)
Offshore applicantsEligible — no residency req.Eligible — no residency req.
Nomination fee~AUD 310 (verify at migration.qld.gov.au)~AUD 310 (verify at migration.qld.gov.au)
EOI validityUp to 715 daysUp to 715 days
ROINew ROI required each yearNew ROI required each year
Invitation roundsRolling — profile-based rankingRolling — profile-based ranking
491 → 190 block✗ Having held 491 or 489 blocks QLD 190 nominationN/A
Program status (May 2026)Open — accepting ROIsOpen — accepting ROIs

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns and Beyond — Which Visa Applies to Your City?

Metropolitan Brisbane is not a regional area. Most other Queensland cities are. The city you want to live in determines which visa pathway is available to you.

City / Area491 regional?190 eligible?Notes
Brisbane (metro)✗ Not regional✓ Yes190 is the only state nomination pathway for metro Brisbane
Gold Coast✓ Yes — Category 2✓ YesLifestyle city + regional visa access — strong 491 option
Sunshine Coast✓ Yes — Category 2✓ YesRegional postcodes — 491 eligible
Cairns✓ Yes — Category 3✓ YesHealthcare, tourism, construction demand — strong 491 option
Townsville✓ Yes — Category 3✓ YesHealthcare and construction hub — 491 eligible
Toowoomba✓ Yes — Category 3✓ YesMajor inland centre — agricultural, services, and construction demand
Mackay / Rockhampton / Bundaberg✓ Yes — Category 3✓ YesRegional QLD — 491 eligible. Employer must be in regional postcode.

Targeting Brisbane CBD or metro suburbs?

Subclass 190 is your only Queensland state nomination pathway. It grants permanent residency and the right to live anywhere in Queensland including Brisbane.

Open to Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, or Toowoomba?

All five qualify as regional for Subclass 491. The 15 nomination points from 491 can make the difference for applicants with 50–60 base points.

Employer must be physically in a regional QLD postcode.

Official postcodes: 4019–4022, 4025, 4037, 4074, 4076–4078, 4124–4125, 4133, 4183–4184, 4207–4275, 4280–4287, 4300–4301, 4303–4498, 4500–4512, 4514–4519, 4521, 4550–4575, 4580–4895.

Verify your postcode at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au .

Queensland Skilled Visa Subclasses

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa

Permanent residency through Queensland nomination. Live and work anywhere in Queensland — including Brisbane — from day of grant.

  • Onshore: 9 months in QLD at 20hrs+/week immediately before ROI — casual work accepted
  • Offshore: Eligible — no residency requirement before applying
  • Student visa holders: Not eligible for onshore pathway
  • 491/489 block: Previous or current 491 or 489 holders cannot apply for Queensland 190 nomination
  • Fee: ~AUD 310 — verify at migration.qld.gov.au

→ Full requirements: visaadvisor.com.au/skilled-migration/subclass-190

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa

Five-year provisional visa for regional Queensland. Lower base points threshold. Pathway to permanent residency via Subclass 191 after three years. Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, and Toowoomba all qualify.

  • Onshore: 6 months in regional QLD at 20hrs+/week. Employer must be physically located in a regional QLD postcode — virtual offices do not qualify
  • Offshore: Eligible — no residency requirement before applying
  • Student visa holders: Not eligible for onshore pathway
  • Fee: ~AUD 310 — verify at migration.qld.gov.au

→ Full requirements: visaadvisor.com.au/skilled-migration/subclass-491

Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa

No state nomination required. Federal invitation only through SkillSelect — Queensland is not involved. Highly competitive. Best for applicants with a strong points score and a qualifying occupation who do not want to rely on state nomination.

→ Full requirements: visaadvisor.com.au/skilled-migration/subclass-189

Compare Visa Types — 189, 190, 491

SubclassPR outcomeNominationLocation fitPoints test
189Direct PRNoneAustralia-wideFederal invitation
190Direct PRQueensland GovernmentBrisbane + all QueenslandYes — incl. 5 nomination pts
491Provisional → PR via 191Queensland regionalRegional QLD — Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba etc.Yes — incl. 15 nomination pts
191PR (transition)Not applicableAfter 491 regional conditions metNo
887PR (legacy)Not applicableLegacy regional holdersNo

Eligibility Requirements — Queensland

You must satisfy both the Department of Home Affairs visa criteria AND Migration Queensland’s nomination criteria.

RequirementDetail
AgeUnder 45 at time of nomination
Points — Subclass 19065 total = 60 base + 5 nomination points
Points — Subclass 49165 total = 50 base + 15 nomination points
Skills assessmentValid, positive, occupation must match EOI — must not expire within 2 weeks of ROI submission
English languageCompetent English minimum (IELTS 6.0 each band)
Onshore residency — 1909 months in QLD at 20hrs+/week immediately before ROI. Casual accepted. Work can split across 2 employers.
Onshore residency — 4916 months in regional QLD at 20hrs+/week. Employer must be physically in regional QLD postcode.
OffshoreEligible for both — no residency requirement before applying. Must commit to QLD (190) or regional QLD (491).
Student visa holdersNot eligible for onshore pathways
491/489 restrictionPrevious or current 491 or 489 holders blocked from Queensland 190 nomination — hard rule, no exceptions
EOI + ROIEOI via SkillSelect + new ROI each year via Migration Queensland portal. Only most recent ROI considered. ROI ≠ nomination.

How Queensland Ranks ROIs — What Actually Affects Selection

Queensland selects by profile ranking — not queue position. Submission date is irrelevant.

FactorWhy it matters for Queensland
Annual earnings in QueenslandAnnualised earnings (from ATO Income Statement) entered in ROI. Higher earnings = stronger profile. Employment does not need to be in your nominated occupation. Labour hire counts if company is licensed in QLD.
Occupation priorityConstruction, healthcare, manufacturing, and regional industries are prioritised in 2025–26. High-demand occupations can be selected at lower points scores.
Points scoreHigher scores rank you higher within your occupation group. But a high score in a low-priority occupation may lose to a lower score in construction or healthcare.
Pathway alignmentSubmitting under the correct pathway (Skilled Worker vs Construction vs Graduate) is critical. Pathway mismatch causes ROI failure even with a strong profile.
Partner skillsPartner skills assessment adds EOI points and strengthens your overall profile.
English above minimumEvery point above Competent English improves your ranking. Superior English adds up to 20 EOI points.
Document validityQueensland does not consider EOIs where the skills assessment expires within 2 weeks of ROI submission.
Employer location (491)Must be physically located in a regional QLD postcode. Virtual offices and proxy offices disqualify you.

How to Apply — Queensland State Nomination

  1. Check Eligibility: Confirm you meet both DHA visa criteria and Migration Queensland’s nomination criteria — two separate requirement sets. Check that your occupation is on the correct Queensland Skilled Occupation List (QSOL): onshore and offshore lists are different.
  2. Prepare Documentation: Obtain a valid skills assessment and English test. Ensure your skills assessment will not expire within two weeks of your planned ROI submission. Queensland will not consider your EOI if it does.
  3. Submit or Update EOI in SkillSelect: Keep your EOI accurate and current — valid for up to 715 days. You do not need to resubmit each year, but you must submit a new ROI each program year.
  4. Meet the Residency Requirement (onshore): For 190: complete 9 months in QLD at 20hrs+/week immediately before ROI. For 491: complete 6 months in regional QLD at 20hrs+/week with a physically-located regional employer. Do not submit before you qualify.
  5. Submit ROI and Respond to Invitation: Submit your ROI via the Migration Queensland portal. Save the confirmation immediately. If selected, you have 14 days to upload documents and pay the fee — missing this window closes your application with no refund.

Common Mistakes — Queensland Skilled Migration

Most Applications Fail For Very Predictable Reasons

Submitting ROI before meeting the residency requirement. Applying for 190 after holding a 491 or 489 visa. Wrong pathway or occupation code. Not saving the ROI confirmation.

  • Submitting an ROI before completing the 9-month (190) or 6-month (491) Queensland residency requirement — automatic disqualifier for onshore applicants.
  • Applying for Queensland 190 after holding a 491 or 489 visa — hard block with no exceptions.
  • Assuming Brisbane suburbs qualify for 491 — metro Brisbane does not. Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba do.
  • Submitting multiple ROIs — only the most recent counts. Each new ROI replaces the previous one.
  • Not saving the ROI confirmation — Migration Queensland cannot reissue it.
  • Using an employer with a virtual or proxy office for the 491 pathway — disqualifies the application regardless of how the employer appears on paper.
  • Missing the 14-day invitation response window — application is closed, fee non-refundable.

Related Visas and Resources

  • State Nomination Hub — visaadvisor.com.au/state-nomination
  • Skilled Migration Hub — visaadvisor.com.au/skilled-migration
  • Subclass 190 — visaadvisor.com.au/skilled-migration/subclass-190
  • Subclass 491 — visaadvisor.com.au/skilled-migration/subclass-491
  • Subclass 189 — visaadvisor.com.au/skilled-migration/subclass-189
  • Victoria Skilled Migration — visaadvisor.com.au/state-nomination/victoria-subclass-190-491
  • Points Calculator — visaadvisor.com.au/tools/points-calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. As of May 2026, Queensland’s program is open and accepting ROIs for both Subclass 190 and 491. Allocation: 2,600 places. Verify current status at migration.qld.gov.au. Last verified: May 2026.

Yes. Offshore applicants are eligible for both 190 and 491. No Queensland residency requirement before applying. You must demonstrate genuine commitment to settling in Queensland (190) or regional Queensland (491) after grant.

Yes. The Gold Coast is a Category 2 designated regional area and qualifies for Subclass 491. Your employer must have a physical office in a regional Queensland postcode.

Yes. All three are Category 3 designated regional areas and fully qualify for Subclass 491. Cairns and Townsville have strong demand in healthcare and construction. Toowoomba is a major inland centre with agricultural and services sector demand.

No. If you currently hold or have previously held a Subclass 491 or 489 visa, Queensland will not nominate you for Subclass 190. This is a hard restriction with no exceptions. Other states may not apply this restriction — speak with a registered migration agent about alternatives.

Yes, for onshore Subclass 190 applicants. You must have lived and worked in Queensland for at least 9 months immediately before ROI submission, at minimum 20 hours per week. For 491, it is 6 months in regional Queensland. Do not submit your ROI before you meet this requirement.

Yes, from 2025–26. Casual work counts toward the residency requirement at 20+ hours per week. Work can be split across two employers. Student visa holders remain ineligible for the onshore pathway.

No. You can only have one active ROI with Migration Queensland at a time. Submitting a new ROI replaces the previous one — only your most recent ROI is considered. Choose the subclass that best fits your current profile.

Your application is closed and fees are non-refundable. Queensland gives you exactly 14 days from invitation to upload documents and pay the nomination fee. Have your documents ready before you submit your ROI so you can respond immediately if selected.

The minimum is 65 points including nomination points. Queensland ranks applicants by profile — not by points alone. Construction and healthcare applicants may be selected at lower scores. Other occupations may require significantly higher scores. Speak with a registered migration agent before submitting.

Ready to Start Your Queensland Skilled Migration?

Whether you are checking your points, deciding between Brisbane and regional Queensland, choosing between 190 and 491, or preparing your ROI — Visa Advisor can help you build a strategy that is realistic for your profile and avoids the mistakes that cost time and money.

No obligation. Registered migration agent. 100% confidential.

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Disclaimer

Information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute migration advice. Visa requirements, nomination criteria, occupation lists, and program allocations change regularly. Always verify current requirements at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and migration.qld.gov.au before making decisions. For advice specific to your circumstances, consult a registered migration agent. Visa Advisor Pty Ltd — MARA 0852408. Last reviewed: May 2026.