Queensland state nomination 2026–27: the 190 and 491
Settledin Team6 min readQueensland state nomination is a two-step process. Migration Queensland sets the rules and invites some registrants to apply for nomination, then Home Affairs decides the visa. Queensland says registrations of interest for 2026–27 open on 6 November 2026. It nominates for the 190 and the 491.
As published by Migration Queensland, checked 4 November 2026.
What is Queensland state nomination?
State nomination lets a state or territory give permission to apply for a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Queensland's state nomination page says its program helps address "critical skills shortages in a broad range of industries". Migration Queensland is the Queensland Government agency that runs it.
Queensland says nomination gives:
- 5 extra points in a SkillSelect expression of interest (EOI) for the 190;
- 15 extra points for the 491;
- the flexibility to work for different employers, without being tied to one.
You cannot apply to Home Affairs for these visas on your own. Queensland's nomination process page says you must "first receive an invitation from Migration Queensland". Points are counted on the Home Affairs points table, covered in Settledin's points test guide.
Is Queensland open for 2026–27?
Not yet, but the date is set. Migration Queensland's home page says the 2026–27 State Nominated Migration Program "is now published" and that Registrations of Interest (ROIs) "will open on 6 November 2026". It also says program requirements have been updated for 2026–27.
Two other notices on that page:
- Onshore applicants must have lodged their 2025–26 tax return and received their ATO Notice of Assessment before submitting an ROI.
- Everyone must submit a new ROI for 2026–27, including people who registered in an earlier year and were not nominated.
Queensland has not published its 2026–27 nomination numbers on the pages read for this post. The Home Affairs allocations page (last updated 21 September 2026) still showed 2025–26 allocations on 4 November 2026, so this post gives no allocation figures. Each state's position is tracked in the state nomination tracker.
Status as published by Migration Queensland, checked 4 November 2026.
Which pathways does Queensland run?
Queensland's skilled visas page lists five pathways. Each has its own page and ROI form.
| Pathway | Who Queensland says it is for |
|---|---|
| Offshore | Skilled workers living outside Australia |
| Onshore | Skilled workers living and working in Queensland |
| Building and construction | Builders, tradespeople and construction workers in Queensland |
| Queensland university graduates | International graduates of a Queensland university or higher education institution, working in Queensland |
| Small business owners in regional Queensland | Onshore business owners, for the 491 only |
Queensland says the pathway pages are separate from the Home Affairs criteria. An applicant must meet both. See Settledin's pages for Queensland and the 190, Queensland and the 491 and the Queensland state page.
Pathways as published by Migration Queensland, checked 4 November 2026.
What does Queensland ask for?
For the offshore and onshore pathways, Queensland's criteria sit alongside the Home Affairs criteria. Queensland lists these shared requirements:
| Requirement | What Queensland says |
|---|---|
| Occupation | A valid skills assessment for an occupation on its skilled occupation list. Chefs and cooks working in takeaway or fast-food businesses cannot apply (onshore) |
| Points | A score of 65 or higher on the Home Affairs points test |
| English | At least competent English, by the Home Affairs definition |
| Work experience, offshore | At least 1 year of skilled employment within the last 3 years, in the nominated or a closely related occupation |
| Work experience, onshore 190 | Living and working in Queensland for at least 9 of the last 12 months before submitting the ROI |
| Work experience, onshore 491 | Living and working in regional Queensland for at least 6 of the last 9 months |
Work experience must be at least 20 hours a week and gained after the qualification. Queensland says casual employment is accepted and several jobs can be combined. See Settledin's guides to skills assessments and English tests for Australian visas.
The other pathways change the work experience rule:
- Building and construction: per its pathway page, at least 3 continuous months of living and working in Queensland, in a pathway occupation.
- Graduates: a bachelor's, master's or PhD from a Queensland institution, 100% completed in Queensland, graduated after 1 July 2022. Queensland says the degree need not relate to the nominated occupation, and work in any Skill Level 1 occupation can meet its experience rule. It adds that only related employment counts for points in the EOI.
Queensland also says nominated applicants commit to live and work in Queensland for at least 2 years for the 190, or in regional Queensland for at least 3 years for the 491. It will not nominate someone for the 190 if they have been nominated for, applied for or hold a 491 or a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489).
Requirements as published by Migration Queensland, checked 4 November 2026.
Which occupations does Queensland list?
Queensland publishes separate lists. The onshore skilled occupation list shows, for each occupation, whether it is open for the 491, the 190 or the building and construction pathway. Queensland says "if your nominated occupation is not on the list below, you are not eligible for Queensland nomination in 2026–27". It adds that not all occupations are open for the 190. The offshore list is a separate page.
On Settledin, each occupation page shows the Home Affairs lists it sits on: browse the occupation pages or the skilled occupation lists.
How does Queensland select applicants?
Queensland says the program "is highly competitive" and that meeting the criteria does not mean an invitation will follow. It says it does not primarily select candidates on the points score claimed in the EOI, and applies its own selection process. Its listed selection factors may include:
- skills and qualifications;
- work experience, salary, and ability to secure and maintain employment;
- location of employment within Queensland;
- age;
- English proficiency;
- a partner's skills and English proficiency.
For onshore candidates it also lists current workforce demand and skills shortages, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas. This post gives no invitation counts or lowest scores. Queensland says approval of a nomination does not decide the visa outcome, because Home Affairs decides every visa application.
How do you register, and what does it cost?
Queensland's ROI page says to be considered you must submit an ROI on its website. Its rules for the ROI:
- you can select only one visa subclass;
- you can have only one valid ROI at a time;
- an ROI cannot be updated once submitted, and a changed circumstance needs a new ROI;
- your SkillSelect EOI must be up to date and accurate.
If you are invited, Queensland says you must provide supporting evidence within 14 calendar days. Its application fees page lists the nomination fee for the 190 and the 491:
| Applicant | Fee per nomination application |
|---|---|
| Offshore (no GST) | $573.00 |
| Onshore (includes 10% GST) | $630.30 |
Queensland says fees are not refunded under any circumstances. Home Affairs visa charges are separate and are published on its subclass 190 and subclass 491 pages, both last updated 2 November 2026. For what happens after a 491, see the 191 visa guide.
Process and fees as published by Migration Queensland, checked 4 November 2026.
Which parts of Queensland count as regional?
Home Affairs lists Queensland postcodes in two regional categories. Its designated regional area postcodes page (last updated 7 October 2026) names Category 2, "Cities and Major Regional Centres", which includes the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and Category 3, "Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas". It says regional incentives apply to both. Queensland's own pathway pages use "regional Queensland" for the 491 requirements, so read its wording for the postcode you have in mind.
How does Queensland compare with other states?
Each state sets its own criteria, lists and process. Settledin has covered Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. The state nomination tracker puts them side by side, and how to get PR in Australia shows where nomination sits among the pathways.
FAQ
Do I need a skills assessment before applying to Queensland?
Queensland's offshore, onshore and graduate pages all say you need a valid skills assessment for an occupation on its list. Its document checklist says some occupations provide evidence of registration instead.
Can I apply for Queensland if I live overseas?
Queensland has an offshore pathway for skilled workers living outside Australia. It sets its own criteria, including at least 1 year of skilled employment in the last 3 years, and uses a separate offshore occupation list.
Does Queensland nomination add points?
Queensland says nomination adds 5 points for the 190 and 15 points for the 491 to the EOI score. The Home Affairs points table is the official source for how points are counted.
Is Queensland open for the 190 and 491?
Queensland says ROIs for 2026–27 open on 6 November 2026. Check its home page for the current notice.
Where do I check the latest Queensland news?
Migration Queensland's home page carries its important announcements. Its pages showed no last-updated date when read on 4 November 2026.
Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official Home Affairs points table, and shows each category for the 189, 190 and 491.
Work out your indicative points
This article describes published Queensland Government and Department of Home Affairs information, checked on 4 November 2026. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.
Source: Migration Queensland (migration.qld.gov.au), program and pathway pages, checked 4 November 2026.