Queensland Begins Receiving ROIs for Skilled Nomination 2025-26

Queensland announced that it has started accepting Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for its state-nomination programs under the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visas for the 2025-26 programme year with 2,600 nomination places allocated.

The skills-occupation lists for 2025-26 have been published for both onshore and offshore applicants in Queensland, covering a broad range of occupations including but not limited to construction, engineering, education and healthcare.

The ROIs opened in Queensland on 19 September 2025. Applicants are required to submit a new ROI for this programme year if they seek nomination; only one ROI submission may be active at a time. You won't need to submit a new EOI as long as the details are updated.

Some of the changes for 2025-26 include: acceptance of casual work to count towards the work-experience requirement, a minimum of 20 hours work per week in many cases.

Among their priority occupation list, Queensland has emphasised the need for skilled workers in building and construction. To ensure that all skilled migrants with construction skills can work in any area of Queensland, they will nominate building and construction workers for the subclass 190 visa.

If your nominated occupation is listed on Queensland’s current onshore or offshore skilled occupation lists, you may be eligible to lodge an ROI. But being listed alone doesn’t guarantee nomination — you must meet Queensland’s minimum nomination criteria (and the federal visa criteria) and then be selected.

Check the occupation list — Confirm your ANZSCO code is included on Queensland’s current onshore or offshore lists and the corresponding eligible subclass. Applicants in the building and construction sector are encouraged to apply for Subclass 190.

Ensure your skills assessment and English test is valid — While English tests are valid for three years from the date of issue, skill assessment have different validity, please check with each skill assessing authority.

Prepare your nomination documentation — To avoid potential state nomination refusal, ensure you can provide evidence on the claims made in your EOI and ROI, especially your work experience evidence, if you are working remotely or self-employed.

Monitor for invitation rounds — Even after ROI submission, selection depends on quotas and rounds. Stay informed about Queensland’s selection rounds and any changes to criteria.

Queensland’s early opening of ROIs for 2025-26 is a positive signal that the state is actively recruiting skilled workers in key sectors like construction, engineering, education and healthcare. For skilled applicants whose occupation is eligible and ready with documentation and criteria, this offers a timely opportunity. Preparation now will help maximise your chances when nomination invitations are issued.