Queensland’s 2026–27 nomination program: ROIs will open on 6 November

An NOA is issued after the return is processed. Migration Queensland requires the taxable-income figure in the ROI to match the NOA exactly; a return, receipt, payment summary or income statement is not a substitute.

If you were not required to lodge a return for that year, Migration Queensland says to enter $0 taxable income in the ROI; an NOA is not required in that situation. Not being required to lodge is different from simply not having lodged yet.

The document checklist applies the NOA requirement to onshore employees and self-employed applicants. It does not impose the same requirement on offshore applicants.

Queensland nomination and the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) visa requirements must both be satisfied. Nomination adds five points for subclass 190 or 15 for subclass 491, but it is not a visa grant.

• 190: living and working in Queensland for at least nine of the last 12 months.
• 491: living and working in regional Queensland for at least six of the last nine months.

You must currently live and work in Queensland for a Queensland-based employer. Your work must:

• Be undertaken after completing your qualification.
• Involve at least 20 paid hours a week.
• Be in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation within the same three-digit ANZSCO group.

Eligible jobs may be combined, and casual employment is accepted.

Eligibility must continue through ROI submission, invitation and nomination. The construction pathway has a separate continuous-work requirement, explained below.

Only experience declared as related in the EOI is considered. Current employment in the nominated occupation is not generally required at ROI, invitation or nomination, but occupation-specific conditions still need checking. Do not apply the local Queensland residence periods to this route.

Building and construction workers: eligible occupations must be marked for that pathway on the onshore list. Both subclasses use three continuous months living and working in Queensland immediately before ROI, with current Queensland-based employment and at least 20 paid hours of qualifying post-qualification work weekly. The work must be nominated or closely related within the same three-digit group. This does not make every construction occupation eligible for 190.

Queensland graduates: this pathway requires an eligible Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD that meets the Australian Study Requirement, was completed entirely in Queensland, with graduation after 1 July 2022.

The 190 requirement of nine months out of the last 12, or the regional 491 requirement of six months out of the last nine, still applies. You also need at least 20 paid hours of post-qualification work a week.

The difference is the type of work that can qualify: it may be in your nominated occupation, a closely related occupation or any Skill Level 1 occupation. Work accepted for Queensland nomination does not automatically qualify for federal EOI employment points.

The regional 491 small-business pathway also has separate, restricted start-up criteria. Its business-purchase route is closed; it should not be treated as a generally available alternative for anyone opening or buying a business.

An EOI may indicate 190, 491 or both, but an ROI selects one subclass. Only one valid ROI can be held, and a submitted ROI cannot be edited. If information changes, submit a new ROI; only the most recent is considered.

If selected, you receive an invitation to apply for Queensland nomination. The published process allows 14 calendar days to provide the complete application, supporting documents and required payment. That state process is separate from the subsequent Home Affairs visa invitation and application.

Queensland does not select solely by EOI points. Factors can include qualifications, employment, salary, work location, age, English and partner skills, together with workforce needs. A minimum eligibility score should not be presented as an invitation cut-off.