Queensland, Australia, has recently updated its requirements for state sponsorship applications for the 2023-24 financial year, and Queensland has bucked the trend to introduce some easing policies to give applicants hope, as states continue to optimize their own policies due to quota cuts.
Four pathways remain open for Queensland Sponsored Skilled Migrants this financial year, including:
- Graduates of a Queensland university;
- Skilled workers living in Queensland;
- Skilled workers living offshore;
- Small business owners operating in regional Queensland;
Queensland's first round of invitations for the 2023-24 financial year will take place at the end of September, with monthly invitations limited until the end of the financial year.
From 6 September 2023, Queensland has officially opened the application channel, and applicants who meet the following requirements can submit Queensland 190 and 491 state sponsorship applications accordingly:
01 Queensland Graduate Pathway
- EOI score: 190 applicants have an EOI score of at least 75 points, and 491 applicants have at least 65 points;
- English requirements: IELTS 4 6 equivalent;
- Education requirements: Graduated within the past 2 years, and all courses have been completed in Queensland;
- Job requirements: The position applied for is on the corresponding 190 or 491 occupation list of the USCIS;
The changes in Queensland's state guarantee policy for local graduates this financial year are mainly reflected in the fact that all majors have the opportunity to apply for 491 and 190, in addition to the no job requirements for doctoral students, who can apply after the end of the defense, undergraduate and master's graduates also need to meet the following corresponding requirements:
For undergraduate graduates, as well as non-STEM or non-agricultural master's graduates:
-- A GPA of 6.0 or above is required to apply for 190; a GPA of 5.0 or above is required to apply for 491;
-- Have a full-time job in a nominated occupation in Queensland or a full-time job in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1 occupation (working at least 30 hours per week).
For Masters graduates in STEM or agriculture, who do not have a GPA requirement when applying for 190 and 491, they still need to have a full-time job in a nominated occupation in Queensland or a full-time job in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1 occupation (working at least 30 hours per week).
02 Queensland Local Work Channel
The main changes in the state guarantee policy for the Queensland Work Pathway are that 190 has reduced full-time employment from 6 months to 3 months, and 491 has no work requirements.
For applicants living in/working in Queensland, in addition to meeting the basic requirements of the Australian Department of Immigration, the following requirements need to be met:
- EOI score: 190 applicants have an EOI score of at least 75 points, and a technical occupation score of at least 70 points; 491 applicants with at least 65 points;
- English requirement: IELTS equivalently 4 6 (unless there are higher requirements for registration or licensing of the profession);
- Job requirements: The position applied for is on the corresponding 190 or 491 occupation list of the USCIS;
- Job Requirements:
-- 190 applicants have at least 3 months of full-time relevant work experience in the nominated occupation in Queensland + full-time job offer for the nominated occupation in the next 12 months;
-- 491 applicants have a full-time job related to the nominated occupation in a remote area of Queensland + a full-time job offer for the nominated occupation in the next 6 months;
For some special occupations, additional requirements are met:
- Accounting: only accept CPA/CA/IPA for accounting firms or medium and large enterprises (more than 20 employees);
- Internal/external audit: must be audited, not accounting;
- Chef & Chef: Cannot be a takeaway or fast food restaurant;
03 Overseas skilled migration channel
The change in the state sponsorship policy for Queensland's Skilled Worker Corridor is mainly reflected in the reduction of applicants' English score requirements to the equivalent level of IELTS 4 6 points, and the reduction of the EOI minimum score.
- EOI score: 190 applicants have an EOI score of at least 75 points, and a technical occupation score of at least 70 points; 491 applicants with at least 65 points;
- English requirement: IELTS equivalently 4 6 (unless there are higher requirements for registration or licensing of the profession);
- Job requirements: The application for the position must be on the Queensland QSOL list;
- Job requirements: meet the work experience requirements corresponding to the corresponding position (most occupations are 3-5 years) and the applicant must still be working in the nominated position at the time of invitation;
It should be noted that overseas applications need to meet the requirements of the QSOL occupation list, not all occupations are there, IT, engineering, construction are on the offshore list, and each position needs to meet additional work experience.
04 Queensland Small Business Channel
The Small Business Owner category in Queensland can only apply for 491 visa nomination and needs to do business in Queensland, applicants need to hold a visa to work full-time in Australia and complete the small business project requirements through the following two pathways:
Purchase an existing business:
- Purchase of an existing small business worth not less than $100,000;
- Employ at least one local employee;
- Prior to submitting the EOI application, the applicant has at least 6 months experience in the business;
Start your own business:
- The business was established in Queensland and operated in Queensland for at least 2 years;
- The business had a turnover of at least $200,000 in the past 12 months prior to submitting the state sponsorship application;
This financial year, Queensland has 900 190 and 650 491 quotas, although the total number is in the middle of the state quota comparison, but Queensland guarantee policy is gradually relaxed, Queensland significantly pays more attention to positions and work experience, and reduces the English requirement, for overseas applicants, there are still opportunities.