Skilled workers living outside Australia (offshore)
Skilled workers currently living outside Australia are referred to as ‘offshore’ candidates.
Who is this pathway for?
If you are a skilled worker living outside Australia, this pathway may provide an opportunity to live and work in Queensland and build your future in the state.
We welcome Registrations of Interest (ROIs) from candidates who meet our nomination requirements.
Nomination places are limited, so please read the information below carefully before submitting your ROI.
Are you eligible?
To be considered for Queensland nomination, you must meet the eligibility criteria of both the Australian Department of Home Affairs and Migration Queensland.
Australian Government visa eligibility
Migration Queensland may nominate eligible applicants for either the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Detailed eligibility requirements for these visa subclasses are available on the Department of Home Affairs website:
Migration Queensland nomination eligibility
Migration Queensland’s nomination eligibility criteria are listed in the table below.
Requirement | Eligibility |
|---|---|
Occupation | Have a valid skills assessment for an occupation on the Queensland offshore skilled occupation list. Check this list to find out whether your occupation has any employment, registration or licensing requirements in Queensland. |
Points | Have a score of 65 or higher in the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ points test. |
English | Have at least competent English, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs definition. |
Work experience | At the time you submit your ROI, you must have at least 1 year of skilled employment experience within the last 3 years in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation. Only work experience you have declared as related to your nominated occupation in your Expression of Interest (EOI) will be considered. You are not required to be currently employed in your nominated occupation when you:
Your work experience must:
Please note:
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Visa subclass | The Queensland offshore skilled occupation list outlines the visa subclasses available for Queensland nomination based on your occupation. Some occupations are only eligible for nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Migration Queensland will not nominate you for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) if you have been nominated for, have applied for, or hold a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) or a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489). |
Commitment to living in Queensland | As part of your nomination, you must commit to continuing to live and work in Queensland after your visa is granted:
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How do we select and invite candidates to apply for Queensland nomination?
The Queensland State Nominated Migration Program is highly competitive. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply for nomination.
Migration Queensland does not primarily select candidates based on the Department of Home Affairs points test score claimed in their Expression of Interest (EOI).
Migration Queensland applies its own selection and invitation process, using information provided in applicants' EOIs and ROIs to identify those best positioned to contribute to Queensland's economic and workforce priorities. Invitations are issued to the most competitive applicants at the time of selection.
Migration Queensland 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
- Partner's skills and English proficiency
Please note that approval of a Queensland nomination does not guarantee a successful visa outcome. All visa applications are assessed and decided by the Department of Home Affairs, which is responsible for determining whether applicants meet the relevant visa requirements.
What should you do next?
If you meet the eligibility requirements for this pathway, you may submit an ROI for Queensland nomination for either a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
Please note:
- you can only select one visa subclass in your ROI
- you can only have one valid ROI at a time
- once submitted, an ROI cannot be updated
- if your circumstances change or you need to amend information, you must submit a new ROI
- if you submit multiple ROIs, only your most recent ROI will be considered
Before submitting your ROI, make sure:
- your EOI in SkillSelect is up to date and accurate
- you can provide documents to support the information in your EOI and ROI
- you have reviewed our How to apply page and Frequently asked questions
Document checklist
If you are invited to apply for Queensland nomination under the Skilled workers living outside Australia (offshore) pathway, you will be required to provide evidence supporting the claims made in your application within 14 calendar days of receiving your invitation.
Please provide a valid skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
Some occupations must provide evidence of registration instead. Medical professionals and some allied health workers should provide evidence of current registration, such as registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Solicitors should provide a Certificate of Admission.
Please provide a high-quality colour scan of your passport bio page.
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The passport number must match the passport number provided in your ROI.
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If your passport has been renewed since submitting your ROI, provide both the old and new passport bio pages.
Please provide payslips for each employer you are relying on to meet the qualifying work experience period.
For each employer, provide up to 3 payslips covering the relevant employment period:
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one from the beginning of the employment period
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one from the middle of the employment period, if applicable, and
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one from the end of the employment period, or the most recent payslip if you are still employed.
If you are relying on short-term employment and cannot provide 3 payslips, provide the payslips available for that period.
All supporting documents must be in English. A certified English translation is required for documents that are not originally written in English. English translations completed by the applicant are not accepted.
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Please refer to the Document Checklist page for practical examples covering employment with a single employer, employment with multiple employers, and self-employment.
Please provide employer reference letters for each skilled employment claimed in your Expression of Interest (EOI) as related to your nominated occupation or closely related occupation at the time you submitted your ROI.
The letter/s must:
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be dated and issued by the employer on the employer's official letterhead
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include the employer’s contact details
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confirm the period and location of employment
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confirm the position/title held and the number of hours worked per week
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describe the duties performed and the skills involved, including any relevant tools, equipment or software used, and
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include the referee's name, position and signature.
For current employment, the employer reference letter must be recent and dated no more than one month before the Queensland nomination application is submitted.
All supporting documents must be in English. A certified English translation is required for all supporting documents that are not originally written in English. English translations completed by the applicant are not accepted.
Please refer to the Document Checklist page for information on what to provide if you are self-employed.
Register your interest in Queensland nomination
If you meet the eligibility requirements and can provide the required supporting documents, you can register your interest in Queensland nomination.