Last updated: September 2025. Information current as of publication date. Always check official Department of Home Affairs for latest requirements.

Queensland Skilled Nominated Migration Program 2025-26: Complete Guide to ROI Submission and Selection Process

The Queensland Skilled Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) opens its Registration of Interest (ROI) system for the 2025-26 program year on Friday, September 19, 2025. Invitation rounds move dynamically, so being ROI-ready on launch day is a smart play. The 2025-26 update adds a supplementary ROI, streamlined income calculations, and refreshed timelines that every skilled professional, business owner, and graduate should understand before Migration Queensland begins issuing invitations.

This guide mixes official requirements with practical preparation tips so you can verify eligibility and compile documents ahead of time. If you are still refining your points profile, start by reviewing our Skilled Migration Points Check and mapping how Queensland nomination fits your wider migration strategy. Pair this article with our State nominated skilled migration checklist to line up evidence, employer references, and partner credentials while the ROI portal is being finalised.

Key Takeaways

• Each applicant must lodge a single ROI once the portal opens on 19 September 2025 and keep a saved copy because Migration Queensland cannot reissue submissions.
• Queensland now accepts SkillSelect EOIs up to 715 days old, has removed the Queensland-only state preference requirement, and expects onshore candidates to show Australia as their usual country of residence.
• ROI annualised earnings rely on either an ATO Income Statement (employees) or an accountant-signed Profit & Loss Statement (self-employed), with fixed reporting windows and minimum periods.
• Dedicated skills lists include construction, engineering, healthcare, education, ICT, and trade occupations across both onshore and offshore cohorts.
• Selection is competitive and dynamic—Migration Queensland ranks applicants within ANZSCO groups using skills, experience, salary, English, age, partner skills, and employment location rather than the Home Affairs points test.

Throughout this article you will see internal links to high-value WiseKangaroo resources, including visa pathway explainers and contact channels, so you can build a personalised migration action plan.

Program Snapshot for 2025-26

The Queensland SNMP 2025-26 program is built around an updated ROI framework that supplies Migration Queensland with deeper candidate data. The ROI is mandatory for both onshore and offshore applicants, it is supplementary to your SkillSelect EOI, and it is the tool Queensland uses to determine who receives a nomination invitation.

The program accepts EOIs up to 715 days old—and allows multi-state preferences. Queensland merges ROI responses with SkillSelect data each invitation round, so keep salary, work hours, and partner details current and lodge a new ROI if you experience a significant change.

Print or save the submission as soon as it is lodged because Migration Queensland cannot issue duplicates later. Treat the ROI as a key nomination document and store it with the income evidence you used for the annualised earnings calculation.

Before you finalise your ROI strategy, map out how the program fits your broader migration plan. Use this guide to confirm you meet work experience, English, and residency commitments that accompany subclass 190 or 491 nominations. Creating a plan now will help you move quickly when the Queensland ROI portal opens.

Understanding the Queensland Registration of Interest (ROI)

The Registration of Interest is an updated version of the supplementary requirement introduced in the previous program years. It provides Migration Queensland with additional information beyond what’s available through the Home Affairs Expression of Interest (EOI) system. This enhanced data collection allows for more detailed and accurate selection of candidates for Queensland nomination.

Key ROI Features:

• Mandatory for all 2025-26 applicants seeking Queensland nomination
• One ROI per candidate - multiple submissions will result in only the most recent being considered
• Print or save requirement - candidates must keep a copy when submitting as copies cannot be provided afterward
• Opening date: Friday, September 19, 2025

Approach the ROI as a professional statement—precise, consistent, and backed by evidence. Create a digital ROI dossier with PDFs of the submission, supporting financial statements, and a log of any updates so you can reproduce calculations if Migration Queensland asks.

Critical Program Updates for 2025-26

Queensland’s 2025-26 refresh tackles recurring applicant questions: how old an EOI can be, how to prove current earnings, and what counts as relevant experience when you juggle multiple roles.

1. Home Affairs SkillSelect EOI Requirements

Queensland has updated its EOI acceptance criteria:

• Will accept existing EOIs up to 715 days old (previously required fresh EOIs each financial year)
• No longer requires Queensland-only selection in the State of Interest field
• Usual Country of Residence must be Australia for onshore applicants
• Years of Experience - only work experience directly related to the nominated occupation is considered
• Student visa holders excluded - If you currently hold a student visa, you will be excluded from the invitation pool.

Important: Ensure your EOI is correct before applying for Queensland nomination, as once nominated, the EOI becomes locked and cannot be changed.

With the Queensland-only restriction lifted, you can select multiple states in your EOI keeping broader options open while still targeting the state’s priorities. Use the ROI to demonstrate genuine commitment to Queensland through current employment, family ties, or a realistic relocation plan.

2. ROI Annualised Earnings Calculation

The calculation method for ROI annualised earnings has been simplified for 2025-26, with different approaches for employees and self-employed applicants.

Employee Method - ATO Income Statement

Required information:

• Period start date
• Period end date
• Salary and wages Total gross amount

Calculation formula: Total gross amount ÷ Number of days in the period × 365 days

Example:

• Period: 01/07/2024 to 30/09/2024 (92 days inclusive)
• Total gross amount: $31,125.05
• ROI annualised earnings: $31,125 ÷ 92 × 365 = $123,485

Requirements:

• Income Statement period must cover at least 28 days
• Statement reported date must be within 1 month of submitting ROI
• Keep a copy of the Statement for your ROI calculation

Plan your ROI lodgement around payroll cycles so you can access an ATO Income Statement with a recent reported date and verify that allowances or overtime you will rely on appear on the statement.

Self-employed Method - Profit & Loss Statement

Required information:

• Period start date
• Period end date
• Gross Profit

Calculation formula: Gross profit ÷ Number of days in the statement × 365 days

Requirements:

• P&L Statement period must cover at least 3 months
• Statement end date must be within 3 months of submitting ROI
• P&L statement must be produced and signed by a registered accountant

For freelancers and business owners, book time with a registered accountant now so your Profit & Loss Statement meets every Queensland requirement and keep BAS lodgements and invoices ready in case Migration Queensland asks for supporting evidence.

Visa Subclass Pathways and Eligibility

The Queensland SNMP continues to focus on two pathways aligned with different settlement intentions. Understand which subclass reflects your career stage and mobility capability before you submit the ROI.

Subclass 190 (Permanent Visa)

The Subclass 190 visa is available for both onshore and offshore applicants who meet Queensland’s nomination requirements.

Subclass 190 is often the target for skilled professionals who already contribute to Queensland’s priority industries or have a clear offer on the horizon. Use the ROI to showcase stable employment, advanced qualifications, and any leadership responsibilities. If you studied in Queensland after July 1, 2021, highlight how your local education and work experience support the state’s economic goals.

Subclass 491 (Provisional Visa)

The Subclass 491 visa provides a pathway to permanent residence for those willing to live and work in regional Queensland.

Subclass 491 applicants should pay close attention to the minimum six months of regional work experience and the 20-hour-per-week employment requirement. Use the ROI to emphasise regional community engagement, employer references, and your intention to remain in the designated area. Plan your settlement for insights into lifestyle, schooling, and employment hubs outside Brisbane.

Business and Investment Pathways

Business owners represent a significant component of Queensland’s growth agenda. The Small Business Owner (SBO) stream remains open through two pathways, each with firm settlement and ROI deadlines.

Pathway 1 - Business Purchase

Timeline-based eligibility:

After September 19, 2025:

• Not eligible to apply

September 14, 2024 - September 19, 2025:

• Settlement must occur before September 30, 2025
• Must live in and own a business in the September 2024 postcode list
• 491 ROI must be submitted by May 30, 2026
• ROIs submitted more than 18 months after settlement will not be eligible

Before September 14, 2024:

• Business may be located in any 491 eligible Queensland postcode
• Businesses settled before July 1, 2024 have until December 31, 2025 to submit their SBO ROI

Key Requirements:

• Purchase Price: Minimum $100,000
• Business location: Must continue to operate in the location where it was purchased
• Operate the business: Applicant must operate the business for at least 6 months and have 2 quarterly BAS as evidence

Create a business transition timeline covering settlement, ownership transfer, BAS lodgements, and ROI submission dates. Queensland case officers expect clear proof that you run the business day-to-day, so be ready with payroll records, supplier agreements, and staffing plans.

Pathway 2 - Business Start-up

Timeline-based eligibility:

After September 19, 2025:

• Not eligible to apply

June 1, 2024 - September 19, 2025:

• Business may be located in any 491 eligible Queensland postcode
• 491 ROI must be submitted by April 30, 2027
• ROIs submitted after April 30, 2027 will not be eligible

Before June 1, 2024:

• Business may be located in any 491 eligible Queensland postcode
• 491 ROI must be submitted by May 30, 2026
• ROIs submitted after May 30, 2026 will not be eligible

Key Requirements:

• Business turnover: Minimum $200,000 in the 12 months prior to ROI
• Profitable business: Must record a profit in the 12 months prior to ROI
• Operate the business: Applicant must operate for at least 2 years prior to submitting ROI

Start-up founders should treat profitability as a central narrative point. Alongside the accountant-signed Profit & Loss Statement, gather bank statements, customer contracts, and proof of regional employment to show sustainable operations and job creation.

2025-26 Queensland Skills Lists

Queensland’s skills lists signal where talent shortages remain critical. Use them to tailor your ROI and anticipate the evidence Migration Queensland will prioritise.

Onshore Skills List

Occupations streamlining for onshore candidates in building and construction sectors:

Construction and Engineering:

• Construction, Engineering and Production Managers
• Sales and Marketing Managers
• Accommodation and Hospitality Managers
• Child Care Centre Managers
• Engineering Professionals
• Agricultural, Environmental and Forestry Scientists
• Urban and Regional Planners

Healthcare and Education:

• Teachers
• Health Professionals
• ICT Professionals
• Psychologists, Counsellors and Social Workers

Trades and Technical:

• Automotive Trades Workers
• Painters
• Chefs and Cooks
• Boat Builder and Repairers
• Dental Technicians
• Enrolled Nurses

Additional Building and Construction Focus:

• Construction and Engineering Managers
• Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
• Fabrication Engineering Trades Workers
• Mechanical Engineering Trades Workers
• Bricklayers and Carpenters and Joiners
• Floor Finishers
• Glaziers, Plasterers and Tilers
• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Electronics and Telecommunications Trades Workers

If your occupation appears on these lists, showcase recent employment and licences within Queensland so Migration Queensland sees why your nomination should move forward quickly.

Offshore Skills List

Management and Professional:

• Construction and Engineering Managers
• Engineering Professionals
• Geologist and Hydrogeologists
• Urban and Regional Planners
• Teachers
• Medical Imaging and Health Therapy Professionals

Healthcare:

• Registered Nurses
• Psychologists

Trades and Technical:

• Building and Engineering Technicians
• Fabrication Engineering Trades Workers
• Bricklayers, and Carpenters and Joiners
• Floor Finishers
• Glaziers, Plasterers and Tilers
• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Electronics and Telecommunications Trades Workers

Offshore candidates should align their experience with Queensland’s infrastructure pipeline or healthcare needs. Use the ROI to outline how quickly you can relocate, obtain licensing, and start contributing to regional or metropolitan projects.

Queensland Selection Process

The selection mechanism for 2025-26 keeps the program agile. Rather than processing nominations in strict order, Migration Queensland pulls from the ROI pool whenever case officers need applications to assess.

Selection Methodology

Migration Queensland employs a dynamic selection process:

• Invitation rounds conducted as needed to ensure Case Officers have applications to assess
• No queue system - the date of EOI and ROI submission is not a factor in selection
• Updated EOI data is taken from HA SkillSelect each round
• ROI data is matched and merged with EOI data
• Dynamic selection - each round the pool of candidates is different
• Candidates are ranked within their Occupation Group (ANZSCO 4 digit group)
• Separate selection activities for onshore and offshore candidates

Because invitation rounds may occur without warning, set monthly reminders to review your ROI dossier. Confirm that employment details, salary evidence, and partner documents remain valid, and submit a new ROI if you upgrade qualifications or change roles.

Selection Factors

Queensland considers multiple factors when selecting candidates:

1. Skills and qualifications
2. Work experience
3. Salary (onshore only)
4. English competency
5. Age
6. Partner Skills (occupation and English)
7. Location of employment (onshore only)

Note: The Home Affairs points test is NOT considered in selection.

To maximise your ranking, keep English tests current, maintain consistent working hours, and document any regional placements. If your partner’s skills can enhance your profile, ensure their assessments and English scores are ready to upload quickly.

ROI Form Requirements

Migration Queensland’s ROI collects comprehensive personal, employment, and partner data. Prepare these details before the portal opens so you can lodge without delays.

Essential Information Fields

1. Personal Details:

   • First name (as it appears on EOI)
   • Family name (as it appears on EOI)
   • Passport number (exactly as in passport, no spaces)
   • EOI number (11-digit number including the E)

2. ANZSCO Code:

   • 6-digit nominated occupation code

3. Visa Subclass Selection:

   • Choose between 190 or 491

4. Queensland University Graduate Status:

   • Must have graduated after July 1, 2021
   • Completed 100% of studies in Queensland

5. Work Experience:

   • Queensland work experience in nominated occupation
   • Minimum 6 months (subclass 491) or 9 months (subclass 190)

6. Work Hours:

   • Must be working at least 20 hours per week

7. ROI Annualised Earnings:

   • Calculated using the methods described above

8. Employment Status:

   • Employee or Self-employed

9. Partner Information:

   • Single status
   • Partner skills assessment
   • Partner ANZSCO code
   • Partner English test results

10. Contact Email:

    • For any ROI-related questions

Save a PDF of the completed ROI as soon as you submit it. Then create a readiness pack with identification documents, payslips, accountant statements, and English test reports so you can respond swiftly to Migration Queensland.

Important Compliance Notes

Document Retention

• Must keep ROI calculation documents - these will be required if invited to apply
• Cannot retrieve ROI after submission - print or save before submitting

Accuracy Requirements

• False or misleading information will lead to ROI or application closure
• Check all responses carefully before submission
• Ensure EOI is correct before applying as it cannot be changed after nomination

Consider scheduling a pre-submission review with a registered migration agent to verify your ROI and EOI align perfectly. This proactive step can protect you from discrepancies that might derail your nomination prospects.

Timeline Summary for Applicants

Key Dates:

• September 19, 2025: ROI system opens
• May 30, 2026: Deadline for various business pathway ROIs
• April 30, 2027: Final deadline for business start-ups commenced between June 2024 and September 2025
• December 31, 2025: Deadline for business purchases settled before July 1, 2024

Build a backward plan from these milestones. For example, if you intend to lodge a Business Purchase ROI, set deadlines for collecting BAS statements and accountant letters months before May 30, 2026. Skilled professionals should also plan refresher English tests or skill assessments ahead of the ROI opening date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I submit multiple ROIs?

No, candidates can only have one active ROI. If multiple ROIs are submitted, only the most recent one will be considered.

Q2: How long is my EOI valid for Queensland nomination?

Queensland will accept EOIs up to 715 days old for the 2025-26 program.

Q3: Do I need to select only Queensland in my EOI?

No, this requirement has been removed. You can select multiple states in your EOI.

Q4: What if I’m currently offshore but planning to move to Queensland?

Your usual country of residence in the EOI should reflect your current situation. Offshore applicants should apply through the offshore skills list.

Q5: How is work experience calculated?

Only work experience directly related to your nominated occupation is considered. General work experience in other fields is not counted.

Q6: Can I update my ROI after submission?

No, you cannot update an ROI. You would need to submit a new ROI, which would replace the previous one.

Q7: What income documents are acceptable?

Employees must use ATO Income Statements. Self-employed applicants must use Profit & Loss Statements prepared by a registered accountant.

Q8: Is there a priority queue based on submission date?

No, Queensland does not use a queue system. Selection is based on the factors listed above, not submission timing.

Q9: How often are invitation rounds conducted?

Invitation rounds are conducted as needed to ensure Case Officers have sufficient applications to assess. There is no fixed schedule.

Q10: Can partners without skills assessment be included?

Yes, but partners without positive skills assessment are not included in your EOI and won’t contribute to selection scoring.

Use these FAQs to double-check requirements across different pathways and stay agile if Queensland updates its priorities mid-program.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The 2025-26 Queensland Skilled Nominated Migration Program introduces significant changes designed to streamline the selection process and better match skilled migrants with Queensland’s economic needs. The updated ROI system provides Queensland with enhanced data for more accurate candidate selection, while the simplified earnings calculation methods make the application process more straightforward.

Prospective applicants should carefully review all requirements, ensure their EOI information is accurate before applying, and maintain proper documentation of their ROI calculations. With the program launching on September 19, 2025, candidates should begin preparing their documentation now to ensure they’re ready to submit a complete and accurate ROI when the system opens.

Remember that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation, as Queensland employs a competitive selection process based on multiple factors. Focus on strengthening your application across all selection criteria to maximize your chances of receiving a nomination invitation.

For the most current information and updates, always refer to the official Migration Queensland website and ensure you’re working with the latest program guidelines. When you are ready for personalised guidance, book a consultation through our contact page so a registered migration agent can help you benchmark your ROI against Queensland’s expectations.

This article is for general information only. For specific advice about your circumstances, book a consultation with our registered migration agent.