Our final article in the series on getting your Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) or the new Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) through sponsorship with Queensland!
Queensland has different requirements based on whether you are working in Queensland or outside of Australia, and offers a special streamlined pathway for those who have taken a postgraduate degree course in a university in Queensland. Our previous articles were on how to apply for the Skilled Nominated 190 visa or the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa as an onshore or offshore applicant.
A quick recap – offshore applicants have a much smaller occupation list than onshore applicants do, however, onshore applicants are required to have post qualification work experience in Queensland for a certain period of time to qualify. This means that one is not able to access the onshore occupation list even if they are onshore e.g. via a tourist visa or a student 500 visa.
Read: Queensland is Looking for Skilled Workers – Part I: Onshore Applicants
Read: Queensland is Looking for Skilled Workers – Part II: Offshore Applicants
- Part 1: Applicants in Australia
- Part 2: Offshore applicants
- Part 3: Postgraduate stream applicants (you are here!)
Queensland Postgraduates
Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) splits postgraduates into the following two categories:
- Graduates of a Queensland Masters degree
- Graduates of a Queensland PhD
Graduates of a Queensland Masters degree
The requirements for a graduate of a Queensland Masters degree are:
- Have an occupation of the 021219 MASTERS QSOL
- Completed 100% of your Masters degree at a Queensland based institution and graduated in the last two years
- The Masters degree must be related to your nominated occupation
- Provide evidence of current and full time (at least 35 hours a week) employment with a Queensland employer
- The Queensland employer must be registered in Australia
- The employment must be closely related to your nominated occupation
- Have full time employment that is closely related to your nominated occupation for at least the next 12 months
- Must be onshore and residing in Queensland
Please note that if you are applying for the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa, you must provide evidence of employment with a regional employer and be living in a regional area before applying.
How this differs from the onshore applicants pathway is that Masters graduates are not required to show 3 months (Skilled Work Regional 491 visa) or 6 months (Skilled Nominated 190 visa) of post graduate employment in Queensland. They simply have to be employed at the time of application.
The occupation list for Queensland Masters graduates has 94 occupations on it. Some of these occupations require an elevated minimum points score of 70 points instead of the DOHA mandated 65 points. Certain occupations also required registration with a Queensland authority.
Graduates of a Queensland PhD
The requirements for a graduate of a Queensland PhD are:
- Have an occupation on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or Regional Occupation List*
- Complete 100% of your PhD at a Queensland based institution and graduated in the last two years
- The PhD must be related to your nominated occupation
- Must be onshore and residing in Queensland
This is a very short list of requirements and opens a PhD graduate of Queensland up to a whopping 504 occupations! No job offer is required unlike with the Masters graduates or other onshore applicants. This means you can apply directly for the Skilled Nominated 190 visa or the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa upon completing your PhD, and will not have to be another interim visa such as the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to fulfil post qualification work experience requirements.
There is one exception being that those nominating the occupation of University Lecturer [242111] must have been employed in Queensland for 6 months in their nominated occupation and have evidence that they will continue to be employed in the occupation of University Lecturer for the next 12 months.
Find: Combined occupation list for Queensland PhD graduates
Commitment to Queensland
The 2 year (Skilled Nominated 190 visa) or 3 year period (Skilled Regional 491 visa) commences from the date that your visa is granted
Settlement funds
Applicants are required to have a certain amount of ‘settlement funds’ to ensure that they are able to survive in Australia whilst for a period of time. It is required that when applying, you show supporting bank statements ato demonstrate that you possess the required settlement funds.
For postgraduates of Queensland, the applicant must be onshore and residing in Queensland to apply. As such they must meet the settlement funds required of onshore applicants. Onshore applicants need to show that they have at least $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in ‘other funds’. Other funds refers to assets held overseas and does not include assets such as furniture or clothing, and property in Australia such as a house or car, cannot be included. The required settlement funds for additional dependents will increase with the number of dependents in the application.
Application
You will need to apply to Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) for state sponsorship. If you application is approved, you will then need to apply for your Skilled Nomination 190 visa or the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa with the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA). Criteria from both BSMQ and the DOHA must be met for your application to be successful.
You will need to submit your EOI through SkillSelect. Preference will be given to those who select a state (or in this case, Queensland) over selecting ‘Any State’. If you are successful, you will receive an invitation to lodge an application to BMSQ to submit your documentations for state sponsorship. You have 14 days from the date of invitation to lodge your application with BSMQ. Should BSMQ then choose to endorse your state sponsorship, you will be notified and will need to lodge your application for the Skilled Nominated 190 visa with the DOHA within 60 days.
The application fee is currently $20 for both the Skilled Nomination 190 visa and the Skilled Regional 491 visa as an onshore applicant. There are no refunds under any circumstances.
Documentation
Queensland Masters graduates:
- State nomination application form
- Settlement fund declaration form
- Bank statement
- Skills assessment
- Onshore commitment statement
- 2 current payslips
- Evidence of job (acceptance of job offer such as a signed contract)
- Proof of Queensland residency
- Course completion document
Queensland Masters graduates:
- State nomination application form
- Settlement fund declaration form
- Bank statement
- Skills assessment
- Onshore commitment statement
- Proof of Queensland residency
- Course completion document
Some of the above items are forms that you will receive after you are invited to apply for Queensland sponsorship
Studying in Australia
Are you considering studying in Australia? We have written many articles on getting a Student 500 visa for your studies in Australia.
Read: Student Visas Get A Makeover
Read: Student 500 Visa: Enrolment & Packaged Courses
Read: Student Visa (Subclass 500): Financial Capacity Requirement
Read: Student Visa (Subclass 500): Partner and Child Dependents
Read: Applying For A Student Visa As An Unlawful Citizen?
Read: Student Visa, Tips and Updates
Read: Australian Study Requirement
Read: Student 500 Visa: Getting OSHC And If Exemptions Apply To You
Are you interested in applying to Queensland for state sponsorship as a postgraduate? Or are you thinking of taking up postgraduate degree in Australia and are looking forward into your visa pathway to permanent residency here in Australia? Australian Immigration Law Services has serviced a great many clients and have seen them through from their student visas through to permanent residency and citizenship. We encourage you to contact us for a consultation, where we will learn about your specific situation and give you the best advice on the visa pathways that are available to you. Call +61 2 8054 2537, 0434 890 199 or book online today to speak to our migration specialists.
