Whatsapp: +61-481-866-005 or help@jassalconsultancy.com.au
On Friday 10 May 2024, Migration Queensland has closed its state nominated skilled program for FY23-24. For more information, please see here.
This pathway is for migrants who are currently living and operating a small business in regional Queensland. You must have an occupation that is on the Home Affairs Legislative Instrument LIN 19/051 and have a positive skills assessment in an occupation on this instrument. You must also have full-time work rights and not currently be studying.
The Small Business Owner (SBO) stream has two seperate pathways available, applicants need to meet the criteria for Pathway 1 OR Pathway 2:
Pathway 1
To be eligible for this pathway, you must purchase an existing registered business for a minimum of $100,000 and employ at least one Australian resident. The business must be a pre-existing business which has been purchased and trading for a minimum of six months prior to lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Pathway 2
To be eligible for this pathway, you must have started a business and have continuously run that business for a minimum of two years. The business must be generating a profit and have a turnover of $200,000 in the twelve months prior to application.
NOTE: Seek professional legal and financial advice before making an investment or starting a business. Migration Queensland takes no responsibility if your business or investment is not successful.
You must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) on Skillselect before submitting a 491 – Small Business Owner Assessment Form for this visa.
Migration Queensland offers nominations under the following visa subclass:
You must live and work within one of the following postcodes to be eligible for this visa:
4019–4022, 4025, 4037, 4074, 4076–4078, 4124–4125, 4133, 4183–4184, 4207–4275, 4280–4287, 4300–4301, 4303–4498, 4500–4512, 4514–4519, 4521, 4550–4575, 4580–4895.
Note: The above postcodes are applicable to those who have been nominated and applied for their 491 visa from 5 March 2022. Further details can be found in LIN 22/022.
If you were nominated or applied for the 491 visa prior to 5 March 2022, the applicable Queensland postcodes can be found in LIN 20/292.
If you were granted a 491 visa prior to 19 November 2019, the Gold Coast is not an eligible region.
To be eligible for a Queensland nomination, you must meet both the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Eligibility Criteria and Migration Queensland criteria for your chosen visa category.
Home Affairs criteria requires you to:
Migration Queensland criteria requires you to:
Requirements for Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 applicants: | |
Occupation | Have an occupation on the relevant Legislative Instrument (LIN19/051). |
Living in regional Queensland | Must provide evidence that you are living in regional Queensland. |
Operating the business full-time | The applicant must be working for the business full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week). |
Ownership interest | Provide evidence that you hold 100% ownership of the business – partnerships or joint ventures are not eligible. |
Location of business | You must own and operate a business in regional Queensland. |
Applicants must also meet the requirements of Pathway 1 or Pathway 2: | |
Additional requirements for Pathway 1 (Purchase of business) | |
Age of purchased business | The business purchased must have been operating for a minimum of two years in its current location, immediately prior to purchase. |
Price of purchased business | Provide evidence that you have purchased a business for a minimum of $100,000. |
Operation of business | Provide evidence that you have been operating the business for a minimum of six months after settlement. NOTE: the six months of operation does not start until 100% of the business purchase price is settled. |
Australian employee/s | Provide evidence of employment of at least one Australian resident* working a minimum of 20 hours per week, or two employees working 10 hours per week. Employee/s cannot be a family member or a subcontractor. |
Additional requirements for Pathway 2 (Start-ups) | |
Operation of business and turnover | Provide evidence that you have been operating a profitable start-up for a minimum of two years, with a turnover of $200,000 in the twelve months prior to application. |
*An Australian resident for the purposes of the 491 SBO pathway is an Australian citizen, an Australia permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen usually residing in Australia on a Special Category subclass 444 visa.
Review your eligibility criteria, visa conditions, and document checklist on the Department of Home Affairs website and the Migration Queensland website. Ensure that you meet both the Home Affairs Immigration Eligibility Criteria and Migration Queensland criteria and that you have all your documentation prior to lodging an EOI.
For Queensland state nomination, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with SkillSelect. Ensure that all information, such as work experience, is included in your EOI. Preference will be given to applicants who select “Queensland” as their nominating state of choice.
Submit the online 491 – Small Business Owner Assessment form
Migration Queensland assesses all EOIs that meet the above Home Affairs and Migration Queensland criteria. If you are invited, you will receive an email invitation to lodge an application and be requested to provide the documents required.
Note: You must upload these documents digitally through the Document Portal link in your invitation email.
Migration Queensland no longer accepts documents sent by email or post. You can only upload one document per file. If you have multiple documents, merge, and save them as one file.
When you have received your invitation from Migration Queensland:
Migration Queensland will then review your application and may request any further information.
Note: You will be given 14 calendar days to finalise your application from the date of invitation. If you are unable to provide the relevant information within this time frame, you must seek an extension from Migration Queensland. Applications not finalised within the time frame will be closed and applicants will need to submit a new EOI if they wish to seek Queensland nomination again.
Once Migration Queensland has received and approved your completed application, you will receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to lodge your visa application. You will be given 60 days to lodge your application with them.