On 19 September 2025, Migration Queensland officially opened the Registration of Interest (ROI) process for the 2025–26 Skilled Migration Program.
For employers, this doesn’t just signal a policy update, it means more skilled candidates will be taking active steps to move to Queensland.
With only an interim allocation of 250 places released (and the remainder expected by the end of September), many applicants will now be entering the pipeline, creating opportunities for businesses to connect with motivated talent.
Key changes in the 2025–26 program
Migration Queensland has introduced several updates to the program to reflect the states needs and competition for the best international talent :
- Revised onshore and offshore occupation lists (available on the Migration Queensland website).
- New onshore pathway for the building and construction workforce.
- Offshore Energy Workers pathway removed.
- No longer necessary to lodge a new EOI each year — EOIs up to 715 days old will be accepted.
- EOIs may include multiple states, not just Queensland.
- Ongoing work requirement for onshore applicants removed.
- Work hours requirement reduced to 20 per week.
- Changes to Queensland work experience requirements.
- Casual work now accepted.
- Settlement funds no longer required for offshore applicants.
Migration Queensland has also confirmed that smaller, more frequent invitation rounds will take place this year.
What this means for employers
The key takeaway for businesses is that more candidates will now be actively positioning themselves for a move to Queensland. This creates a pool of motivated, skilled workers – but with limited places and strong competition, timing matters.
At Working In, we help employers tap into this candidate flow. Our role is to cut through the policy detail, connect you with the right talent, and manage the migration process with confidence.
If you’d like to understand how these changes could benefit your workforce planning, get in touch with our team.
