Queensland has released its State Migration Plan (SMP). The Queensland SMP includes 83 different occupations that are in demand. Predominantly in industries such as regional health practitioners and engineers for mining and coal seam gas projects.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Mr Chris Bowen said “State migration plans are part of the Gillard Government's continued commitment to supporting the Australian economy by attracting skilled migrants who can positively contribute to our workforce”.

Click here to view the QLD State Migration Plan.

How Do the SMP's Work
Prior to submitting a visa application for a subclass 176, 475, 487, 886 with the Department of Immigration & Citizenship an applicant is required to have State or Territory sponsorship. Each State and Territory has a list of occupations that they have identified as in shortage. If sponsorship is needed to submit a visa application then an application for sponsorship can be made to a State or Territory that has the applicants skill identified as in shortage.

The SMP is designed to encourage migrants with the right skills set to live and work in the State or Territory that needs them most. In return for sponsorship for the visa application, the relevant State or Territory want the applicant to make a commitment to live and work in that State or Territory for the first two years that they are a permanent resident.

An applicant is a permanent resident as soon as their visa is granted with the rights and entitlements that provides. However, the new permanent resident still has a commitment to live and work in the State or Territory that offered them sponsorship for the first two years they are in Australia.

The SMP is to make the General Skilled Migration system more efficient in that it is matching the migrant and their skills set with the area that will provide them with the most opportunity but also assist the Australian economy to fill a critical skill shortage.


Processing Times
There is one additional important point to add about having sponsorship from a State or Territory under a State Migration plan. An applicant with sponsorship under a SMP will have their visa application processed by the Department of Immigration & Citizenship within 12 months from the date of lodgement. Priority processing Group 2 is reserved for these applications and is the fastest processing category under General Skilled Migration.


Are you eligible?
AMVL can advise if you are eligible to make an application for Queensland state sponsorship. There are a restricted number of sponsorships available for each occupation so we do encourage you to contact our professional Migration team as soon as possible.

Click here to contact Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers to assess your eligibility.