Is Queensland's 858 nomination open?
No, Queensland's 858 nomination is not open: Migration Queensland and Trade and Investment Queensland say registrations for 2025–26 are closed and will reopen for 2026–27 at a later date, with no date given, as read on 3 October 2026.
The Ministerial Media Statement of 8 December 2025 announced the opening. The subsequent closure appears on Migration Queensland's page modified 29 July 2026 and Trade and Investment Queensland's page modified 8 September 2026.
Trade and Investment Queensland gives no ROI status or progress updates. Whether 2025–26 registrations carry into 2026–27 is not published.
Queensland's 858 nomination pathways
Queensland's 858 nomination pathways, when open, are global researchers, entrepreneurs, innovative investors, athletes and sports professionals, and creatives, as listed by Trade and Investment Queensland in the table above.
Queensland's tests sit alongside the federal requirements. Migration Regulations 1994 clause 858.212 requires an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement; the Home Affairs EOI form also requires the nominator—here, the state agency—to have a national reputation in the area. Direction 120 section 8(2)(b) places qualifying government-agency nominations on Form 1000 in Priority 2.
Queensland 858 nomination for researchers: a job or a funded placement
Queensland 858 nomination for researchers needs a high h-index for career stage plus either a confirmed Queensland university job or confirmed funding for a Queensland research placement of at least two years, under Trade and Investment Queensland's guidelines.
Direction 120 section 9(3) already identifies a high h-index for career stage—for example, 14 for an early career researcher—as an achievement indicator. Queensland adds the local job or funding requirement.
Compare the state pathways for 858 researchers before choosing which nomination requirements to prepare for.
Queensland's $1 million and $5 million 858 investment tests
Queensland's $1 million and $5 million 858 investment tests apply to entrepreneurs and innovative investors, according to Trade and Investment Queensland's page read on 3 October 2026.
| Test | Amount | Timing | Queensland's wording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | $1 million | Within two years of grant | “minimum investment threshold” |
| Innovative investor | At least $5 million | Two or more years | “ready to invest” |
Trade and Investment Queensland says Tier One or Two sector investors are “highly regarded”.
South Australia's nomination requirements and NSW's entrepreneur and innovative-investor pages publish no minimum investment threshold. Part 858 of the Migration Regulations 1994 itself lists no investment criterion; see the 858 for innovative investors for the distinction between achievement and state investment tests.
The Queensland 858 interview with the Trade and Investment Commissioner
The Queensland 858 interview is with the Trade and Investment Commissioner for your passport country, and only shortlisted candidates are invited, according to Trade and Investment Queensland.
Its published process, when open, is:
- Lodge a registration of interest (ROI), not a visa application.
- If selected, provide evidence.
- If shortlisted, attend the Commissioner interview.
- If nominated, receive Form 1000 signed by the Commissioner for the Home Affairs EOI.
Home Affairs' EOI submission page also requires the agency's supporting statement.
The interview agenda, length and format are not published. Trade and Investment Queensland states no processing time. Queensland's nomination fee table, modified 19 August 2026, has no NIV row: no nomination fee is published, rather than a confirmed fee of zero.
Do Queensland's 858 commitments continue after the grant?
Yes, Queensland's 858 investment commitments continue after grant: Trade and Investment Queensland specifies $1 million within two years for entrepreneurs and $5 million for two or more years for investors.
These are Queensland nomination tests, not visa conditions. Migration Regulations 1994 clause 858.611 lists no state-residence or reporting condition, and Trade and Investment Queensland publishes no reporting mechanism.
What the Queensland Ministerial statement got wrong
The Queensland Ministerial Media Statement of 8 December 2025 misstated who invites applicants and the national planning figure.
Home Affairs issues invitations, not Queensland. Home Affairs' National Innovation visa pages explain that an EOI precedes an invitation, issued in Direction 120 priority order; Migration Regulations 1994 clause 858.211 requires the Minister's written invitation.
Planning figures need dates and categories. The Home Affairs planning levels page, updated 21 September 2026, lists 5,300 Talent and Innovation places for 2025–26, including BIIP. Its June 2026 Administration of the Immigration Program paper splits this into 4,300 Talent and Innovation and 1,000 BIIP places. For 2026–27, the planning page lists 3,500, including 20 BIIP places. These are not NIV-only allocations.
Frequently asked questions
When will Queensland reopen 858 nomination?
Migration Queensland says “at a later date” for 2026–27; no date was announced as read on 3 October 2026.
Does Queensland charge a fee for 858 nomination?
None is published in Queensland's nomination fee table, modified 19 August 2026.
Can I ask Trade and Investment Queensland about my ROI?
Its National Innovation visa page says it cannot provide status or progress updates.
What investment does Queensland require for the 858?
Trade and Investment Queensland specifies $1 million within two years of grant for entrepreneurs and at least $5 million for two or more years for investors; it lists no investment test for researchers, athletes or creatives.
Do I need Queensland's nomination if I live in Queensland?
No. Migration Regulations 1994 permits other eligible nominators and lists no state-residence condition for the 858.
While Queensland is closed: other 858 nomination routes
While Queensland is closed, other 858 nomination routes remain available: another state's program or an eligible nominator outside government.
South Australia: its NIV pages showed ROI registration open on 3 October 2026.
NSW: its ROI guide showed registration open on 3 October 2026.
Victoria and Tasmania: referral-only routes were recorded in April 2026; Victoria's news index was captured on 16 May and Tasmania's page on 15 April. Their status on 3 October 2026 could not be verified.
Non-government nominators: Migration Regulations 1994 allows an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or Australian organisation with a national reputation in your area.
Compare the application routes and referral routes for 858 state nomination and check who can be an 858 nominator. A Queensland-based candidate does not need Queensland nomination for the 858 visa: the Migration Regulations list no state-residence condition.
Ask an Australian migration lawyer to check currently open nomination routes and, if seeking Queensland nomination later, examine any continuing investment commitment.