Immigration Lawyer Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is regional for visa purposes. That surprises many people, and it is good news, because it puts the regional skilled and employer visas in play for you here.
Our offices are in Sydney and Melbourne, not on the Gold Coast. We act for Gold Coast clients by video call, or in person if you are ever in Sydney or Melbourne, and our fees are fixed so you know the cost up front.
- Fixed fees, agreed up front
- Offices in Sydney and Melbourne
- Video consultations Australia-wide
- Led by Principal Lawyer Tina Nematian
How we help Gold Coast clients
Regional skilled visas
For skilled workers using the Gold Coast's regional status. The Subclass 491 is available with Queensland nomination or an eligible relative sponsor. We help with points, skills assessments and Expressions of Interest, and later with the permanent Subclass 191.
Learn moreEmployer sponsorship
For Gold Coast businesses hiring overseas staff. Regional status means the Subclass 494 is available here alongside the 482 and 186. We handle sponsor approval, nominations and the worker's visa, and the obligations that continue after the grant.
Learn morePartner visas
For couples applying onshore from the Gold Coast or from overseas. We look at which partner visa applies, how your relationship evidence reads on paper, and what to organise before you lodge, including whether onshore or offshore suits your situation.
Learn moreParent and family visas
For parents, children and other relatives joining family on the Gold Coast. Each pathway has its own sponsor rules, costs and queue, so we compare the realistic options with you before you commit to one.
Learn moreStudent visas and next steps
For students at Gold Coast providers who want to study, change course or plan what follows graduation. The rules for applying for a further Student visa onshore changed on 2 October 2026, so confirm your position before you lodge.
Learn moreRefusals and ART reviews
For anyone on the Gold Coast holding a refusal or cancellation notice. We read the decision with you, confirm the review deadline and discuss whether a Tribunal review, or another option, is worth pursuing. Most onshore deadlines run for 28 days.
Learn moreLabour agreements
For Gold Coast employers whose roles do not fit the standard sponsorship settings. No DAMA covers the Gold Coast, so a labour agreement negotiated with the Department may be the route. We help prepare the business case.
Learn moreHumanitarian and complex cases
For people in protection and other complex situations, including character and cancellation issues. These matters turn on detail and evidence, and early advice about the available pathways matters more here than anywhere else.
Learn more
The Gold Coast is regional for visa purposes: what that opens up
Home Affairs classes the Gold Coast as a Category 2 designated regional area, one of the "Cities and Major Regional Centres" that carry regional incentives for skilled migrants. You can confirm your postcode on the Home Affairs designated regional area list.
Three visas follow from that status:
- Subclass 491: five years provisional, for people nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative, who live and work in a designated regional area.
- Subclass 494: for employers in designated regional areas sponsoring workers, including Gold Coast employers.
- Subclass 191: the permanent visa that can follow time on the 491 or 494.
What the Gold Coast does not have is a DAMA. Queensland's DAMAs cover Far North Queensland and Townsville only. A Gold Coast employer whose roles fall outside the standard settings would look at the 482, 186 or 494, or negotiate a labour agreement with the Department.
Our guides to the 491, 494 and 191 explain the regional system in detail.
Queensland nomination from the Gold Coast
Queensland's skilled nomination program is run by Business and Skilled Migration Queensland. Nomination supports a Subclass 190, or a 491 for regional Queensland, which includes the Gold Coast. It is not a visa, and Home Affairs still decides the application.
You normally need an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect first. Programs open and close during the year and criteria change, so check the current position on the Business and Skilled Migration Queensland website.
Where we help is the comparison: a 491 with Queensland nomination against the 190, against another state, or against employer sponsorship. Our guide to state nomination in 2026 compares the states, and our skilled visas page covers the pathways.
Working with us from the Gold Coast
Our Gold Coast matters run by video call, with documents shared electronically and the same lawyer on your file throughout. If you would rather meet face to face, our offices are in Surry Hills, Sydney and on St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
You can book with Tina Nematian, our Principal Lawyer, who has more than 15 years of experience in Australian immigration law, or with Ivana Djoneski, our Immigration Practice Leader. The wider team includes Joseph Sukkar, Simon Jeans and Eva Chen.
Fees are fixed and explained before you commit, and government charges are separate. It helps to have your passport details, any visa grant or refusal letters and a short timeline of events ready for the first meeting.
Talk to a lawyer about your situation
Book a ConsultationAwards and Affiliations
We believe in the power of migration.
Simplifying Immigration, Connecting Humanity.
Our Team Members
Tina Nematian
Founder & Principal Lawyer
Ivana Djoneski
Immigration Practice Leader
Joseph Sukkar
Immigration Lawyer
Simon Jeans
Special Counsel
Eva Chen
Senior Registered Migration Agent
Maria Reglos
Finance Lead
Talk to a migration lawyer about your Gold Coast matter
Tell us what is happening and we will explain where we think you stand and the sensible next step. Consultations are by video, or in person in Sydney or Melbourne, with a fixed fee up front. Book through our consultation page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an office on the Gold Coast?
No. Our offices are in Sydney, at Axis House, 81-83 Campbell Street, Surry Hills, and in Melbourne, on the Ground Floor at 470 St Kilda Road. We act for Gold Coast clients by video consultation, or in person if you are ever in Sydney or Melbourne. Your file does not depend on where you or your lawyer sit.
Is the Gold Coast really a regional area?
Yes, for visa purposes. The Gold Coast is a Category 2 regional area on the Home Affairs regional postcode list, one of the "Cities and Major Regional Centres". That is what makes the Subclass 491 and 494 available here, with the permanent 191 able to follow. Brisbane, by contrast, is not regional except for some outer postcodes.
Can a Gold Coast employer use a DAMA?
No DAMA covers the Gold Coast. Queensland's DAMAs are Far North Queensland and Townsville. A Gold Coast employer can still sponsor through the standard Subclass 482 and 186 programs, use the regional 494, or negotiate a labour agreement where the standard settings do not fit the role. Our DAMA page explains how these agreements work.
How much does an immigration lawyer cost for a Gold Coast matter?
It depends on the visa and how complex your situation is, not on where you live. Our fees are fixed, so once we understand your matter you know the cost up front, and we explain what the fee covers before you commit. Government visa charges and any assessment fees are separate.
Should I use a lawyer or a migration agent on the Gold Coast?
Both can give immigration assistance if properly authorised. A lawyer is an Australian legal practitioner holding a practising certificate, and what you tell a lawyer is generally protected by legal professional privilege. Whoever you engage, check their authorisation first. Home Affairs publishes a consumer guide for legal practitioners. That check applies to us too.
Does Queensland nomination mean I will get a visa?
No. Nomination is one requirement for the Subclass 190 and 491. Home Affairs still decides the visa application, and you must still meet the health, character and other criteria. Places are limited and a nomination may never come, so treat it as one step in a longer process, not an outcome.
My visa was refused. How long do I have to apply for review?
For most onshore refusals the Administrative Review Tribunal time limit is generally 28 days from being notified, shorter if you are in immigration detention, and the Tribunal cannot extend it. Your decision letter states your deadline, so read it carefully and contact a lawyer as soon as you receive it. Hearings may be held by video or phone.
I study on the Gold Coast. Can I stay and work after my course?
You may have options such as a Temporary Graduate visa, an employer-sponsored visa or a skilled visa, depending on your qualification, occupation and visa history. The rules for applying for another Student visa onshore changed on 2 October 2026, so check before you lodge. Our student visas page has the starting point, and we can map the options with you.