VEMVisa | South Australia Skilled Migration
A practical guide to South Australian nomination for subclasses 190 and 491, including the current program status, occupation checks, application steps and alternative SA migration pathways.
South Australia Skilled Migration is a state nomination pathway for skilled workers who want to apply for the Skilled Nominated visa subclass 190 or the Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa subclass 491. For 2025-26, South Australia received 2,250 nomination places: 1,350 for subclass 190 and 900 for subclass 491.
Current check: South Australia’s 2025-26 skilled migration program received 1,350 subclass 190 places and 900 subclass 491 places. Registrations of Interest for the 2025-26 program closed at 9am on 2 June 2026. New ROI activity depends on the 2026-27 program opening and new allocation settings. Always check the official South Australia occupation list and stream requirements before submitting or updating an EOI.
South Australia skilled migration: quick answer
What it is
South Australia can nominate eligible skilled migrants for subclass 190 or subclass 491 when their occupation, EOI and supporting evidence match the state program.
Who it may suit
Depending on the program year, pathways may include selected offshore workers, people employed in South Australia, eligible local graduates and workers in outer regional areas.
Main warning
An occupation appearing on a list is only a starting point. You still need the correct skills assessment, English, points, EOI claims and stream evidence.
Is South Australia skilled migration open for 2026–27?
At the time of this review, South Australia had not published the complete 2026–27 General Skilled Migration allocation and program settings. The state’s official occupation-list page showed Skilled ROI and GSM applications as unavailable.
For the previous 2025–26 program year, South Australia received 1,350 subclass 190 nomination places and 900 subclass 491 nomination places. Those figures are useful historical context, not a forecast of the next allocation.
| Program item |
Latest verified position |
Planning implication |
| 2025–26 ROI intake |
Closed at 9 am on 2 June 2026. |
Do not submit advice based on an expired intake window. |
| 2026–27 ROI and GSM |
Official occupation page states applications are currently unavailable. |
Prepare documents, but wait for published rules before claiming eligibility. |
| 2025–26 allocation |
1,350 places for subclass 190 and 900 for subclass 491. |
Treat these as prior-year figures only. |
Best use of the waiting period: verify the ANZSCO occupation, renew expiring English or skills-assessment evidence, correct the SkillSelect EOI and organise employment, study and residence documents. Do not invent a 2026–27 stream rule before South Australia publishes it.
South Australia and Home Affairs: who decides what?
Searches for “SA Home Affairs” or “SA Department of Home Affairs” often combine two different authorities. South Australia does not have a separate federal visa department. State nomination is managed by South Australia’s Skilled and Business Migration team within the Department of State Development, while the Australian Department of Home Affairs manages the visa and SkillSelect framework.
| Authority |
Main role |
What it does not guarantee |
| South Australia Skilled and Business Migration |
Publishes state criteria, occupation availability and ROI processes; assesses nomination applications; may nominate eligible candidates. |
A nomination does not guarantee that Home Affairs will grant the visa. |
| Australian Department of Home Affairs |
Sets federal visa criteria, operates SkillSelect and ImmiAccount, issues visa invitations after nomination and decides visa applications. |
An EOI, invitation or state nomination is not a pre-approval of the visa grant. |
A realistic application must satisfy both layers. Start with VEM’s broader Skilled Worker Visa Australia guide if you need to compare points-tested and employer-sponsored pathways before choosing South Australia.
Subclass 190 vs 491 visa South Australia
Both visas require an invitation and a points-tested application. The main differences are permanent status, nomination points and regional obligations.
| Feature |
Subclass 190 |
Subclass 491 |
| Visa status |
Permanent residence from grant. |
Five-year provisional regional visa. |
| Nomination points |
5 points. |
15 points. |
| Location |
The visa itself is permanent, while the state expects a genuine commitment to living and working in South Australia. |
You must live, work and study only in designated regional areas while subject to the regional visa conditions. |
| Possible long-term pathway |
Already a permanent visa. |
May support a later subclass 191 permanent-residence application after the applicable requirements are met. |
| Home Affairs charge |
From AUD6,140 for the main applicant as listed from 1 July 2026. |
From AUD6,140 for the main applicant as listed from 1 July 2026. |
The minimum points threshold is generally 65, including nomination points, but 65 does not guarantee selection. South Australia may rank profiles using occupation demand, English, employment, work experience, location, earnings and other program priorities.
Compare the federal requirements in VEM’s Subclass 190 visa guide and Subclass 491 visa guide. The later regional permanent pathway is explained in the Subclass 191 visa guide.
South Australia skilled occupation list: what to check
The official South Australian Skilled Occupation List is the starting point for state nomination. The list normally shows whether an occupation is available for onshore or offshore consideration and may include stream-specific requirements.
Because the official page currently marks Skilled ROI and GSM applications as unavailable, do not treat a cached 2025–26 occupation table as proof that the same occupation will remain open under the 2026–27 program.
Occupation identity
Match the ANZSCO code and duties, not merely a convenient job title.
Assessing authority
Confirm the correct authority and whether your assessment will remain valid at invitation.
Occupation conditions
Review English, work experience, licensing, salary, location and stream restrictions.
VEM’s South Australia Skilled Occupation List guide can help you review prior published occupations, while the live state list should control any new eligibility decision. For the assessment stage, see Skills Assessment Australia.
South Australia nomination streams
South Australia used four main General Skilled Migration streams during 2025–26. They are useful for understanding the state’s selection logic, but the next program may change names, thresholds, occupation access or evidence requirements.
Offshore stream
For selected applicants living outside Australia. Under the previous settings, South Australia could identify candidates directly from SkillSelect EOIs rather than requiring an offshore ROI.
Skilled Employment in South Australia
For eligible people living and working in South Australia in skilled employment that meets occupation, hours, duration and duty-alignment requirements.
South Australian Graduates
For eligible graduates whose South Australian study, residence, occupation and employment evidence fit the state’s published graduate criteria.
Outer Regional Skilled Employment
For eligible applicants living and working in outer regional South Australia, with evidence of genuine regional residence and suitably skilled employment.
Do not copy an old stream checklist into a new ROI. Waiting for the live 2026–27 criteria is less exciting than publishing confident nonsense, but it is considerably safer.
Core requirements for South Australia nomination
Exact requirements depend on the visa subclass, occupation and state stream. Most applicants should expect to address the following baseline checks.
Age
Be under 45 when Home Affairs issues the visa invitation, unless a different rule lawfully applies.
Skills assessment
Hold a suitable assessment for the nominated occupation from the correct assessing authority.
English
Meet the federal minimum and any higher score required by the occupation, licensing body or state stream.
Points
Reach at least 65 points including nomination points, while recognising that competitive profiles commonly need more.
Eligible occupation
Use the current state and federal occupation settings for the exact subclass and stream.
Accurate EOI
Every SkillSelect claim must be current and supported by documents at invitation and visa application.
Stream evidence
Employment, study, residence, salary and duties must satisfy the state pathway used.
Visa criteria
Meet health, character, Australian Government debt and other federal requirements.
How to apply for South Australia nomination
The exact sequence depends on whether South Australia uses an ROI for your location and stream. The process below separates the state nomination stage from the later Home Affairs visa application.
1
Confirm the federal visa baseline
Check age, occupation, skills assessment, English and the points test for subclass 190 or 491.
2
Check the live SA occupation and stream rules
Wait for the current program to open, then match the occupation to the available stream and all occupation-specific conditions.
3
Create or update the SkillSelect EOI
Select the relevant visa and South Australia, then make sure every points claim matches evidence you can produce.
4
Complete the SA selection stage
Submit an ROI when the relevant onshore intake is open, or wait for direct SkillSelect selection if the published offshore process uses that method.
5
Lodge the nomination application
If invited by South Australia, submit the required evidence and state nomination fee within the stated deadline.
6
Receive nomination and the visa invitation
If South Australia nominates you in SkillSelect, Home Affairs issues the invitation to apply for the selected visa.
7
Lodge the visa through ImmiAccount
Submit the federal visa application within the invitation period, upload evidence and respond to later Home Affairs requests.
SA nomination fee
South Australia currently lists AUD394 for a subclass 190 or 491 nomination application. An ROI is listed as having no fee.
SA nomination processing
The state lists an average of 2–8 weeks for 190 and 491 nomination applications. It does not publish an ROI processing timeframe.
Two separate timelines: South Australia’s nomination processing time is not the Home Affairs visa processing time. The state can decide a nomination in weeks while the later visa application takes substantially longer.
Documents to prepare for an SA nomination profile
| Evidence group |
Examples |
Quality check |
| Identity and visa status |
Passport, name-change records, current visa and address history. |
Names, dates and locations should be consistent across every system. |
| Skills and qualifications |
Skills assessment, qualifications, transcripts, registration and licensing. |
Check validity dates and whether the nominated ANZSCO code is identical. |
| English and points |
Approved English test, partner evidence and documents supporting every EOI points claim. |
Calculate points at the likely invitation date, not merely at EOI creation. |
| Employment |
Contracts, payslips, tax records, bank deposits, employer references and duty statements. |
Job duties, hours, salary, dates and location must tell the same story. |
| South Australian study |
Completion letter, transcript, CoE history, campus and study-location evidence. |
Confirm course duration, completion timing and any residence requirement. |
| Residence |
Lease, bills, bank activity, licence, government correspondence and address timeline. |
Evidence should prove actual residence, not merely a postal address. |
Other South Australia visa pathways people often confuse with state nomination
Not every visa connected with South Australia is a subclass 190 or 491 nomination. The distinctions below allow related search terms to be answered without turning one article into a bureaucratic soup.
| Search term |
What it usually means |
Correct next step |
| DAMA visa South Australia |
An employer-led labour-agreement pathway, not an independent visa subclass and not a points-tested SA nomination. |
An eligible South Australian employer must seek DAMA endorsement and sponsor a worker through an available visa route. |
| NIV visa South Australia |
The National Innovation visa subclass 858 for people with internationally recognised exceptional achievement. |
Review Home Affairs invitation criteria and South Australia’s separate NIV nomination ROI categories. |
| SA tourist visa |
A Visitor visa, ETA or eVisitor used to visit South Australia or another part of Australia temporarily. |
Apply through the relevant Home Affairs visitor pathway; South Australia does not nominate tourist visas. |
| Inter-partner assistance SA |
This wording is not used as the name of an official visa or South Australian nomination stream on the government pathway pages reviewed for this guide. It may be a search for Partner visa assistance in South Australia. |
Review the federal Partner visa pathway and obtain registered assistance where individual advice is needed. |
DAMA visa South Australia
South Australia’s DAMA is a formal arrangement between the Australian Government and the South Australian Government. It allows endorsed employers to access selected occupations and negotiated concessions through labour-agreement visa streams, commonly involving subclasses 482 or 494 and possible later permanent pathways.
South Australia announced that its two existing DAMAs were extended to 30 September 2026 while negotiations continued for a new five-year statewide DAMA. Individuals cannot apply independently without an eligible employer. See VEM’s DAMA Visa Australia guide and Subclass 494 visa guide.
NIV visa South Australia
The National Innovation visa subclass 858 is an invitation-only permanent visa for people with internationally recognised exceptional and outstanding achievement. South Australia has a separate NIV nomination process covering categories such as researchers, entrepreneurs, innovative investors, creative talent and other globally talented individuals. It is not a points-tested subclass 190 or 491 pathway. See VEM’s National Innovation Visa Australia guide.
SA tourist visa and Partner visa assistance
A tourist or family visit is handled through federal visitor options such as subclass 600, ETA 601 or eVisitor 651. It does not require South Australian nomination. For short-stay options, see VEM’s Visitor Visa Australia guide. For a spouse or de facto relationship pathway, use the Partner Visa Australia guide.
Common mistakes that weaken an SA nomination application
Using expired program rules
A 2025–26 occupation or stream condition is not automatically valid for 2026–27.
Weak ANZSCO alignment
A similar job title cannot repair duties that do not match the nominated occupation.
Unverified EOI points
Claiming work, English or partner points without valid evidence can destroy the later visa application.
Confusing nomination with a visa
South Australia nominates; Home Affairs decides the federal visa application.
Applying under the wrong pathway
DAMA, NIV, Visitor and Partner visas do not become 190 or 491 applications merely because South Australia is involved.
Missing intake deadlines
ROI and nomination invitations have deadlines. An excellent file submitted after closure remains an excellent file that cannot be lodged.
Build the South Australia strategy around current evidence
A useful pre-application review connects the ANZSCO code, skills assessment, English, points, EOI, employment, study, residence and intended visa into one consistent pathway. It also identifies when DAMA, NIV, family or visitor options are being confused with skilled nomination.
Contact VEM
About VEM migration services
South Australia skilled migration FAQs
Is South Australia skilled migration currently open?
The 2025–26 onshore ROI intake closed on 2 June 2026. On 21 July 2026, the official occupation page stated that Skilled ROI and GSM applications were unavailable and would resume when the 2026–27 program commenced.
What is the 491 visa South Australia pathway?
It is a state-nominated Skilled Work Regional provisional visa. South Australia assesses the nomination request, while Home Affairs controls the visa criteria and decides the visa application. State nomination adds 15 points.
Does an eligible occupation guarantee SA nomination?
No. Occupation availability only allows the profile to be considered. Selection also depends on the stream, points, English, work history, evidence, priorities and available places.
Do offshore applicants submit an SA ROI?
Under the 2025–26 settings, offshore candidates could be selected directly from SkillSelect and did not submit an ROI. Check the 2026–27 instructions after publication because this process can change.
How long does SA nomination take?
South Australia lists average processing times of 2–8 weeks for subclass 190 and subclass 491 nomination applications. There is no published ROI processing time, and the later Home Affairs visa timeline is separate.
Is a DAMA visa South Australia the same as a 491 visa?
No. A DAMA is an employer-led labour-agreement framework, while subclass 491 is a points-tested regional visa supported by state nomination or eligible family sponsorship.
Can South Australia nominate an NIV applicant?
South Australia has a separate nomination and ROI process for suitable National Innovation visa subclass 858 candidates. NIV selection is based on exceptional achievement, not the subclass 190 or 491 points test.
Does South Australia issue an SA tourist visa?
No. Visitor visas are federal Australian visas managed by Home Affairs. You may use a visitor pathway to travel to South Australia, but the state government does not nominate or grant tourist visas.
Official sources and useful VEM guides
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