South Australia opens Registrations of Interest for its 2026–27 skilled nomination program

Migration South Australia announced on 22 October 2026 that South Australia is now open for Registrations of Interest (ROI) for individuals living and working in South Australia whose current visas are due to expire by 31 January 2027. The ROI is lodged through the State’s Skilled & Business Migration portal and is the onshore step towards nomination for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

The update states that offshore candidates may continue to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. Offshore applicants are not required to submit an ROI, as suitable candidates will be invited directly from their EOI. All applicants must have a current EOI lodged in SkillSelect.

Priority industries for 2026–27

The 22 October update focuses on candidates working in priority sectors including building and construction, defence, education, engineering, health and manufacturing. The State’s stream pages list construction, engineering, manufacturing, trades, health and education. Both say high-ranking candidates in non-priority sectors may also be considered.

The stream pages state that a candidate with skills and experience in a priority industry, whose nominated occupation is eligible for subclass 190, may be invited to apply for 190 nomination. A candidate in a non-priority industry, or whose occupation is not eligible for subclass 190, may be invited to apply for 491 nomination.

Requirements shared by the three onshore streams

Migration South Australia states that the South Australian Graduates, Skilled Employment in South Australia and Outer Regional Skilled Employment streams each require a candidate to:

• have an active EOI in SkillSelect with South Australia as the first preferred state or territory
• have a nominated occupation that is eligible under that stream on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List
• be under 45 years of age at the time state nomination is approved
• hold a valid and positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation
• have at least Competent English, shown by an approved English test and score or by being a citizen of, and holding a valid passport from, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America (a test result is needed to claim a higher English level in the EOI)
• score at least 65 points in the Department of Home Affairs points test, including state nomination points
• be currently employed full-time (at least 30 hours per week)

South Australian Graduates

• qualification completed at a South Australian education provider, in a CRICOS-registered course of at least 46 CRICOS weeks
• study meets the minimum qualification level listed for the occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
• at least 75% of the qualification completed in South Australia
• resided in South Australia for at least one year during the studies
• residing in South Australia for at least the last 6 months
• working full-time for the last 6 months, in a job related to, and in the same ANZSCO Sub Major Group (the first two digits of the code) as, the nominated occupation
• skilled work experience undertaken after course completion

Skilled Employment in South Australia

This stream is for temporary visa holders currently living in South Australia and working in their nominated occupation. The State requires residence in South Australia for at least the last 12 months, and work for the last 12 months in a full-time job of at least 30 hours per week. The job must be related to, and at the same skill level as, the nominated occupation, which the State generally defines as the same ANZSCO Sub Major Group (the first two digits of the code).

Outer Regional Skilled Employment

This stream is for candidates currently living and working in an outer regional area of South Australia in their nominated occupation. The State requires that the candidate has lived and worked in Outer Regional South Australia for the past nine months and is currently employed full-time for at least 30 hours per week. The job must be related to, and at the same skill level as, the nominated occupation, which the State generally defines as the same ANZSCO Sub Major Group.

The Outer Regional Skilled Employment page also carries a 2025–26 priority heading, and the three onshore stream pages say invitations will be issued on an ongoing basis throughout 2025–26. The 22 October update says to read the requirements for all relevant streams for the 2026–27 program.

How onshore ROIs are selected

For onshore candidates, the State considers factors drawn from the ROI, in no particular order: English language proficiency, years of skilled experience in the nominated occupation, skills and qualification level, salary and assessment of employer. Migration South Australia states that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation, because the Australian Government gives the State a limited number of nomination places each year.

Candidates outside Australia

Migration South Australia’s page for candidates outside Australia states that they must:

• create an EOI in SkillSelect with South Australia as the first preferred state or territory
• have at least three years of skilled work experience in the nominated or a closely related occupation within the last 5 years, in a role deemed full-time, which SkillSelect defines as 20 hours per week
• meet the Department of Home Affairs visa requirements and South Australia’s state nomination requirements
• have skills in an occupation on the State’s Skilled Occupation List

Offshore applications are assessed on merit by English language proficiency, years and field of skilled employment, skills and qualifications level, and EOI points. In its section for construction and trades occupations, the page states that passport holders of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, the United States of America and Canada are not required to sit an English language test, although the State notes that a higher English level may strengthen the competitiveness of an application.

For the construction and trades occupations listed by the State, 1 year of skilled employment in the last 3 years is required in place of three years.

Construction and trades occupations with the 1-year-in-3 requirement

• 133111 Construction Project Manager
• 312114 Construction Estimator
• 322313 Welder (First Class)
• 331111 Bricklayer
• 331211 Carpenter and Joiner
• 331212 Carpenter
• 331213 Joiner
• 333211 Fibrous Plasterer
• 333212 Solid Plasterer
• 333311 Roof Tiler
• 333411 Wall and Floor Tiler
• 334111 Plumber (General)
• 334115 Roof Plumber
• 341111 Electrician (General)
• 341112 Electrician (Special Class)

Invitation, fees and points

The page for candidates outside Australia states that a selected candidate has 14 days to submit the nomination application, and that the application must show the candidate was eligible for the claims in the EOI at the time of invitation.

As shown on the State’s skilled migration page, the nomination application fee is $394 for subclass 190 and $394 for subclass 491, and there is no fee for a Registration of Interest. The 190 and 491 pages state that any application fees paid are not refundable.

The State’s pages say South Australian nomination provides five additional points for subclass 190 and 15 extra points for subclass 491 in the Department of Home Affairs points test.

Our skilled visa guide explains how SkillSelect invitations and points work.