South Australian skilled nomination depends on your occupation, where you live and the pathway you use. A graduate studying in Adelaide, an employee in outer regional South Australia and an applicant overseas do not follow the same requirements.
Start by identifying the relevant stream. Then check whether it is accepting your applicant group before preparing a Registration of Interest (ROI) or relying on a SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI).
QUICK ANSWER
Who can currently submit an onshore ROI?
As checked on 30 October 2026, the current onshore opening is restricted to people living and working in South Australia whose current visa expires by 31 January 2027. Meeting a stream's general requirements does not remove this restriction.
South Australia's 22 October announcement separately allows offshore candidates to continue expressing interest through SkillSelect. They do not submit an SA ROI. The announcement prioritises building and construction, defence, education, engineering, health and manufacturing, while allowing consideration of highly ranked candidates outside those sectors. Priority is not a nomination guarantee.
What requirements apply before South Australia can nominate you?
You need to meet both the relevant visa requirements and the requirements of the South Australian stream. The published stream requirements include a valid positive skills assessment, at least Competent English and at least 65 points, including nomination points. You must be under 45 when nomination is approved.
Your occupation must be eligible for the chosen stream, and your EOI must identify South Australia as your first preferred state or territory. The Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) assesses the eventual visa application; state nomination is a separate decision.
An occupation appearing on a list is a starting point. Its entry may restrict the available visa subclass or impose additional conditions.
Does studying in South Australia qualify a graduate automatically?
Graduation alone is not enough. The South Australian Graduates stream combines study, residence and skilled employment requirements.
The study requirements include:
- A CRICOS-registered SA course of at least 46 CRICOS weeks.
- At least 75% of the qualification completed in SA.
- At least one year living in SA during study.
- The minimum qualification required for your nominated occupation.
For the local connection, the stream requires residence in SA for the last six months and current, full-time skilled employment for the last six months after completing the course. Full-time means at least 30 hours a week. The work must be related to your nominated occupation and within the same two-digit ANZSCO Sub-Major Group.
These are this stream's requirements, not a general rule for every Australian graduate visa pathway.
How do the local employment streams differ?
The Skilled Employment in South Australia stream generally requires the last 12 months of both SA residence and qualifying employment. You must currently work full-time, at least 30 hours weekly, in work related to your nominated occupation at the same skill level, generally within the same two-digit ANZSCO group.
The Outer Regional Skilled Employment stream instead requires the last nine months living and working in outer regional SA, with current full-time qualifying employment. Check the state's outer regional definition; do not assume every location described as regional for another visa satisfies this stream.
Residence, employment duration and occupation relationship must be checked together. A shorter qualifying period in one stream cannot be substituted into another.
What changes if you live overseas?
Offshore candidates are considered through their SkillSelect EOI, rather than an SA ROI. The ordinary published work-experience requirement is three years within the last five years, in the nominated or a closely related occupation. For this offshore requirement, the published minimum is 20 hours a week; do not carry across the 30-hour requirement used by the local streams.
A specified list of construction and trades occupations has a reduced requirement of one year within the last three years. This concession does not cover every trade. Check the actual occupation entry before relying on it.
South Australia considers factors including English, experience, qualifications and EOI points. Eligibility for consideration does not establish which subclass will be offered or whether an invitation will arrive.
What should you check before expressing interest?
Prepare a pathway-specific record of:
- Your current location and, for an onshore ROI, visa expiry date.
- The occupation entry, subclass availability and additional conditions.
- Skills assessment, English evidence and support for EOI points.
- Study, residence and employment dates for the selected stream.
- Hours, duties and evidence connecting the work to your occupation.
- A consistent EOI and the correct ROI or offshore process.
View sources · 6
- South Australia’s General Skilled Migration program update (opens in a new tab)
Government of South Australia — Skilled & Business Migration · Checked
- Skilled migrants (opens in a new tab)
Government of South Australia — Skilled & Business Migration · Checked
- South Australian Graduates (opens in a new tab)
Government of South Australia — Skilled & Business Migration · Checked
- Skilled Employment in South Australia (opens in a new tab)
Government of South Australia — Skilled & Business Migration · Checked
- Outer Regional Skilled Employment (opens in a new tab)
Government of South Australia — Skilled & Business Migration · Checked
- Moving to South Australia from overseas (opens in a new tab)
Government of South Australia — Skilled & Business Migration · Checked
CONSULTATION
Planning your South Australian nomination?
Hans Immigration Services can review your occupation, skills assessment, study and employment history, and visa timeline together. We can help you understand which South Australian stream may be relevant and what evidence needs to be checked before you proceed.
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