A Look at the 2022/23 Skilled Migration Visa Nomination Program: South Australia

South Australia’s 2022/23 Skilled Migration Program has now opened to both applicants living in South Australia and overseas. The program features a revised skilled occupation list outlining the skills sought to be filled through overseas talent and migrants already living and working in South Australia.

Notably, South Australia will increase its nomination of offshore migrants by nominating offshore applicants from over 470 occupations and will no longer require offshore applicants to lodge a Registration of Interest (ROI).

The 2022/23 Skilled Migration Program promises to prioritise nominations for skilled migrants:

• With backgrounds in priority industries, such as Health, ICT, Education, Engineering, Agribusiness and Trades, or
• Who can bring their skills to grow target future-focused sectors such as Hi-Tech/Digital, Health and Life Sciences, Green Energy, Defence, Space and Cyber Security

South Australia is offering state nomination across two visa options for skilled migration that afford pathways to permanent residency:

•  Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491) (provisional)

• Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 190) (permanent)

Following consultation with South Australia, the following interim nomination levels have been allocated for 2022/23:

South Australia assesses eligible applicants against criteria unique to their jurisdiction. They will be assessing candidates on merits by the following attributes within their nominated occupation:

• Field of skilled employment
• Years of skilled employment
• English language ability
• EOI points

Before applying for state nomination, applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs’ visa requirements.  

Eligible onshore applicants will be able to apply directly for South Australian nomination in the following streams:

1. South Australian Graduates
   • If you are an international graduate, who has studied in South Australia, you may be eligible for state nomination as a skilled migrant faster than other candidates.
2. Working in South Australia
   • If you are a skilled migrant currently living and working in South Australia and working in your nominated occupation, you may be eligible for state nomination through this pathway
3. Outer Regional South Australia
   • If you are a skilled migrant making an important contribution to supporting regional South Australian communities and businesses, you may access certain work experience concessions under this stream
4. Long Term Residents
   • If you are a long-term resident of South Australia who does not qualify under the other nomination streams and you are not currently working in your nominated occupation, you may be eligible for state nomination through this stream.
5. Highly Skilled and Talented
   • If you are a highly skilled migrant, who can contribute your demonstrated talent and/or support innovation in South Australia, you can register your interest in state nomination under this pathway.
6. Offshore
   • If you are a skilled migrant currently living offshore, who has submitted an Expression of Interest, you may be selected by South Australian and invited to apply for state nomination

Applicants must meet both the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs visa eligibility criteria and the South Australian nomination criteria.

South Australian Graduates stream

To be eligible under the South Australian Graduates stream, you must:

• Have a nominated occupation that is eligible under the South Australian Graduates stream on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List
• Be living and working in South Australia
• Be under 45 years of age at the time of state nomination is approved
• Have a valid and positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• Have at least Competent English, unless your nominated occupation requires registration or licencing to practice in South Australia.
• Score at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs’ points test (including state nomination points)
• Have completed your qualification at a South Australian higher education provider and meet the following study requirements:
  • Your course in South Australia must be Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registered, with a minimum of 46 CRICOS weeks
  • Your study meets the minimum qualification level listed for your nominated occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
  • A minimum of 50% of your qualification must have been completed in South Australia
  • You must have resided in South Australia for at least one year during your studies
• Be currently working in a job that is related to your nominated occupation
• Have undertaken your skilled work experience post-course completion
• Meet the minimum work experience requirement listed for your occupation on the South Australian Skilled Occupation List
• Unless specified higher for your nominated occupation on the Skilled Occupation List, be working at least:
  • 20 hours per week or 40 hours per fortnight for subclass 491 visa nomination
  • 30 hours per week or 60 hours per fortnight for subclass 190 visa nomination

In addition, High Performing Graduates may also benefit from certain concessions or waivers under this stream. To be eligible as a high performing graduate under the South Australian Graduates stream, you must:

• Have a nominated occupation that is eligible under the High Performing Graduates pathway on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List
• Have completed your qualifications at a South Australian higher education provider in the last two years
• Have a South Australian qualification in the same field as your skills assessment (i.e., your nominated occupation)
• Be currently living in South Australia and have continuously resided in South Australia post-course completion
• Have at least Proficient English overall, unless specified higher for your occupation
• Meet the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) specified for your nominated occupation on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List
• Have a qualification in South Australia that meets the High Performing Graduates requirements below
  • PhD or Masters by Research degree – apply once your degree has been conferred
  • Masters by Coursework degree – your Masters degree must be at least 78 CRICOS weeks
  • First Class Honours in a dedicated Honours year – your Honours year must have followed the completion of a 92 CRICOS week Bachelor degree in South Australia
  • Bachelor degree – your Bachelor degree must be at least 92 CRICOS weeks and you must have commenced skilled employment in an occupation related to your nominated occupation

Working in South Australia

To be eligible under the Working in South Australia stream, you must:

• Have a nominated occupation that is eligible under the Working in South Australia stream on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List
• Be living and working in South Australia
• Be under 45 years of age at time of state nomination is approved
• Have a valid and positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• Have at least Competent English, unless your nominated occupation requires registration or licensing to practice in South Australia
• Score at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs’ points test (including state nomination points)
• Be currently working in a job that is related to your nominated occupation
• Have undertaken your skilled work experience post-course completion
• Meet the minimum work experience requirement listed for your occupation on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List.
• Be working at least 20 hours per week or 40 hours per fortnight, unless specified higher for your nominated occupation on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List.

Outer Regional South Australia stream

To be eligible under the Outer Regional South Australia stream, you must:

• Have a nominated occupation that is eligible under the Outer Regional South Australia stream on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List
• Be living and working in Outer Regional South Australia
• Be under 45 years of age at time the state nomination is approved
• Have a valid and positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• Have at least Competent English, unless your nominated occupation requires registration or licensing to practice in South Australia
• Score at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs’ points test (including state nomination points)
• Have been working for the past six months in Outer Regional South Australia in any job
• Be working a high skilled position: Skill Level 1 or 2 and receiving a high salary (at least $65,000) for subclass 190 visa nomination
• Provide a letter of support from your employer outlining why you should be considered for state nomination

Long Term Residents stream

To be eligible under the Long Term Resident stream, you must:

• Have a nominated occupation that is eligible under the Long Term Resident stream on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List
• Be living and working in South Australia
• Have resided continuously in South Australia for the past five years (at the time of application)
• Be under 45 years of age
• Have a valid and positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• Have at least Competent English, unless your nominated occupation requires registration or licensing to practice in South Australia
• Score at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs’ points test (including state nomination points)
• Be currently working for the past six months in South Australia in any Skill Level 1, 2, 3 or Level 4 Carer and Aide occupation
• Have at least 12 months total work experience in South Australia in any Skill Level 1, 2, 3 or Level 4 Carer and Aide occupation over the past three years
• Have worked at least:
  • For 491 visa nomination: 30 hours per week or 60 hours per fortnight
  • For 190 visa nomination: 30 hours per week or 60 hours per fortnight and:
    • Be working in a high skilled position: Skill Level 1 or
    • Be receiving a high salary (at least $80,000 in Greater Adelaide or $65,000 in regional South Australia)

Highly Skilled and Talented stream

This stream allows the South Australian Government to nominate applicants who can contribute to the state’s critical priority sectors. If you are eligible for this stream, you must submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) and be invited to submit a General Skilled Migration application for state nomination.

To be eligible under the Highly Skilled and Talented stream, you must:

• Be living and working in South Australia, interstate, or overseas
• Be under 45 years of age at the time of state nomination is approved
• Have a valid and positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• Have at least Proficient English
• Score at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs’ points test (including state nomination points)
• Be earning a high base salary threshold commensurate with the expectations of the Highly Skilled and Talented stream (at least $80,000 per annum) and working full-time (at least 30 hours per week or 60 hours per fortnight)
• If onshore
  • Have demonstrated extensive experience, working in a highly skilled jobs, in senior or executive level roles
  • Demonstrate that you meet one of the following:  
    • Have already commenced employment in South Australia,
    • Have an employment contract for a position you plan to relocate to in South Australia, or
    • Have demonstrated specialised experience or niche skills that are highly desired in one of South Australia’s critical priority sectors.
  • Have an employer that meets the following:
    • Be an existing business for at least 12 months. Your employer must have a premise located and operating in South Australia for the past 12 months.
    • Have annual turnover of at least $4 million. Please note:
      • start-up companies may be exempt from the annual turnover requirement
      • businesses who operate in outer regional South Australia may be exempt from the annual turnover requirement
    • Be a business of good standing and there must be no adverse information about the business
• If offshore
  • Have demonstrated extensive experience, working in senior or executive level roles in highly skilled jobs, in:
    • Internationally renowned organisations, or
    • Multinational companies with a presence in South Australia, or
    • Have demonstrated specialised experience or niche skills that are highly desired in one of South Australia’s critical priority sectors

Offshore stream

Skilled migrants currently residing offshore, who have submitted a SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) may be selected by South Australia and invited to apply for state nomination. You must have a nominated occupation that is eligible under the Offshore stream on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List

You must first lodge a SkillSelect EOI and select South Australia as your first preferred State or Territory to move to in Australia.

South Australia will view your application and may decide to invite you to apply for state nomination. If you are selected to apply for the South Australian nomination, you will have 14 days to submit your application.

South Australian nomination process

The visa process consists of three or four stages:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs using SkillSelect
2. If applying under the Highly Skilled and Talented or Offshore stream – Submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for South Australia via the Skilled & Business Migration portal
3. Submit a nomination application with South Australia via the Skilled & Business Migration portal
4. If your nomination application is successful, submit a visa application for your selected visa with the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs within 60 days

If you are currently in South Australia and your visa is about to expire and you have not received an outcome of your state nomination application, you can request special consideration. You must provide at least 10 business days’ notice for your application to be flagged for special consideration.

This article contains general information on the 190 and 491 visas, as well as South Australia State Nomination, which are correct as of the date of writing this article. Changes to the migration program can occur without notice. The above information is not intended to be legal advice. 

To explore your skilled visa options with South Australia, contact Migration Affairs for a consultation today!