South Australia has opened Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for a specific group of onshore applicants under its 2026–27 General Skilled Migration program.
The current opening applies to people who are living and working in South Australia and whose current visa is due to expire by 31 January 2027.
Offshore applicants follow a different process. They do not submit an ROI and can continue to lodge or maintain an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, where South Australia can select suitable candidates directly.
The latest update also confirms a strong invitation to focus on priority sectors, while leaving room for highly ranked candidates working outside those sectors.
Who Can Submit a South Australia ROI Now?
The 22 October 2026 update opens the ROI process to applicants who:
- are currently living in South Australia
- are currently working in South Australia
- hold a visa that expires on or before 31 January 2027
- have a current SkillSelect EOI
Meeting those conditions allows an applicant to access the current ROI opening, but it does not replace the requirements of the relevant South Australian nomination stream.
Applicants still need to check that their nominated occupation is available and that they meet the criteria for the stream under which they want to be considered.
This distinction matters: a visa approaching expiry does not by itself make someone eligible for South Australian nomination.
Offshore Applicants Do Not Submit an ROI
South Australia continues to assess offshore skilled migrants differently. Applicants living overseas should lodge an EOI through SkillSelect and select South Australia as their first preferred state or territory. They do not need to submit a separate ROI through the South Australian migration portal.
South Australia reviews offshore EOIs and may invite suitable candidates to apply for nomination directly.
Current offshore guidance generally requires at least three years of skilled work experience in the nominated or closely related occupation within the previous five years. Selected construction and trade occupations have a lower published threshold of one year of skilled employment within the previous three years.
Offshore candidates are assessed competitively using factors including English, skilled employment, qualifications and total EOI points. Invitation rounds are anticipated to occur monthly, depending on how the program progresses.
Priority Sectors for 2026–27
South Australia’s latest program update identifies six areas that will receive particular attention when invitations are issued:
- Building and construction
- Defence
- Education
- Engineering
- Health
- Manufacturing
This is a priority focus, not an exclusive occupation list.
South Australia has specifically confirmed that high-ranking candidates in other sectors may still be considered.
Applicants should therefore check both their industry and their exact nominated occupation rather than assuming that being outside a priority sector automatically removes them from consideration.
Which South Australia Stream Applies to You?
South Australia currently has three main onshore GSM streams plus a separate offshore pathway.
The requirements are different, so applicants should identify the correct stream before submitting an ROI.
| Stream | Who it is mainly for | Key current requirement |
|---|---|---|
| South Australian Graduates | Applicants who completed eligible study in South Australia | At least 6 months recent SA residence and 6 months full-time related post-study employment |
| Skilled Employment in South Australia | Skilled migrants already living and working in SA | At least 12 months SA residence and 12 months full-time related employment |
| Outer Regional Skilled Employment | Applicants established in outer regional SA | At least 9 months living and working in outer regional SA |
| Offshore | Skilled applicants living outside Australia | No ROI; candidates are selected directly from SkillSelect |
These are only the main distinguishing requirements. Applicants must also meet the complete eligibility criteria for their chosen stream.
South Australian Graduates
This stream is aimed at graduates who have completed an eligible South Australian qualification and established themselves in the state.
Current requirements include:
- an active SkillSelect EOI with South Australia as first preference
- an occupation eligible under the graduate stream
- current residence and employment in South Australia
- a valid positive skills assessment
- at least Competent English
- at least 65 points, including nomination points
- an eligible CRICOS-registered South Australian course of at least 46 weeks
- at least 75% of the qualification completed in South Australia
- at least one year of residence in SA during study
- at least six months of recent SA residence
- at least six months of full-time related employment after course completion, with current employment of at least 30 hours per week.
Skilled Employment in South Australia
This stream is designed for skilled migrants who are already established in South Australia and working in employment related to their nominated occupation.
Applicants generally need:
- an active EOI with South Australia as first preference
- an eligible occupation
- current residence and employment in SA
- a valid skills assessment
- Competent English
- at least 65 points
- at least 12 months of residence in South Australia
- at least 12 months of full-time related employment, with current employment of at least 30 hours per week.
Outer Regional Skilled Employment
This pathway is for applicants who are already living and working in outer regional South Australia.
The current criteria include:
- an eligible SkillSelect EOI
- an occupation available under this stream
- current residence and employment in outer regional SA
- a valid skills assessment
- at least Competent English
- at least 65 points
- at least nine months of residence and employment in outer regional South Australia
- current full-time employment of at least 30 hours per week in work related to the nominated occupation.
Does an Expiring Visa Give Your ROI Priority?
No.
This is one of the most important points to understand from the new announcement.
Although the current ROI opening specifically targets applicants whose visas expire by 31 January 2027, South Australia says it does not provide priority processing simply because a temporary visa is nearing expiry.
The state may monitor cases involving an approaching visa expiry, but it cannot guarantee an ROI or nomination outcome before that date. Applicants are encouraged to consider their other visa options if necessary.
So the 31 January condition should be understood as part of the current access criteria for lodging an ROI, not as a promise of faster processing or an invitation.
How Will South Australia Choose Who to Invite?
Submitting an ROI or EOI does not guarantee an invitation.
South Australia has a limited number of nomination places and selects candidates competitively.
For onshore applicants, current stream guidance indicates that selection may consider factors such as:
- English proficiency
- years of skilled experience
- qualification and skill level
- salary
- employer assessment.
For offshore applicants, the published assessment factors include English, skilled employment, qualification level and EOI points.
This is why meeting the minimum stream requirements should not be confused with being guaranteed an invitation.
Subclass 190 or 491: Which Invitation Could You Receive?
South Australia can nominate applicants for both the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
Current stream guidance indicates that candidates with skills and experience in priority areas whose occupation is eligible for subclass 190 may be considered for a 190 invitation.
Candidates working outside priority areas, or whose nominated occupation is not available for subclass 190, may instead be considered for subclass 491.
This does not mean employment in a priority sector guarantees subclass 190. Invitation outcomes remain competitive.
Check the 2026–27 Skilled Occupation List
A current SkillSelect EOI is not enough on its own.
Applicants should check the South Australian Skilled Occupation List to confirm:
- whether their nominated occupation is available
- which nomination streams accept that occupation
- whether subclass 190, subclass 491 or both are available
- whether occupation-specific requirements apply.
The official list can be searched by occupation name, ANZSCO code and occupation category.
For an update article like this, it is more useful to direct applicants to the live list than reproduce hundreds of occupation names that may later change.
What Happens After an Invitation?
Once selected, the applicant can proceed to lodge the full South Australian nomination application.
Applicants must be able to substantiate the information declared in their ROI or SkillSelect EOI with appropriate documents. South Australia’s document requirements include evidence such as a valid passport and visa, skills assessment, employment information and relevant residence evidence.
For offshore applicants, the current invitation is valid for 14 days, so documents should be prepared before an invitation arrives.
Current average processing times for both subclass 190 and 491 nomination applications are 2–8 weeks. South Australia does not publish a processing timeframe for ROIs.
South Australia Nomination Fees
Submitting an ROI itself is free.
The current South Australian fees are:
| Application stage | Fee |
|---|---|
| Registration of Interest | No fee |
| Subclass 190 nomination application | $394 |
| Subclass 491 nomination application | $394 |
South Australia also applies a 1.17% payment-processing surcharge, while GST is payable by onshore applicants. Nomination application fees are non-refundable.
The nomination fee is charged after an applicant progresses to the nomination application stage; it is not a fee for simply submitting an ROI.
What Should Applicants Check Before Submitting?
Before lodging an ROI or updating an offshore EOI, applicants should confirm:
- their SkillSelect EOI is current
- South Australia is selected as the required preferred state
- their nominated occupation remains available
- their skills assessment and English evidence remain valid
- they meet the requirements of the correct stream
- employment, residence and study claims can be documented
- all information in the ROI and EOI is accurate and consistent
Onshore applicants should also be careful before submitting an incomplete or inaccurate ROI. South Australia states that if an ROI receives a Not Invited outcome, another ROI cannot be submitted for three months.
What This Update Means for Applicants
The 22 October 2026 announcement creates a clear distinction between the two applicant groups.
Onshore: eligible applicants living and working in South Australia with visas expiring by 31 January 2027 can now submit an ROI, provided they meet the relevant stream requirements.
Offshore: applicants continue through SkillSelect without an ROI and may be selected directly by South Australia.
Across both groups, the strongest candidates will be selected competitively, with particular attention currently directed toward building and construction, defence, education, engineering, health and manufacturing.
Having a current EOI, choosing the correct stream and making sure every claim can be supported is therefore more important than simply submitting as quickly as possible.
