Australia PR Requirements for State Nomination to South Australia

Immigration to South Australia allows access to job opportunities in Adelaide – the fifth most liveable city in the world – and less-populated areas of the state, as well as world-class education and healthcare services. Those who wish to unlock these privileges must fulfil the Australia PR requirements of ‘Immigration South Australia’ – the state government agency that issues state nominations to eligible candidates. 

Australian states nominate candidates who can fulfil the local job market requirements. State nomination under the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) or Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 489) can add 5 or 10 points, respectively, to the applicant’s total point score. This can significantly improve the chances of being invited to apply for the relevant visa by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) – the federal immigration authority that determines the final outcome of visa application.

Before pursuing the Australia PR Process under Subclass 190, an aspirant should ensure that they can meet certain requirements. The applicant must:

• Be under 45 years of age at the time of receiving the decision on state nomination.
• Have an occupation featured on the State Nominated Occupation List or Supplementary Skilled List, and meet the eligibility requirements for that occupation.
• Receive a positive General Skilled Migration skills assessment from the relevant authority for the nominated skilled occupation. The assessment report is valid for three years, unless mentioned otherwise.
• At least one year of skilled work experience (paid employment for at least 20 hours per week) within the preceding three years – unless the nominated skilled occupation has a higher work experience requirement.
• Have sufficient funds to support self and accompanying dependents to settle in South Australia, after securing the Australia PR visa.
• Be awarded a sufficient score in an approved English language proficiency examination, to meet the English language requirement of the nominated occupation. This requirement does not apply to citizens or passport holders of UK, USA, Ireland, New Zealand or Canada.
• File an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect – the DHA’s online portal that selects eligible candidates – by satisfying the eligibility requirements of the DHA and Immigration SA, including scoring at least 65 points in the point test, based on the DHA criteria.
• Commit to living and working in South Australia for at least two years after arriving.

These Australia PR Requirements have been designed to evaluate a prospective immigrant’s potential to contribute to the South Australian economy, be integrated into the local workforce, and adapt to community life in their new home.

The South Australia Immigration Process under Subclass 190

South Australia is an immigrant-friendly destination offering a broad range of job opportunities. The coastal capital of the state – Adelaide – is a major metropolitan centre of Australia and the fifth most-liveable city in the world. Australia immigration aspirants who wish to improve their point score through state nomination can explore the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) – a pathway for permanent residence in South Australia (SA).

While Immigration SA is the body that issues nominations for this state, the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is the immigration authority that grants the Subclass 190 visa. This is a points-tested visa category i.e. the candidate must score at least 65 points based on several evaluation factors, to be considered by SkillSelect – the DHA’s online portal which assesses eligibility of registrants. Securing a state nomination adds 5 points to this score, thus enhancing the applicant’s chances for selection.

While considering options for how to migrate to Australia, it is necessary to first ensure that the applicant can fulfil the eligibility requirements of the relevant visa category. To qualify for state nomination in SA, the applicant must:

• Submit an Expression of Interest under SkillSelect by fulfilling the eligibility criteria of the DHA.
• Be under 45 years of age at the time of receiving the nomination.
• Practice an occupation listed under the State Nominated Occupation List. Some applicants may be able to access a Supplementary Occupation List, or be engaged in occupations that have special conditions.
• Possess a positive Skills Assessment from the relevant assessing authority.
• Have at least one year of skilled work experience in the preceding three years. Certain occupations may have a higher minimum work experience requirement. International graduates from SA universities/colleges may not be required to fulfil this requirement.
• Appear for an approved English language examination and meet the minimum language skills requirement for the occupation, set by Immigration SA. (Not applicable for citizens or permanent residents of Ireland, UK, Canada, USA or New Zealand.)
• Showcase sufficient funds to support themselves and accompanying family members to settle in SA.
• Commit to living and working in SA for at least the initial two years after landing in Australia.

Those who can satisfy these requirements can follow the procedure for immigration to SA under Subclass 190:

Step 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect, choose SA as the preferred destination and select the Subclass 190 visa.

Step 2: Apply for State Nomination

File an online application for state nomination to Immigration SA, through their website, by submitting the required documents and paying the application fee (AUD 200).

Step 3: Invitation to Apply

Typically, applications for nomination under subclass 190 are processed within 8 weeks. If Immigration SA issues the nomination, the applicant will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the Subclass 190 visa via e-mail.

Step 4: Visa Application

Nominated candidates must submit a visa application to the DHA within 60 days of receiving the ITA, along with the visa fee (AUD 3,755) and supporting documents that validate the claims made in the EOI. The DHA takes 11-14 months to process the Subclass 190 visa application. After due verification, the PR visa may be granted.

Citizenship can eventually be attained by those who have been living in Australia on a valid visa for at least four years during which they have not lived away from Australia for more than 12 months, and have been permanent residents for at least one year preceding the citizenship application.

Obtaining the Subclass 190 visa allows the candidate to permanently live and work in SA. By successfully pursuing the South Australia immigration process, skilled workers can create a bright and sustainable future in the state.