Who this may suit
Skilled workers and graduates considering South Australian nomination for a regional provisional visa.
Key considerations
- On 22 October 2026, South Australia opened Registrations of Interest for eligible people living and working in the state whose current visas expire on or before 31 January 2027. Applicants must meet the relevant 2026–27 occupation and stream criteria and hold a current SkillSelect EOI.
- Detailed numerical criteria below are historical 2025–26 context checked on 18 October 2026, not a verification of 2026–27 eligibility. Check the current official occupation and stream requirements before acting.
- Onshore candidates use an EOI and state ROI; the published offshore process uses EOI selection without an ROI.
Current application status
On 22 October 2026, South Australia opened Registrations of Interest for eligible people living and working in the state whose current visas expire on or before 31 January 2027. Applicants must meet the relevant 2026–27 occupation and stream criteria and hold a current SkillSelect EOI.
31 January 2027 is the current-visa-expiry cutoff, not an announced ROI submission deadline. This is a targeted onshore opening, not unrestricted access for all applicants. An invitation is required before applying for state nomination.
Offshore applicants continue through SkillSelect EOIs without a South Australian ROI. Invitation selection remains separate from nomination and the federal visa decision.
Read South Australia’s 22 October program announcement →
Read our dated program update →
Detailed numerical criteria below are historical 2025–26 context checked on 18 October 2026, not a verification of 2026–27 eligibility. Check the current official occupation and stream requirements before acting.
What subclass 491 involves
Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa with regional living, working and study obligations. State nomination can contribute fifteen points, but you must also meet the federal occupation, assessment, English, age, points and other visa requirements. Federal age eligibility is tested at the visa-invitation stage.
Adelaide is within the federal designated-regional framework. That does not make every Adelaide address eligible for South Australia’s separate Outer Regional Skilled Employment stream. The state publishes a narrower postcode list for that stream. Check both definitions against the actual addresses involved.
Read the federal subclass 491 guide →
Compare South Australian subclass 190 nomination →
The published onshore streams
These are historical 2025–26 descriptions checked on 18 October 2026. Do not assume these numerical thresholds apply to the current program.
The published onshore streams also require applicants to be under 45 when state nomination is approved. That state timing is separate from Home Affairs’ age test at the visa invitation.
- South Australian Graduates: a qualifying SA course of at least 46 CRICOS weeks, with at least 75% completed in SA and one year of SA residence during study. The published framework also requires six months of recent residence and qualifying post-course employment.
- Skilled Employment in South Australia: twelve months of SA residence and qualifying work, with current employment. The role must be related to the nominated occupation and at the required skill level.
- Outer Regional Skilled Employment: nine months living and working in the state’s specified outer-regional area, with current qualifying employment.
- The published onshore work requirement is at least thirty hours weekly. Do not replace this with the older twenty-hour wording or average fewer hours over a longer period.
Offshore selection is different
The published offshore framework generally requires an eligible occupation and three years of relevant skilled work within the previous five years. A narrower concession requires one year within the previous three years for the specific construction and trades occupations listed on the official offshore page; it does not cover every trade. It assesses factors such as English, experience, qualifications and EOI points. Candidates are selected from SkillSelect rather than submitting an offshore ROI.
The detailed offshore criteria in this section are historical 2025–26 context checked on 18 October 2026. The 22 October announcement confirms offshore consideration through SkillSelect EOIs without an ROI, but current occupation and stream requirements must be checked separately.
EOI, ROI and nomination
For an available onshore stream, the published process starts with a current SkillSelect EOI followed by a state ROI. Selection then permits a nomination application. A successful nomination is followed by the separate Home Affairs visa stage.
The state FAQ says to indicate South Australia in the EOI and select both subclasses where appropriate, while an ROI records a preferred subclass. The state may invite for a different subclass. Consider the practical consequences of each before indicating that you wish to pursue it.
An ROI cannot simply be edited after submission under the published process. Significant changes, such as a new job, may require withdrawal and a replacement. Check the current instructions before doing this, particularly during a closure.
Build evidence that matches the stream
Use an occupation-to-duties comparison rather than relying on a job title alone. Map residence and employment periods separately, and identify any gap or overlapping role before calculating the required period. The state’s “related occupation” guidance and employer-location requirements need particular attention for remote or cross-border work.
- Graduates: retain the course duration, completion, campus and credit-transfer records supporting the SA-study calculation.
- Workers: reconcile references, contracts, pay and tax records with the duties and hours claimed.
- Outer-regional candidates: record residential and workplace postcodes throughout the relevant period.
- All candidates: use complete, current evidence and required translations. The state warns that missing mandatory documents can lead to refusal without a further request.
Keep a separate plan for lawful stay and permanent residence
Neither an EOI nor an anticipated nomination extends your visa. Review current visa-expiry and work-rights issues independently rather than relying on a hoped-for state decision.
Permanent residence through subclass 191 is a separate future application. Holding an eligible visa for the required period and complying with relevant conditions are part of that assessment. A nomination, regional address or passage of three years alone does not guarantee permanent residence.
How we can help
Ausdirect can compare the relevant stream with your evidence, distinguish state nomination from federal visa eligibility and identify questions to check against current official settings.
Questions to consider
Does an offshore applicant submit a South Australian ROI?
No South Australian ROI is required under the offshore process confirmed in the 22 October announcement. Selection is through a SkillSelect EOI. Check the current occupation and offshore stream requirements.
Your next step
Prepare your assessed occupation, location and employment timeline, study details where relevant, and current visa expiry for a consultation.