Immigration Series: All about South Australia’s now open 2023-24 General Skilled Migration program

The South Australia government has made it mandatory for applicants to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) to be invited to apply for state nomination. Under this invitation process, the regional government will prioritise the retention of South Australia’s international graduates and temporary visa holders.

Preeti Verma Lal

October 27, 2023 / 14:28 IST

South Australia (flag pictured) is seeking highly skilled overseas workers for the state’s fast-growing industries and projects of national priority. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

The South Australian Government has published the state’s 2023–2024 Skilled Occupation List and moved to a Registration of Interest (ROI) process under which potential applicants must submit a ROI and be invited to apply for state nomination by South Australia. Potential applicants cannot apply for state nomination directly.

Under this invitation process, South Australia will prioritise the retention of South Australia’s international graduates and temporary visa holders.

Experienced overseas workers with skills in high-demand in South Australia, such as Trades and Construction, Defence, Health, Education, Natural and Physical Science and Social and Welfare Professionals will be targeted through invitations to apply for South Australian nomination.

South Australia is also seeking highly skilled overseas workers who can make a strong contribution to the state’s fast-growing industries and projects of national priority. This includes people with:

experience working in the defence industry, and/or
highly specialised skills in the digital and critical technologies sectors. International graduates and other temporary visa holders continue to be considered across a broad list of occupations consistent with previous years, while there are over 290 occupations open to offshore skilled workers

Eligibility for South Australian Graduates Stream:

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

Check if their nominated occupation is eligible under the South Australian Graduates stream on South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List Currently live and work in South Australia
Be under 45 years of age at time of state nomination is approved
Have a valid and positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation
Have at least Competent English unless the nominated occupation requires registration or licensing to practice in South Australia. If the occupation requires registration or licensing in South Australia, the applicant will have to meet the English requirement set by the registration or licensing authority to work in South Australia. Occupations with registration requirements include trades, education, and health professions. Passport holders or citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or New Zealand do not need to provide an English language test result.
Score at least 65 points in the Department of Home Affairs’ points test (including state nomination points)
Have been residing in South Australia for at least the last 12 months
Have been working for the last 6 months, and be currently employed, in a full-time (at least 30 hours per week) job. The job must be related to, and at the same skill level as, the nominated occupation. For South Australian nomination, this is generally defined as being in the same Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO) Sub Major Group (represented by the first two digits of the ANZSCO code)
Have undertaken the skilled work experience post-course completion
Have completed the qualification at a South Australian education provider and meet the following study requirements:

The course in South Australia must be Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registered, with a minimum of 46 CRICOS weeks
The study meets the minimum qualification level listed for the nominated occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
A minimum of 50 per cent of the qualification must have been completed in South Australia
The applicant must have resided in South Australia for at least one year during their studies

State nomination requirements for international graduates of South Australia: International graduates of South Australia seeking a state nomination for a subclass 491 or 190 visa will need to:

Review South Australia’s Skilled Occupation List to ensure their occupation is available for state nomination and meet the specific requirements for that occupation
Review all requirements associated with the chosen visa pathway. Review the requirements specific to South Australian Graduates to to see if the applicant is eligible for this nomination stream and whether they are able to access any waivers or concessions

Prepare all required supporting documentation ready for the application.