South Australia · Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional · 2026-27
South Australia 491 state nomination guide
South Australia offers 491 nomination through occupation- and stream-specific routes, including graduates, local skilled employment, outer-regional employment and offshore selection. The recent graduate pathway and offshore selection are available under the official 2026-27 pages, and 491 is a state-nominated provisional visa that can provide a pathway to permanent residency.
South Australia’s official skilled migrants page says onshore applicants submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) through the Apply Portal, while offshore applicants submit a SkillSelect EOI and may be selected to apply for nomination. The supplied sources do not independently verify the guide's claimed limited reopening cohort or any 31 January 2027 restriction; current-year portal opening conditions remain unverified.
A current 2026–27 allocation was not independently verified from the official sources reviewed. No prior-year number has been carried forward, and an unknown allocation is not zero.
Official pages can change without notice. Confirm before acting.
Streams and pathways
South Australian graduates
The official 2026–27 page requires eligible SA study, current SA residence and work, at least the last six months residing in SA and six months of post-course full-time work (at least 30 hours weekly). Work must be related at ANZSCO Sub Major Group level; the occupation list and full course conditions still apply.
Skilled employment in SA
For candidates living and working in SA in an eligible nominated occupation. The occupation entry and stream rules determine the employment and other requirements; do not substitute the graduate rule.
Outer-regional skilled employment
A distinct local-employment stream. Check whether the actual work and residence location qualifies and whether the occupation permits the selected visa.
Offshore
Suitable candidates may be selected directly from an active SkillSelect EOI. The program email says offshore applicants do not lodge an ROI. Nomination is not available simply by asking for it.
Key requirements
- Maintain an active SkillSelect EOI and check the occupation's eligibility for this specific visa and stream.
- Meet Home Affairs' skills-assessment, English, age and federal points requirements; the graduate page specifies at least 65 points including state nomination.
- Graduate applicants must satisfy the full SA study conditions, including at least 46 CRICOS weeks, the required local study and residence, and post-course employment.
- For the 2026-27 GSM program, South Australia will prioritise candidates working in construction, engineering, manufacturing, trades, health and education; high-ranking candidates in non-priority industries may also be considered.
- Onshore applicants must submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) through the Apply Portal; offshore applicants use SkillSelect EOI selection.
How the process runs
Check your eligibility and the occupation list before starting.
If onshore, submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) through the Apply Portal with the required documents; if offshore, maintain an active SkillSelect EOI.
Wait for a decision on your ROI (onshore) or EOI (offshore).
If invited, lodge the state nomination application online through the Apply Portal.
If state nomination is granted, proceed with the Department of Home Affairs visa application.
Before you rely on this
- State nomination does not automatically result in a visa grant.
- An eligible occupation may have different conditions for 190, 491 and each stream.
- The supplied source does not independently verify the guide's claimed limited reopening cohort or any 31 January 2027 expiry rule.
- The source page supports the existence of priority sectors and competitive selection, but not any guaranteed invitation outcome.
Fees
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) $394; Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) $394; Registration of Interest Nil. Refund conditions and GST treatment are not established in the supplied sources.
Invitation data
No complete current-year official invitation dataset was verified for this guide. South Australia’s official page says invitations are issued based on ROI or EOI assessment and competitiveness; no unofficial score is presented as a government cutoff, and no invitation is promised.
No official invitation figures are recorded in this guide.
Points scores from past rounds are not cut-offs. States select on occupation, ranking factors and capacity, and a score that was invited before may not be invited again.
Official sources
Checked 23 October 2026. Links open in a new tab.
- SA — skilled migration pathways (opens in a new tab)
- SA — 2026–27 graduate requirements (opens in a new tab)
- SA — occupation list and stream eligibility (opens in a new tab)
- Home Affairs — state and territory allocations (check the table's program year) (opens in a new tab)
Related reading
General information only, not migration advice or an eligibility assessment. Nomination is at the discretion of each state or territory.