SA State Nomination 2026: 190 and 491 Guide

South Australia issued 2,853 skilled migration nomination invitations in the 2025-26 program year. Health professionals received the most with 639. Engineering and transport came second with 468. Education professionals were third with 195, the majority via the permanent Subclass 190.

If your occupation is in one of these groups, this guide covers exactly what you need to know.

What State Nomination Actually Means

The 189 visa is the independent skilled migration pathway. No state support needed, but the competition is fierce. Invitation scores regularly sit at 80 to 90 points or above.

State nomination is a different route. You apply to a specific state government and ask them to nominate you for either the 190 or 491 visa. Nomination adds 5 extra points for the 190 or 15 extra points for the 491.

For many applicants, those extra points are the difference between waiting indefinitely and receiving an invitation.

South Australia's 2025-26 Program

South Australia had 2,250 nomination places allocated for 2025-26. 1,350 for the Subclass 190 and 900 for the Subclass 491.

The final scheduled invitation round ran on 21 May 2026, with 238 invitations issued in that round alone. South Australia may issue further invitations before 30 June 2026 to use any remaining allocation.

The 2026-27 program opens on 1 July 2026 with a fresh allocation. If you have your skills assessment ready, registering your interest at the start of the new program year gives you the best chance at early rounds.

The nomination application fee is $381. There is no cost to submit a Registration of Interest.

The Four Nomination Streams

Skilled Employment in South Australia. For applicants living and working in South Australia in their nominated occupation. Requires 12 months of recent skilled employment in the state.

South Australian Graduates. For international graduates who studied in South Australia and are now working in the state in their nominated occupation. Requires 6 months of relevant post-graduation work experience. Points concessions may apply for eligible graduates.

Outer Regional Skilled Employment. For applicants working in outer regional areas of South Australia. Requires 9 months of skilled employment in the outer regional area. Often overlooked but carries strong nomination prospects.

Offshore Stream. For skilled professionals living outside Australia. Invited directly from SkillSelect. Requires at least 3 years of skilled work experience in the nominated occupation within the last 5 years. Construction trades require only 1 year within the last 3 years.

What Occupations Are Getting Nominations

Based on the 2025-26 invitation data:

Health. The largest group by far. 609 invitations via 190 and 30 via 491, totalling 639 for the year. Registered nurses, medical practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and aged care workers all received strong numbers.

Engineering and Transport. Second highest with 468 total. 365 via 190 and 103 via 491. Civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineers all featured strongly.

Education. Third with 195 total. 157 via 190 and 38 via 491. The strong 190 skew means most education professionals are getting permanent residency directly, not the provisional regional route.

Early Childhood Teachers. Early childhood educators fall under ANZSCO Group 24, Education Professionals. Given 157 of the 195 education invitations went via the 190, early childhood teachers have a genuine pathway to permanent residency through SA nomination. Skills assessment for early childhood teachers is done by AITSL. You need a current AITSL assessment before submitting a Registration of Interest. With the new program year opening 1 July 2026, having your assessment ready now puts you ahead.

Construction Trades. 248 total across the year. 152 via 190 and 96 via 491. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and construction managers all featured. One of the more underrated pathways.

ICT. 243 total but the split tells the real story. Only 7 via 190 versus 236 via 491. If you are in ICT, South Australia is nominating your occupation almost exclusively through the provisional regional pathway, not permanent residency directly. Worth knowing before you apply.

Legal, Social and Welfare. 81 total. 66 via 190 and 15 via 491.

The Difference Between 190 and 491

The 190 is permanent residency from the day it is granted. Full work rights across Australia immediately.

The 491 is a provisional 5-year visa. You must live and work in a designated regional area of South Australia for at least 3 years and meet income requirements before applying for the 887 visa, which grants permanent residency.

State nomination adds 5 points to a 190 application and 15 points to a 491 application.

If your base score is strong enough for a 190 invitation, take it. If your base score sits between 65 and 75, the 491 with its extra 15 points may be more achievable, but comes with the regional living requirement.

What Points Score Do You Need

South Australia does not publish a fixed threshold. They assess the whole profile including occupation demand, points score, onshore vs offshore status, English level, work history, and local study or employment links.

Based on 2025-26 invitation patterns, health, education, and construction occupations have seen invitations go to applicants with base scores in the 65 to 80 range when occupation demand is strong. Engineering is more competitive.

Onshore applicants in South Australia generally receive preference over offshore applicants in most rounds.

How to Apply

For onshore applicants, start with a Registration of Interest through South Australia's online portal. Only attach documents explicitly requested. SA specifically advises against including unnecessary documentation.

For offshore applicants, make sure your SkillSelect Expression of Interest is current and lists South Australia as your primary state of interest.

Both groups need a current skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority before applying.

Why Adelaide Makes Sense

Adelaide is one of the most underrated cities in Australia for skilled migrants. Lower cost of living than Sydney or Melbourne. Shorter commutes. Less competition for skilled roles.

For migrants willing to commit to South Australia, the nomination pathway here is more accessible than in NSW or Victoria, where quotas fill quickly and points thresholds are higher.

Studynash has a physical office in Adelaide. Our agents keep track of every monthly invitation round and can assess your profile accurately before you submit anything.