Description:
As of 14 August 2019 at 11am, Immigration SA is no longer accepting state nomination applications for the 489 visa. State nomination applications for the 190 visa can continue to be submitted. A new Skilled Worker Regional (Provisional 491) visa will be introduced on 16 November 2019 and this will replace the 489 visa.
State nomination helps you to obtain a skilled migration visa from the Australian Government. The South Australian State Government nominates skilled migrants who are willing to live and work in South Australia and who have the skills and experience required by the state.
To receive State nomination you must have an occupation featured on the State Nominated Occupation List and meet all the state and federal Government’s eligibility requirements.
There is an additional occupation list called the Supplementary Skilled List that you can access if you meet additional requirements.
The benefits of state nomination are:
- Priority visa processing with the Department of Home Affairs.
- You’ll receive 5 points for a 190 – Skilled Nominated visa towards the Department of Home Affairs points test.
- You’ll receive 10 points for a 489- Skilled Regional Provisional visa towards the Department of Home Affairs points test.
- Access to a more extensive occupation list.
- An opportunity to live and work in a city ranked as one of the top ten most liveable in the world.
- Information and services from the State Government to help you settle in South Australia and find employment.
Skilled Nominated permanent subclass 190
This is a permanent visa which allows you to live and work in South Australia.
State nomination from South Australia provides you with 5 additional points to help you qualify for a visa under the Department of Home Affairs point test.
State nomination requirements include:
- State nomination requirements include:
- Commitment to South Australia – You need to commit to living and working in South Australia for two years from when you arrive, with a view to long-term settlement
- Age – under 45 years at the time of nomination
- Occupation – this must be listed on the State Nominated Occupation List as available. Access to a supplementary occupation list and ‘special conditions apply’ occupations are available in some circumstances.
- Skills Assessment – a positive General Skilled Migration skills assessment from the relevant authority
- Work experience – at least one year of skilled work experience in the last three years. Some occupations have a higher work experience requirement. If you are an international graduate of South Australia, you may be able to access a work experience waiver
- English – ability to meet Immigration SA’s minimum English language requirement for your occupation. If you are a passport holder or citizen of the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or New Zealand, you don’t need to provide an English test result
- Financial capacity – sufficient funds to settle in South Australia
- SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) – you need to have an EOI which meets the Department of Home Affairs criteria and Immigration SA nomination requirements.
- Before you apply, please review the complete document checklist.
- Copy of the personal details page in your valid passport.
- A positive General Skilled Migration skills assessment for your nominated occupation. For international graduates of South Australia, the skills assessment must be in your nominated occupation and field of study in South Australia.
- Details of English test result, if applicable.
- Details of financial capacity or Financial Capacity Declaration for international graduates.
- Letter(s) from employer(s) for Australian work experience stating employment dates, job title, duties and tasks, salary and hours worked per week. If your occupation requires an additional 2-3 years work experience, you should also supply letter(s) from employer(s).
For international graduates, high points, currently working in South Australia
as above plus item 6 - Evidence of tertiary qualifications.
- Evidence if claiming partner skills points or community language points.
For chain migration, as above plus items below - Evidence of family relationship – copy of a birth certificate, marriage certificate, proof of name change.
- Evidence that your family member is a permanent resident, Australian citizen or South Australian state nominated visa holder and has been residing in South Australia for the last 24 months.
Criteria :
1.Work Experience
1.1 At least one year of skilled work experience in the past three years unless your occupation has a higher work experience requirement. Certain exemptions to this requirement may apply to international graduates of South Australia.
1.2 Skilled work experience is defined as at least 20 hours per week of paid employment in a skilled occupation on the Lists of State Nominated Occupations. The skilled work experience does not need to be in your nominated or closely related occupation unless your occupation requires additional work experience (see 5.4 below).
In Australia the position must be paid at the appropriate rate for the skill level required (and meet any minimum award pay rates that apply to that industry). The Fairwork website has more information about minimum wages in Australia. Research work undertaken as part of your PhD will not be accepted as skilled work experience (even if it is recognised on your skills assessment).
1.3 Skilled work experience is assessed as being successful after completion of the relevant qualification(s).
1.4 Where additional work experience is listed for your occupation (for example, 2 or 3 years work experience), you will need to demonstrate that you have this amount of work experience in the field of your nominated occupation. Certain exemptions to this may apply if you are an international graduate of South Australia.
1.5 If you are relying on Australian skilled work experience to meet the work experience requirement you are only eligible to apply if the last 6 months of your skilled work experience in Australia was undertaken in South Australia (minimum 20 hours per week).
2.English Language
2.1 You must meet the English language level required for your nominated occupation. Exemptions may apply for international graduates of South Australia.
6.2 Immigration SA accepts the following English language tests:
- IELTS – International English Language Test System (Academic or General)
- OET – Occupational English Test (For Health Professionals only)
- PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic
- TOEFL iBT – Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet Based Test
- CAE – Cambridge English: Advanced
The English Language test that you provide will need to be less than three (3) years old at the time you apply for your visa, not at the time of nomination decision. If you are submitting a Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test, the test must have been taken on or after 1 January 2015.
6.2.1 You must give permission to Immigration SA to view your PTE Academic test or OET results through your online English test account (For OET, only tests taken after September 2018 apply). If Immigration SA cannot view your PTE Academic or OET scores online, your state nomination application will be refused. Please note you need to give permission to Immigration SA – Department for Innovation and Skills, in addition to the Department of Home Affairs.
6.3 The Immigration SA English requirement for your occupation will be detailed on the Lists of State Nominated Occupations as: Competent in each score (or Competent Plus overall), Competent Plus in each score (or Proficient overall) or Proficient in each score (or Proficient Plus overall). If you meet the higher overall score requirement, no band score can be below Competent English. For details of the minimum scores required for your particular English test, view the English test comparison table.
6.4 Passport holders and citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America, or the Republic of Ireland are exempt from providing an English test result.
6.5 If you are currently registered to practice as a health professional or education professional in South Australia, you can upload a current registration certificate to practice in South Australia and provide an English language test result which meets the ‘Competent’ requirement. You do not need to meet any additional English requirements listed on the State Nominated Occupation Lists.
6.6 If you are currently working in a skilled occupation in South Australia (minimum 20 hours per week), you only need to meet the minimum Australian Immigration Department requirement of competent English (unless your occupation requires registration in South Australia – see 6.5 above).
6.7 Some skills assessing authorities may have a higher English language requirements that you will be required to meet. Please check with your skills assessing authority prior to applying.
6.8 If your occupation requires registration or licensing in South Australia, you will need to ensure you meet English requirement set by the registration or licencing authority to work in South Australia. Occupations with registration requirements include trades, education and health professions.
7.Financial Capacity
7.1 You must ensure that you have sufficient funds for settlement when you arrive in South Australia. Evidence of financial capacity is not required. However, Immigration SA reserves the right to seek additional information or evidence at a later stage if necessary. The requirement depends on whether you are applying offshore or onshore.
7.2 Financial requirement:
You need to have combined cash and assets within the range listed in the table below. As a guideline, when you arrive in South Australia, Immigration SA recommends that offshore applicants have $20,000 in cash and onshore applicants have $5,000 in cash for settlement. You should not dispose of any assets before the visa is granted.
7.3 If you are an Australian international graduate, you can claim financial support from your parent(s). Your parent(s) need to complete the Financial Capacity Declaration and this must be uploaded in your online application.
| Family composition | Offshore Applicant: Combined cash & assets requirement | Onshore Applicant: Combined cash & assets requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant only | Total figure between AUD $ 20,000 – 25,000 | Total figure between AUD $5,000 – 10,000 |
| Main applicant plus one (1) dependent | Total figure between AUD $25,000- 30,000 | Total figure between AUD $ 10,000 – 15,000 |
| Main applicant plus two (2) dependents | Total figure between AUD $30,000 – 35,000 | Total figure between AUD $15,000 – 20,000 |
| Main applicant plus three (3) dependents | Total figure between AUD $35,000 – 40,000 | Total figure between AUD $20,000 – 25,000 |
8.Skill Select Expression of Interest (EOI)
8.1 For Immigration SA to approve your nomination in Skill Select you need to have an EOI which meets the Department of Home Affairs criteria and Immigration SA requirements.
8.2 Your nominated occupation in your EOI must match your nominated occupation on your Immigration SA online application.
8.3 Your personal details in your EOI must be the same as your Immigration SA online application.
8.4 There must be no discrepancies between the information provided on your Immigration SA online application and the information recorded in your EOI.
8.5 You must meet the required Department of Home Affairs pass mark for the 190/489 visa subclasses (the current pass mark is 65 points). Please note some occupations will require higher points. You will need to ensure you meet all Department of Home Affairs requirements and have documented evidence to support your points claim.
8.6 Your EOI number must be recorded correctly, otherwise Immigration SA will be unable to locate you in SkillSelect and your state nomination application will be refused.
8.7 If you are refused for any of the above reasons you can re-apply for state nomination. However, you must meet all state nomination requirements.
8.8 If you have made an error in your EOI prior to the Immigration SA decision being made, you will need to:
Edit your EOI details & email Immigration SA to advise you have amended the EOI. If you are nominated by Immigration SA, the EOI is frozen and cannot be edited.
8.9 Immigration SA will only provide one nomination per applicant.
Guidelines:
http://www.migration.sa.gov.au
Forms: