Highlights
- South Australia opens skilled migration program 2021-22 for offshore and onshore applicants
- Exemptions offered to applicants living and working in outer and regional South Australia
- Offshore candidates eagerly apply for South Australia’s skilled migration program
As of 20 July, offshore applicants can lodge their Registration of Interest (RoI) for state nominations for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491, while those onshore can apply for the visa Subclass 491 and the Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass190.
Those skilled migrants currently resident in South Australia (including long term residents), and meet the conditions laid down by the state government and the Department of Home Affairs, can apply for state nominations under three categories: International Graduate of South Australia, Talent and Innovators Program and Currently working in South Australia (including long-term residents in SA).
Upon receiving the state nomination, applicants can then apply for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491 (five-year visa) and the Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 (permanent visa).
However, for offshore applicants, an RoI has to be submitted demonstrating skills of specific trades and health-related occupations as well as proficiency in English.
An RoI is also necessary for onshore applicants who wish to apply under the Talent and Innovators program.
Occupations listed for offshore applicants include maintenance planner, fitter (general), fitter and turner, metal machinist, panel beater, bricklayer, stonemason, carpet and joiner, floor finisher, painting trade worker, glazier, wall and floor tiler and roof tiler.
For 30-year-old Sukhvinder Singh, who currently lives in India’s northwestern state of Rajasthan, this announcement has given him hope to migrate to Australia.
Sukhvinder Singh working in his office in Alwar, Rajasthan. Source: Supplied by Sukhvinder Singh
He currently works with Hanon Climate System India Pvt Ltd as a technical associate with nine years of full-time experience in his field and has applied in the Fitter (General) category.
“I will start my application process as I fit the eligibility criteria under the fitter (general) category, which is one of the occupations listed under Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers,” he told SBS Hindi.
Robin Chohan, a Melbourne-based migration agent, told SBS Hindi that despite the current border closures, there was a growing interest in South Australia from offshore candidates.
South Australia's skilled migration program for 2021-22 offers a range of programs available to skilled migrants. Source: AAP Image/Roy Vandervegt
“We have filed 20 RoIs for offshore candidates in the last two days, including applicants from Punjab and Gujarat. RoIs have been lodged under the welder and motor mechanic occupations,” Mr Chohan said adding that over 30 occupations have been opened for offshore applicants and over 500 for those onshore.
Offshore applicants must have at least two years of work experience, or five years, if closely-related to the occupation, with superior knowledge of English. In some occupations, those with eight years of work experience and a superior level of English will receive priority.
Onshore applicants meeting the state and federal requirements, can apply for a nomination. Depending upon the duration of their work experience in the state, they can be eligible for the 491 visa or the 190 visa.
The state government has also made exemptions for applicants living and working in outer and regional South Australia. For example, a long-term resident working in a field other than his/her nominated skilled occupation or closely-related to it, may also be eligible for the state nomination.
International graduates from South Australia meeting the state’s study requirements can receive additional points when applying for any of the two visa subclasses.
