South Australia has quietly launched a time-limited Registration of Interest (ROI) intake for skilled migrants already living and working in the state whose current visas expire by 31 January 2027. The move, announced on 22 October and updated on 23 October, lets eligible applicants lodge an ROI linked to their existing SkillSelect Expression of Interest to secure state nomination for subclass 190 or 491 visas. Priority sectors include building & construction, defence, education, engineering, health and manufacturing, although strongly ranked candidates in other fields may still be invited. Offshore candidates can continue to be selected directly from SkillSelect but cannot use the on-shore ROI pathway. Implications: employers holding Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS 482) staff whose visas expire next January should confirm whether the employee meets state criteria and has a valid skills assessment. An invitation is not guaranteed and documentation must exactly match claims made in SkillSelect. With federal migration caps tightening, state nomination is becoming a critical safety valve for companies that need to retain experienced staff. Migration agents expect intense competition for the limited places—394 state-application fee and standard federal charges still apply. Applicants not invited must wait three months before lodging a new ROI. Observers see the window as a pilot for targeted on-shore intakes that balance labour-market needs with overall migration reductions.
Source: Peerless Immigration
