Covid has made immigration to Australia hard, but things are finally starting to change. The South Australian Government has just added 70 more roles to its Skilled Occupation List, making a total of 109 occupations now open for offshore skilled migration to SA! If you are currently offshore and looking for a way to move to Australia, this could be your chance.
What Visa Can I Get?
Depending on your occupation, you will be applying for a 491 Visa (also known as a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa) or a 190 Visa (also called the Skilled Nominated visa).
The 491 visa allows you to:
- Live and work in South Australia;
- Bring members of your immediate family with you; and
- Apply for permanent residence after 3 years.
The 190 visa allows you to:
- Live and work in South Australia;
- Stay in Australia permanently; and
- Sponsor your family members to come to Australia.
All of South Australia is considered “regional” for the purposes of this visa, so you can move to Adelaide city or nearby.
What Types of Occupations Are There?
Generally speaking, the occupations on the list can be divided into 6 categories:
- Agriculture;
- Construction;
- Mechanics;
- Corporate Services;
- Scientists; and
- Medical professions.
The full list, as at 21 October 2021, is:
AGRICULTURE
- Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Grower
- Mixed Crop Farmer
- Vegetable Grower
- Crop Farmers nec*
- Apiarist
- Beef Cattle Farmer
- Dairy Cattle Farming
- Mixed Livestock Farmer
- Pig Farmer
- Poultry Farmer
- Sheep Farmer
- Livestock Farmers nec*
- Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer
CONSTRUCTION
- Construction Project Manager
- Project Builder
- Production Manager (Manufacturing)
- Building Inspector
- Construction Estimator
- Supply and Distribution Manager
- Metal Fabricator
- Pressure Welder
- Welder (First Class)
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter-Welder
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
- Metal Fitters and Machinists nec*
- Panelbeater
- Bricklayer
- Stonemason
- Carpenter and Joiner
- Carpenter
- Joiner
- Floor Finisher
- Painting trades Worker
- Glazier
- Fibrous Plasterer
- Solid Plasterer
- Roof Tiler
- Wall and Floor Tiler
- Sheetmetal Trades Worker
- Landscape Gardener
- Cabinetmaker
MECHANICS
- Automotive Electrician
- Motor Mechanic (General)
- Diesel Motor Mechanic
- Sheetmetal Trades Worker
CORPORATE SERVICES
- Sales and Marketing Manager
- Advertising Manager
- Public Relations Manager
- Corporate Services Manager
- Human Resources Manager
- Policy and Planning Manager
- Research and Development Manager
- Quality Assurance manager
- Human Resource Manager
- Procurement Manager
- Recruitment Consultant
- Management Consultant
- Organisation and Methods Analyst
- Liaison Officer
- Information and Organisation Professionals nec*
- Advertising Specialist
- Market Research Analyst
- Marketing Specialist
- Public Relations Professional
- Technical Sales Representatives nec*
- Environmental Manager
- Maintenance Planner
SCIENTISTS
- Laboratory Manager
- Statistician
- Surveyor
- Other Spacial Scientist
- Agricultural Consultant
- Agricultural Scientist
- Food Technologist
- Arborist
- Conservation Officer
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Research Consultant
- Environmental Scientists nec*
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Hydrogeologist
- Life Scientist (General)
- Biochemist
- Biotechnologist
- Botanist
- Marine Biologist
- Microbiologist
- Zoologist
- Life Scientists nec*
- Veterinarian
- Conservator
- Metallurgist
- Meteorologist
- Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec*
- Physicist (non-medical)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONS
- Exercise Physiologist
- Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Occupational Therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Audiologist
- Speech Pathologist
OTHER
- Child Care Centre Manager
*nec = Not Elsewhere Classified
For more information on what those job titles mean, you can visit the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) list on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website, and search for the relevant job title.
Why Has South Australia Got So Many Positions Open?
While the news has shown Australia struggling with lockdowns due to Covid-19 and the Delta variant, South Australia has been relatively unaffected by the global pandemic. Although many restrictions have applied, South Australia has only been in official “lockdown” for 10 days. This has allowed the state to forge ahead economically while others have been impeded.
In addition, South Australia has received higher allocations that unusual for its skilled migration program. For the 2021-2022 financial year, South Australia has been allocated 2,600 x 190 visas and 2,600 491 visas – a total of 5,200 skilled visas for the year. That’s a hundred visas a week! The only other Australian state to receive a higher allocation for skilled visas was New South Wales.
Why Move to South Australia?
In addition to much lower incidence of Covid, South Australia has many other benefits too. Affordable housing, less congested traffic, beautiful landscapes, mild winters and dry summers are a taste of what SA has to offer. Adelaide, the capital city, has an excellent shopping precinct, a lively arts community, and the universities are among the best in the world. Work Visa Lawyers is situated in Adelaide, and is perfectly placed to help you with your South Australian visa application.
How Do I Apply?
Work Visa Lawyers will assess whether your occupation fits into one of the designated categories and if you meet the other criteria for the relevant visa. We will then draft and collate all the necessary paperwork, submit it to the SA Government, and follow up on your behalf.
Alternately you can apply directly for an offshore visa yourself by visiting the Move to SA website (previously called “Migration SA”) and following the prompts.
Author
Chris Johnston, Founder and Principal Lawyer at Work Visa Lawyers
Do you need help?
Our team of experienced Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents look forward to assisting you with your Australian visa or appeal.
Based in Adelaide South Australia, we provide Australian Immigration advice to people and businesses from all over the world.
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Disclaimer
This information is correct at the time of publication but is subject to change without notice. All information provided on this page is provided for purely educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your situation, please speak with an Immigration Lawyer or a Registered Migration Agent.
Sources
Main photo: Glenelg marina South Australia by Daniel Beale, CC BY-SA 3.0
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/occupation-lists/south-australia-skilled-occupation-list
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-nominated-190
