The requirements for state nomination, including the subclasses offered, will vary depending on the occupation.
Offshore applicants meeting the minimum requirements can now lodge their ROIs for permanent and temporary immigration.
Highlights:
- South Australia opens Registration of Interest (ROIs) for offshore applicants in a further 259 occupations under the general skilled migration program
- Separately, the Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) will enable South Australian employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers for positions they are unable to fill with local workers
- All occupations covered by the two DAMAs are now eligible for permanent residency up to age 55
"For South Australian state nomination, prospective applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements, state-specific occupation requirements and have skills in an occupation that is available on our Skilled Occupation List,” said in a statement.
In a separate announcement, the state government said that it has secured a range of new occupations under the (DAMAs) with a focus on hospitality and tourism, motor trades, agribusiness, manufacturing, and forestry occupations.
The DAMAs is the state government's another initiative to offer a pathway to permanent residency for the sponsored workers under two agreements - Adelaide Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement and South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement.
According to the state's Department for Skills and Innovation spokesperson Lee Gaskin, the South Australian Regional Workforce DAMA now includes 190 occupations, an increase of 51 occupations.
"These are generally available to employers across South Australia, although there are some exceptions to this and specific postcodes apply," the spokesperson said, adding that "the Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement DAMA includes 60 occupations that are available to employers in Metropolitan Adelaide."
The DAMAs also include to several standard visa requirements, such as lowering the work experience, English language and age requirements.
"All occupations covered by both DAMAs are now eligible for permanent residency up to age 55," the spokesperson said.
The state has asked employers to lodge nominations to fill vacancies through the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) program, or the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) Provisional visa, and for permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) program.
A permanent residency pathway is offered to highly skilled applicants under the DAMAs and the spokesperson further confirmed that DAMA occupations were available to all applicants - both onshore or offshore.
Melbourne-based migration expert Sidra Shahab has welcomed the move of expanding the state's SOL under the general skilled migration program for offshore applicants and said there has been a spike in inquiries from overseas applicants.
"We are getting an overwhelming response from our offshore cohort as the ROIs are open after almost two years. Most of the aspirants who were not eligible before are eligible now," Ms Shahab told SBS Hindi.
"South Australia is the only state which has opened up the entire occupation list for overseas applicants," she said adding
Deepak Pal Sharma, 37, said he is ecstatic about the recent changes as he has become eligible to apply for migration.
"I am all set to lodge my ROI under the science technician category which has now opened up for overseas applicants," he told SBS Hindi.
Deepak Pal Sharma with his wife. Source: Supplied by Deepak Pal Sharma
"I'm meeting all the requirements including eight years of experience in my field of profession," Mr Sharma, who plans to migrate with his family, said.
