Regions & nomination / SA

SA

South Australia nomination

South Australia is generally the most accessible mainland program. The entire state counts as regional, which means Adelaide - a capital city of well over a million people - is a regional destination for visa purposes. It has historically nominated at lower thresholds than NSW or Victoria.

What connection they want

South Australia has run separate streams for people already living in the state, for international graduates of South Australian institutions, and for offshore applicants, with different requirements for each.

How the program behaves

  • Because all of South Australia is regional, you can claim the 15-point regional nomination while living in a capital city. That combination is unusual and it is the single strongest argument for looking at SA.
  • SA has offered concessions for graduates of South Australian universities and for occupations in critical shortage.
Watch for thisIf you are short on points and flexible about where you live, South Australia deserves to be the first program you check rather than the last.
Subclass 190
Yes
Subclass 491
Yes
Nomination points
190: +5  /  491: +15
Regional coverage
The whole of South Australia, including Adelaide, is designated regional.
Program year
2026-27
Official SA program site →

Current occupation lists, thresholds and opening dates live there, not here. Check it before you act on anything.

Regional postcodes in SA

These are the designated regional area postcodes for South Australia, as published by the Department of Home Affairs. Category 2 and Category 3 are both regional; anything not listed is Category 1 and attracts no regional concessions.

CategoryPostcodes
Category 2
Cities and major regional centres
5000–5171, 5173–5174, 5231–5235, 5240–5252, 5351, 5950–5960
Category 3
Regional centres and other regional areas
All remaining postcodes in South Australia.

Every postcode in South Australia is regional. Adelaide is Category 2; everywhere else is Category 3.

Is your postcode regional?

Check any Australian postcode against the Department of Home Affairs designated regional area list.

When this postcode data was checked. Transcribed from the Department of Home Affairs designated regional area postcodes page, which the Department last updated on 23 September 2024. Copied and verified here on 21 July 2026. Postcode boundaries are set by legislative instrument and do change - confirm against the official page before relying on this for a visa application.
Why there are no occupation lists or point thresholds on this pageState nomination criteria change several times a year, sometimes mid-year and usually without notice. A list copied here would be wrong within months, and a wrong list is worse than no list. What you get instead is the durable shape of each program, plus a direct link to the official source for the detail. Reviewed 21 July 2026.

Before you commit to SA

  1. Confirm your occupation appears on the current SA list - state lists are much narrower than the national list.
  2. Get your skills assessment and English test done. Most states will not consider you without them.
  3. Work out your points score, then check it against what SA has recently invited.
  4. Check whether SA requires its own registration separate from your SkillSelect EOI.
  5. Be honest about the commitment. Nomination is granted on the basis that you will live and work there.
Check my points and pathways →Compare all states

Registered migration agents

We are building a directory of MARN-registered agents and immigration lawyers. Listings are checked against the public register before they appear.

How the directory works

Placement shown on the SA nomination page.

General information, not migration advice. myPRJourney summarises publicly available information about Australian visas so you can understand your options. It does not assess your case, and it is not a substitute for advice from a registered migration agent (MARN) or Australian legal practitioner. Migration rules, occupation lists, income thresholds and state nomination criteria change frequently and sometimes without notice. This page was last reviewed on 21 July 2026. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.