Does South Australia nominate for the 858 visa?
Yes, South Australia nominates for the 858 visa: SA Government’s opening announcement dates registrations of interest to 10 June 2025, and as at 3 October 2026 its National Innovation visa pages carry no closure notice.
SA’s terms make nomination discretionary and subject to quotas. Direction 120 places an agency nomination on Form 1000 in Priority 2, but nomination does not guarantee an invitation. Compare this route with how each state and territory nominates before choosing where to seek nomination.
South Australia's five 858 nomination categories
South Australia's five 858 nomination categories are global researchers and thought leaders, entrepreneurs, innovative investors, creative talent, and other globally talented individuals considered case by case, according to SA’s nomination requirements page.
Global researchers and thought leaders: SA’s research indicators overlap with Direction 120 section 9(3), so the same record needs clear supporting evidence.
Entrepreneurs: SA’s commercialisation focus sits beside Direction 120’s additional indicator of promising entrepreneurial activity leading to commercialisation in Australia.
Innovative investors: SA’s category aligns with Direction 120’s innovative-business indicators for agency-nominated candidates.
Creative talent: SA’s achievement focus sits beside Direction 120’s top-of-field arts awards indicator.
Other globally talented individuals: SA considers these candidates case by case; Direction 120’s indicators remain indicators, not a checklist.
Entrepreneurs and innovative investors in South Australia's 858 program
Entrepreneurs and innovative investors in South Australia's 858 program face no minimum investment, but SA’s nomination requirements page excludes businesses it treats as non-innovative.
- Entrepreneurs: commercialisation in SA or significant added value, commitment to launch in SA, and most project activity, assets and staff there.
- Investors: a record supporting successful innovative ventures or leading companies to an IPO; managed funds only exceptionally.
- Excluded businesses: cafes and restaurants, consulting firms, employment or labour-hire businesses, franchises, buying an existing enterprise, real estate or rental management, and retail.
If you are searching for a South Australia startup visa or entrepreneur visa, this is a nomination route within the 858. Part 858 of the Migration Regulations 1994 lists no investment, turnover or business-ownership criterion: founders still need an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement. Read the 858 for innovative investors alongside these SA requirements.
How to apply for South Australian 858 nomination
To apply for South Australian 858 nomination you lodge a registration of interest through the Skilled and Business Migration portal under one of the five categories, as SA Government’s how-to-apply page explains.
- Choose your category from SA’s five categories.
- Gather the documents listed on SA’s requirements page: passport, CV of at most four pages, qualifications, employment references or SA job-offer letters, and Form 956 if represented. Documents must be in English or translated. If living in Australia, include residence evidence such as a lease, six months of utility bills or vehicle registration.
- Add an optional SA Government agency support letter, describing past or proposed collaboration, if you have one.
- Lodge your ROI on the portal. SA’s terms permit one active application at a time.
- Attend the panel interview if your ROI progresses, as described on SA’s how-to-apply page.
The South Australian 858 panel interview
The South Australian 858 panel interview is the assessment step after a registration of interest progresses: SA’s how-to-apply page says a panel of SA Government representatives interviews you.
SA does not publish what the interview covers, how long it lasts or where it is held.
South Australian 858 nomination: fee, timing and conditions
South Australian 858 nomination has a nil fee, no published processing time, and no published post-grant obligation on SA’s National Innovation visa pages, as checked on 3 October 2026.
- Fee: SA’s National Innovation visa page specifies nil; the general terms’ fee and 1.17% surcharge concern other nominations.
- Timing: SA’s pages state neither a processing time nor an ROI validity period.
- Applications: SA’s terms permit one active application and make nominations discretionary and subject to quotas; quota numbers are not published.
- After grant: SA’s requirements publish no residence or reporting obligation. An entrepreneur’s commitment to launch in SA is a pre-nomination test; the Migration Regulations 1994 impose no state-residence condition on the 858.
For comparison, NSW’s National Innovation visa common questions page, modified 23 March 2026, also states no fee and aims to assess most complete applications within six weeks; see the five NSW 858 nomination pathways. That is not an SA timeframe.
Onshore candidates and South Australia's visa rule
Onshore candidates meet two different visa rules: South Australia's National Innovation visa page asks onshore candidates to hold a substantive visa, while item 1113(3)(ba) of the Migration Regulations 1994 lets an onshore 858 applicant hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C visa.
The Regulations determine visa-application validity; SA’s wording is its own nomination criterion, not the law of the visa.
A person in Australia without a substantive visa who has been refused a visa since last entering cannot lodge the 858 in Australia: section 48 of the Migration Act 1958 limits applications to classes prescribed in regulation 2.12, and Class BX is not listed.
After South Australia nominates you: the 858 EOI
After South Australia nominates you, the 858 EOI is the next step: SA’s how-to-apply page and Home Affairs’ EOI submission page require SA’s completed Form 1000 and business case letter with your Expression of Interest.
- Lodge the EOI using Home Affairs’ online National Innovation visa Expression of Interest form. Its published process has no payment step or stated fee, as checked on 3 October 2026.
- Check before submitting: Home Affairs’ EOI submission page says information and documents cannot be added afterwards.
- Wait for Home Affairs: invitations follow Direction 120’s order, with agency nomination in Priority 2.
- If invited, apply within 60 days: Home Affairs’ after-submission page says there is no extension. Item 1113(3)(d) of the Migration Regulations 1994 requires Form 1000 again with the visa application.
- If not invited, the EOI expires: Home Affairs states it remains active for two years from submission.
Check the 858 visa EOI submission rules separately from the broader 858 visa eligibility requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee for South Australian National Innovation visa nomination?
No. SA’s National Innovation visa page, modified 9 February 2026, states a nil nomination fee.
How much do I need to invest for SA nomination?
SA’s requirements state no minimum for entrepreneurs or innovative investors, but exclude non-innovative businesses. Part 858 of the Migration Regulations 1994 has no investment criterion.
Can I lodge more than one SA registration of interest?
No. SA’s terms permit one active application.
How long does South Australia take to decide?
SA’s National Innovation visa pages state no processing time, as checked on 3 October 2026.
Do I have to live in South Australia?
SA’s requirements accept candidates in and outside Australia. Entrepreneurs commit to launching in SA and keeping most project activity, assets and staff there; the Migration Regulations 1994 impose no state-residence condition on the 858.
Ask an Australian migration lawyer to align the South Australian ROI with the Home Affairs EOI and the achievements that a later invitation would require the application to prove.