Regional status and the 494
Adelaide is a designated regional centre, so Adelaide employers can use the 494 (five years, permanent 191 after three) and nominate for the state-sponsored 491, in addition to the 482 and 186. Regional status is a genuine advantage: it widens the occupation list and brings the three-year permanent route.
Under the 494 the worker lives and works in a regional area for the sponsor for five years, with the permanent 191 after three, and a Regional Certifying Body advises on each nomination. 482 versus 494 compared.
DAMA coverage
Adelaide sits inside a Designated Area Migration Agreement: Adelaide City Technology & Innovation Agreement (Greater Adelaide (tech/innovation employers); representative: South Australian Government (Skilled & Business Migration)). An endorsed employer can nominate occupations the national lists omit with concessions on age, English and salary: Concessions oriented to attracting senior tech talent (age and pathway flexibility for defined high-skill occupations). How the DAMA route works.
Who sponsors around Adelaide
Healthcare and aged care, defence and advanced manufacturing, wine and horticulture, construction, hospitality and IT dominate the approved-sponsor list.
SA Health sponsors nurses, doctors and allied health; the Department for Education is an approved sponsor for teachers with published pathways; Migration SA is the state’s skilled and business migration body.
See which businesses already hold sponsorship: companies that sponsor and the approved-sponsor directory.
Candidates in Adelaide now
Occupations with the deepest candidate pools in Adelaide right now, each linking to the employer search for that occupation in Adelaide:
- Aged Care Worker: 8 candidates
- Chef: 2 candidates
- Registered Nurse: 2 candidates
- Physiotherapist: 2 candidates
- Metal Fabricator (Welder / Boilermaker): 1 candidate
- Software Developer: 1 candidate
- Truck Driver: 1 candidate
- Farm Worker: 1 candidate
- Dental Assistant: 1 candidate
- Landscape Gardener: 1 candidate
Candidates already in Adelaide are the quickest hires. Who can work for you today; what to check when an employee asks for sponsorship. Candidate-side view: sponsored jobs in Adelaide.
Steps, cost and time
- Confirm the occupation is listed and the role pays at least A$79,423 and the market rate. Occupation pages.
- Standard Business Sponsorship (A$420; median 11 days) and labour market testing in parallel: two ads of 28 days or more within four months of lodging on platforms with national reach. LMT rules.
- Search candidates free and unlock contacts at A$30, or post a featured listing (A$149 with five unlocks).
- Lodge nomination (A$330 plus levy) and visa (A$4,015) together; Core Skills visas took a median of four months in September 2026. Timeline.
Is it worth it for your business? · Can you lodge it yourself?
Frequently asked questions
Can a Adelaide employer use the 494 regional visa? Adelaide is a designated regional centre, so Adelaide employers can use the 494 (five years, permanent 191 after three) and nominate for the state-sponsored 491, in addition to the 482 and 186. Regional status is a genuine advantage: it widens the occupation list and brings the three-year permanent route.
Is Adelaide covered by a DAMA? Yes: Adelaide City Technology & Innovation Agreement (Greater Adelaide (tech/innovation employers)). The employer is endorsed by the regional representative first, then holds a labour agreement with the Department, then nominates on the 482 labour-agreement stream.
How many candidates and sponsoring employers are there in Adelaide? SponsorTalent currently lists 27 candidate profiles located in Adelaide and 5 employers in the Adelaide directory. Counts refresh hourly; the South Australia page shows the state-wide pool.
What does sponsorship cost a Adelaide employer? Sponsorship approval A$420, nomination A$330 and the Skilling Australians Fund levy of A$1,200 per visa year (A$1,800 at A$10m turnover or more), none recoverable from the worker; the worker normally pays the A$4,015 visa charge. DAMA endorsement can carry a regional fee.
How long does it take in Adelaide? Three to five months for an onshore hire and six to eight for an offshore one at the Department’s September 2026 medians (sponsorship 11 days, nomination 64 days, 482 visa four months); 494 visas were taking a median of eight months.
Search candidates in Adelaide
Free employer registration. See occupation, qualification, assessment status, English result and location before you unlock a contact.
Want the paperwork done? WIDEN (Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536) lodges sponsorship, nomination and visa applications on fixed fees; start with a 30-minute consultation, $330 inc. GST, credited if you engage.
South Australia: state page
General information only, not migration advice. SponsorTalent is a marketplace; migration advice is provided by WIDEN (Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536) under a service agreement. Regional classifications, DAMA settings and visa charges change; the Department of Home Affairs and each regional representative are the authorities. No outcome can be guaranteed.