South Australia invites 344 skilled migrants in first round of 2026. Register your EOI now!

In the first skilled migration invitation round of 2026, South Australia issued a total of 344 invitations under its General Skilled Migration (GSM) program. These invitations were split between the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa and the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. The round focused on addressing critical workforce shortages across priority sectors such as healthcare, engineering, IT, education, and construction. This marks the beginning of South Australia’s 2025–26 migration year and signals strong demand for skilled professionals willing to live and work in regional Australia.

Out of the 344 total invitations issued, South Australia granted 235 invitations under the Subclass 190 visa and 109 invitations under the Subclass 491 visa. The Subclass 190 visa provides permanent residency from day one, making it highly competitive, while the Subclass 491 is a provisional regional visa that offers a pathway to permanent residency after meeting residence and income requirements. This distribution shows South Australia’s continued emphasis on permanent skilled migration while also encouraging regional settlement through the 491 visa.

Healthcare occupations received the highest number of invitations in South Australia’s first 2026 invitation round. Roles such as nurses, medical practitioners, allied health professionals, and aged care specialists were prioritised due to ongoing shortages in the state’s health system. In addition to healthcare, strong demand was seen for engineers, ICT professionals, education specialists, construction professionals, and transport-related occupations. These selections reflect South Australia’s labour market needs and its strategy to attract skilled migrants who can immediately contribute to essential services and economic development.

South Australia is prioritising skilled migration in 2026 to address workforce shortages, support economic growth, and strengthen key industries across the state. An ageing population, increased infrastructure projects, and expanding healthcare and education sectors have created sustained demand for skilled professionals. Skilled migration helps fill gaps that cannot be met by the local workforce alone, particularly in regional areas. By issuing targeted invitations, South Australia ensures that migrants with the right skills settle in the state, boosting productivity, supporting businesses, and contributing to long-term population growth.

Eligibility for South Australia’s skilled migration invitations depends on several factors, including occupation, skills assessment, work experience, English language ability, and points score. Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and, in many cases, a Registration of Interest (ROI) through South Australia’s migration portal. Priority is often given to applicants working in high-demand occupations, those already living and working in South Australia, and candidates who demonstrate strong employability and long-term settlement potential in regional areas.

Yes, overseas applicants are eligible to receive skilled migration invitations from South Australia. Offshore candidates can be selected directly from the federal SkillSelect pool without submitting a state Registration of Interest in some cases. However, competition is generally higher for overseas applicants, and invitations are usually issued to those with occupations in critical shortage areas. Applicants with strong qualifications, relevant work experience, high English proficiency, and a clear commitment to settling in South Australia have better chances of receiving an invitation.

South Australia typically conducts skilled migration invitation rounds on a monthly basis, subject to available nomination places and labour market needs. The state has confirmed that further rounds will continue throughout the 2025–26 program year. However, the number of invitations and occupations selected can vary from round to round. Candidates are encouraged to keep their Expression of Interest updated and monitor state migration announcements regularly, as selection priorities may change based on economic conditions and workforce shortages.

For the 2025–26 migration year, South Australia has been allocated more than 2,000 skilled migration nomination places. These include approximately 1,350 places for the Subclass 190 visa and around 900 places for the Subclass 491 visa. This allocation allows the state to invite skilled workers across a wide range of occupations while maintaining a strong focus on permanent residency pathways. The relatively high allocation reflects South Australia’s reliance on skilled migration to meet its workforce and population growth goals.

After receiving an invitation from South Australia, applicants must act quickly to submit their state nomination and visa application within the specified timeframe, usually 14 days. They must provide accurate supporting documents, including skills assessments, employment references, English test results, and identity documents. Any inconsistencies or missing information can lead to refusal. Once the state nomination is approved, applicants can proceed with their visa application through the Department of Home Affairs and await a final decision.