Migration Program Year 2025–26 (Program Announced: Late November 2025)
The 2025–26 General Skilled Migration (GSM) program for South Australia has
moved swiftly from announcement to execution. Invitation outcomes from December
2025 and January 2026 point to a structured delivery model—predictable cadence,
sharp sectoral targeting, and a disciplined approach to quota utilisation. For both
onshore and offshore applicants, these early movements establish the strategic rules
of engagement for the year.
Program Allocation Snapshot (2025–26)
South Australia has been allocated 2,250 nomination places:
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): 1,350 places
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional): 900 places
The split signals a clear dual-track intent: retain critical skills permanently through the
190 stream while deploying talent into regional economies via the 491 pathway.
Invitation Activity: December 2025 – January 2026
Subclass 190 [Skilled Nominated]
- 4 December 2025: 118 invitations
- 6 January 2026: 235 invitations
- Total issued to date: 353 invitations
Subclass 491 [Skilled Work Regional]
- 4 December 2025: 67 invitations
- 6 January 2026: 109 invitations
- Total issued to date: 176 invitations
The execution pattern is intentional. South Australia is avoiding a single, front-loaded
allocation and instead running measured, high-frequency rounds, favouring
applicants who are market-ready rather than speculative.
January 6, 2026: First Major Round of the Calendar Year
On 6 January 2026, South Australia issued 344 invitations in its first major round of
the year:
- Subclass 190 : 235 invitations
- Subclass 491: 109 invitations
This round alone represented a substantial portion of January activity and effectively
set expectations for monthly invitation cycles going forward.
Invitations by Occupational Group (6 January 2026)
Selections were tightly aligned with workforce shortages and economic priorities:
- Health Professionals: 69 [68 for 190 &1 for 491]
- Design, Engineering, Science & Transport: 63 [51 for 190 & 12 for 491]
- ICT Professionals: 33 [1 for 190 & 32 for 491]
- Construction Trades Workers:30 [27 for 190 & 3 for 491]
- Education Professionals:22 [18 for 190 & 4 for 491]
- Electrotechnology & Telecom Trades:21 [20 for 190 & 1 for 491]
- Specialist Managers:21 [17 for 190 & 4 for 491]
South Australia Invitation Rounds – Snapshot Summary (2025–26)
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)
- Total allocation: 1,350 places
- Invitations issued to date:
- Interim (till 1 Nov): 67
- 4 Dec: 145
- 6 Jan: 109
- Total issued: 321
- Remaining places: 579
Bottom line: Around 43% of the total annual quota has been utilised so far, indicating
steady, controlled monthly rounds with significant allocation still available for the remainder
of the program year.
Offshore Invitations: What We Know
South Australia does not publish a formal offshore vs onshore split in its routine
reports. However, operational indicators provide sufficient clarity:
- No ROI requirement for offshore applicants
Offshore candidates are selected directly from SkillSelect EOIs,
accelerating outcomes where profiles align with state priorities.
- Broad offshore occupation coverage
The 2025–26 offshore occupation list covers approximately 278
occupations, confirming offshore migration as a core workforce lever, not a
fallback option.
- Priority sectors remain offshore-inclusive
High-demand areas—health, construction, engineering, and selected
specialist and managerial roles—continue to actively consider offshore
candidates where domestic supply is constrained.
- Evidence from January activity
Crowdsourced January 2026 data indicates offshore pre-invites and grants,
including successful cases at 70 points, validating that offshore pipelines are
live and converting.