South Australia has kicked off the 2025-26 programme year with a solid vote of confidence in overseas talent, issuing 344 invitations under its General Skilled Migration (GSM) program on 8 January 2026. The lion’s share – 235 invitations – went to Subclass 190 permanent-residence visas, while the remaining 109 invitations were for the provisional Subclass 491 regional visa. Health professionals received the largest slice (69 invitations), followed by design, engineering and ICT specialists (63), and teachers (22).
The GSM program lets the state nominate applicants whose qualifications and experience match local labour-market gaps. After an intake freeze during the December holiday period, state officials say monthly invitation rounds will now resume, with the next draw slated for early February. The state government has underscored that invitations will continue to prioritise occupations listed as critical in the State Occupation List as well as candidates willing to settle in regional centres such as Mount Gambier, Whyalla and Port Augusta.
![South Australia invites 344 skilled migrants in first round of 2025-26 program]()
For applicants unsure where to start, VisaHQ offers a convenient one-stop portal that can pre-screen your eligibility, organise required documents and keep you updated on processing times across all Australian visa pathways. You can explore their dedicated Australia section at https://www.visahq.com/australia/ to compare GSM options with employer-sponsored or family visas and ensure your paperwork is decision-ready before submitting a registration of interest.
For employers, the January round is a useful early indicator of where skilled-visa pipelines are flowing. Health-care providers can expect an influx of nurses, physiotherapists and medical laboratory scientists over the next six months, while engineering consultancies should watch for electrical and civil engineers receiving visas as early as March. Companies hoping to sponsor talent through the Employer Nomination Scheme may also benefit, as many Subclass 491 holders will be keen to transition to permanent residency via employer sponsorship once regional work requirements are met.
Prospective applicants should note that competition remains intense. South Australia issued more than 11,000 registration-of-interest (ROI) invitations in 2025, yet invited fewer than 3,000 people to apply for nomination. Academic transcripts, English scores and evidence of employability in the state remain critical. Migration agents recommend decision-ready applications, including up-to-date skills assessments and police certificates, to take advantage of the state’s quick nomination processing (currently averaging four weeks).
The GSM program lets the state nominate applicants whose qualifications and experience match local labour-market gaps. After an intake freeze during the December holiday period, state officials say monthly invitation rounds will now resume, with the next draw slated for early February. The state government has underscored that invitations will continue to prioritise occupations listed as critical in the State Occupation List as well as candidates willing to settle in regional centres such as Mount Gambier, Whyalla and Port Augusta.
For applicants unsure where to start, VisaHQ offers a convenient one-stop portal that can pre-screen your eligibility, organise required documents and keep you updated on processing times across all Australian visa pathways. You can explore their dedicated Australia section at https://www.visahq.com/australia/ to compare GSM options with employer-sponsored or family visas and ensure your paperwork is decision-ready before submitting a registration of interest.
For employers, the January round is a useful early indicator of where skilled-visa pipelines are flowing. Health-care providers can expect an influx of nurses, physiotherapists and medical laboratory scientists over the next six months, while engineering consultancies should watch for electrical and civil engineers receiving visas as early as March. Companies hoping to sponsor talent through the Employer Nomination Scheme may also benefit, as many Subclass 491 holders will be keen to transition to permanent residency via employer sponsorship once regional work requirements are met.
Prospective applicants should note that competition remains intense. South Australia issued more than 11,000 registration-of-interest (ROI) invitations in 2025, yet invited fewer than 3,000 people to apply for nomination. Academic transcripts, English scores and evidence of employability in the state remain critical. Migration agents recommend decision-ready applications, including up-to-date skills assessments and police certificates, to take advantage of the state’s quick nomination processing (currently averaging four weeks).
