South Australia skilled migration program has released its official update on invitations issued in February 2026, confirming that monthly invitation rounds will continue under the 2025–26 General Skilled Migration (GSM) program.
In this round, 364 invitations were issued across state-nominated and regional visa pathways, reinforcing South Australia’s ongoing focus on addressing critical workforce shortages and supporting long-term economic growth.
Total Invitations Issued in February 2026
According to the official announcement, South Australia issued:
- 227 invitations for the Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated visa
- 137 invitations for the Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
This brings the total invitations issued so far in the 2025–26 program year to 1,295, comprising 837 Subclass 190 and 458 Subclass 491 invitations.
February 2026 Invitation Highlights
| Category / Occupation | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 | Total (Feb) | Cumulative 2025-26 |
| Specialist Managers | 12 | 3 | 15 | 63 |
| Business, HR & Marketing Professionals | 3 | 14 | 17 | 73 |
| Design, Engineering, Science & Transport Professionals | 62 | 6 | 68 | 230 |
| Education Professionals | 19 | 3 | 22 | 74 |
| Health Professionals | 88 | 7 | 95 | 269 |
| ICT Professionals | 0 | 38 | 38 | 129 |
| Trades Workers (Construction, Automotive, Electrotech) | 31 | 27 | 58 | 246 |
| Other Skilled Groups | … | … | … | … |
| Total (Feb 2026) | 227 | 137 | 364 | 1,295 |
Key Takeaways
- Health professionals remain the most invited group in Feb, with 95 invitations.
- Engineering/Science & Transport roles saw strong demand.
- The design, business, and education sectors also received significant invitations.
- The total across all streams in Feb is 364 invitations, bringing the cumulative 2025-26 figure to 1,295.
Occupation Groups Invited in February 2026
The February invitation round covered a wide range of occupational categories, with allocations closely aligned to South Australia’s labour market needs.
Health Professionals received the highest number of invitations, with 95 invitations issued across permanent and regional pathways. This reflects sustained demand in healthcare roles throughout the state.
Design, Engineering, Science and Transport Professionals followed closely, receiving 68 invitations, indicating continued prioritisation of technical and infrastructure-related occupations.
ICT Professionals were issued 38 invitations, predominantly under the regional Subclass 491 stream, highlighting South Australia’s focus on strengthening its digital and technology workforce in regional areas.
Trades occupations, including construction, automotive, and electrotechnology trades, accounted for 48 invitations, supporting workforce requirements for housing, infrastructure, and industrial development.
Additional invitations were issued to professionals in education, business and marketing, specialist management roles, legal and welfare professions, and health support services, demonstrating a broad and diversified selection strategy.
Skilled Migration Trends for South Australia in 2025–26
February’s results follow 344 invitations issued in January 2026, confirming a consistent monthly invitation pattern early in the program year.
The data suggest that South Australia is maintaining a balanced approach between permanent residency outcomes under Subclass 190 and regional workforce development under Subclass 491. Priority continues to be given to health, engineering, ICT and trade occupations, which are critical to the state’s economic and population planning objectives.
Also Read: Skilled Migration Australia Priority Occupations and State Allocations
What to Expect Next
South Australia has confirmed that monthly invitation rounds will continue, with the next skilled migration invitation round expected in early March 2026.
Candidates interested in South Australia state nomination should ensure their SkillSelect EOI, state registration, and supporting documents remain accurate and up to date, particularly for occupations that are consistently receiving invitations.
Need Help With South Australia Skilled Migration?
Understanding invitation trends is only one part of a successful migration strategy. Professional assessment, appropriate occupation selection, and nomination-ready documentation are critical to competitive state nomination pathways.
Contact eduaid for a personalised South Australia skilled migration assessment and nomination strategy.