South Australia Invitation Round – May 2026 (190 & 491 Visa)

Last Updated: 1 May 2026

South Australia issued a new skilled migration invitation round in May 2026 under the 2025–26 General Skilled Migration program.

The round included invitations for both:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

• Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)

This round provides insight into current occupation demand and state nomination priorities for migrants seeking Australian permanent residency.

Key Highlights – May 2026 Invitation Round

• Total invitations issued: 509

• Subclass 190 invitations: 295

• Subclass 491 invitations: 214

Health professionals (141), engineering and transport professionals (72), and ICT professionals (28) received the highest number of invitations in this round.

South Australia confirmed that invitation rounds will continue, with another round expected in mid to late May 2026.

Overview of South Australia’s 2025–26 State Nomination Invitation Rounds

Invitations Issued in the May 2026 (Newest)

ANZSCO Sub-major Group	Subclass 190	Subclass 491	Total
13 Specialist Managers	8	3	11
14 Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers	0	2	2
22 Business, HR and Marketing Professionals	0	16	16
23 Design, Engineering, Science and Transport Professionals	57	15	72
24 Education Professionals	32	17	49
25 Health Professionals	128	13	141
26 ICT Professionals	0	28	28
27 Legal, Social and Welfare Professionals	8	2	10
31 Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians	4	34	38
32 Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers	29	11	40
33 Construction Trades Workers	14	30	44
34 Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers	10	0	10
35 Food Trades Workers	0	2	2
36 Skilled Animal, Agricultural and Horticultural Workers	0	2	2
41 Health and Welfare Support Workers	3	19	22
45 Sports and Personal Service Workers	1	0	1
51 Office Managers and Program Administrators	0	9	9
Total	295	214	509

Total Invitations Issued – 2025–26 Program Year (to Date)

ANZSCO Sub-major Group	Subclass 190	Subclass 491	Total
13 Specialist Managers	97	35	132
14 Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers	0	28	28
22 Business, HR and Marketing Professionals	30	104	134
23 Design, Engineering, Science and Transport Professionals	334	93	427
24 Education Professionals	137	36	173
25 Health Professionals	550	23	573
26 ICT Professionals	7	230	237
27 Legal, Social and Welfare Professionals	59	14	73
31 Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians	40	141	181
32 Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers	78	42	120
33 Construction Trades Workers	141	86	227
34 Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers	106	14	120
35 Food Trades Workers	0	21	21
36 Skilled Animal, Agricultural and Horticultural Workers	0	4	4
41 Health and Welfare Support Workers	17	98	115
45 Sports and Personal Service Workers	1	0	1
51 Office Managers and Program Administrators	9	40	49
Total	1,606	1,009	2,615

Health Professionals

Health occupations received the largest number of invitations in the May 2026 round, with 141 invitations, primarily under the subclass 190 visa.

Demand remains strong across:

• hospitals

• aged care

• disability services

• community health

Applicants typically require a recognised skills assessment and professional registration.

Engineering and Technical Occupations

Engineering and technical professionals also received strong invitation numbers.

The Design, Engineering, Science and Transport Professionals group received 72 invitations, reflecting ongoing infrastructure development and project demand across South Australia.

ICT Professionals

ICT professionals received 28 invitations, all under the subclass 491 visa.

This continues to indicate that ICT demand in South Australia is primarily driven by regional workforce needs, rather than permanent metropolitan placements.

Construction and Skilled Trades

Construction and trade occupations also showed solid demand.

Groups such as Construction Trades Workers (44 invitations) and Engineering Trades Workers (40 invitations) highlight ongoing labour needs driven by infrastructure, housing, and development projects across the state.

Overall, the May 2026 round shows a clear prioritisation of healthcare, infrastructure, and regionally critical occupations.

What This Means for Skilled Migration Applicants

South Australia continues to prioritise occupations that support healthcare, infrastructure, and technology sectors.

Applicants should ensure that their Expression of Interest (EOI) and state nomination eligibility remain accurate and up to date before future invitation rounds.

Full South Australia Invitation Round History

For the latest invitation data and previous invitation rounds, see our tracker: https://www.racc.net.au/south-australia-skilled-migration-invitation-round-190-491

This page tracks invitation numbers, occupation groups, and trends across the 2025–26 program year.

FAQ

How many invitations were issued in the May 2026 South Australia round?

South Australia issued 509 invitations in May 2026, including 295 invitations for subclass 190 and 214 invitations for subclass 491.

When is the next South Australia invitation round?

South Australia indicated that another invitation round is expected in mid to late May 2026, as part of its ongoing 2025–26 state nomination program.

Which occupations received the most invitations?

Health professionals, engineering occupations, ICT specialists, and technical occupations received the largest share of invitations.

Need Help With Your South Australia State Nomination?

The South Australia State Nomination Invitation Rounds may 2026 highlight the importance of occupation relevance, pathway selection, and timing when applying for the state sponsored 190 or state sponsored regional 491 visas.

📩 If you’d like us to apply, review, or finalise your application, please email migration6@racc.net.au— we’ll send you the application form and quotation.

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