Skilled Migration Pathway

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR MANAGING DIRECTOR | ANZSCO 111111

Australian businesses across every sector are on the hunt for experienced leaders who can steer strategy, manage complex operations, and answer directly to a board. Under ANZSCO 111111, skilled Chief Executives and Managing Directors are being sponsored by employers ranging from fast growing private companies to multinational subsidiaries setting up in Australia. It is one of the most senior occupations on the skilled migration program, and it comes with its own set of rules that applicants and employers both need to understand.

This guide covers what a Chief Executive or Managing Director actually does, the English language standard applicants need to meet, and a full breakdown of two of the most common visa pathways for senior executives: the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.

Migration Republic, Expert visa pathway preparation for Chief Executives, Managing Directors, and corporate leadership professionals

ANZSCO 111111

WHAT DOES A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR MANAGING DIRECTOR DO?

A Chief Executive or Managing Director under ANZSCO 111111 determines, formulates, and reviews an organisation's general policy and overall direction, working within the framework set by a board of directors or a similar governing body. The occupation sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, which generally means a bachelor degree or higher qualification, though at least five years of relevant senior experience can substitute for the formal qualification in many cases.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Determining objectives, strategies, policies, and programs for the organisation
• Providing overall direction and management across the business
• Authorising material, human, and financial resources to carry out organisational policies and programs
• Monitoring and evaluating the organisation's performance against its objectives and strategy
• Consulting with senior staff and reviewing recommendations and reports
• Preparing, or arranging the preparation of, reports, budgets, and forecasts for the board or governing body
• Representing the organisation at official occasions, negotiations, conventions, seminars, and public forums

One thing worth flagging early: nominations for this occupation also need to clear a salary and business size caveat before Home Affairs will accept them. More on that further down.

CSOL List

SUBCLASS 482 FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES – CSOL LIST

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa replaced the older Temporary Skill Shortage visa, and a new occupation list came with it. The Core Skills Occupation List, known as the CSOL, brought the earlier strategic skills lists together into a single list covering several hundred occupations across professional, managerial, and technical fields.

Chief Executive or Managing Director sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 111111, and this is the code an employer nominates against for a Core Skills stream 482 visa. The same code also appears on the Medium and Long term Strategic Skills List, which is the list used for several permanent and points tested pathways, including the Subclass 186 visa.

Because it is a Skill Level 1 occupation with a genuinely senior scope, Home Affairs pays close attention to whether the nominated role actually matches the duties of a Chief Executive or Managing Director, rather than a more junior management title.

ANZSCO Requirements

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES

The nominated position has to genuinely reflect the work of a Chief Executive or Managing Director, not just carry the title. The Department looks at the actual scope of the role, including whether the person sets organisational direction and reports to a board, rather than managing a single department or function.

Because this occupation sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, applicants generally need a bachelor degree or higher qualification in a relevant field, or at least five years of relevant senior management experience where a formal qualification is not held. Roles that are mostly operational, or that sit well below board level in the reporting structure, are unlikely to meet the ANZSCO description for this occupation, so getting the position description right at the nomination stage matters a great deal.

482 Visa Requirements

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES

To be granted a Subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream as a Chief Executive or Managing Director, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A genuine, approved sponsor. The employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 111111, with a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold, the market rate for the role, and the occupation's earnings caveat
• At least one year of full time equivalent work experience in a genuinely senior executive role, or a closely related field, within the past five years
• Meeting the Competent English requirement, unless an exemption applies
• A clear health examination through an approved panel physician
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for twelve months or more

Salary and income thresholds are indexed regularly, so it is always worth checking the current figure on the Home Affairs website before an employer lodges a nomination. Visa grants can range from one to four years depending on individual circumstances, and a partner along with dependent children can be included as secondary applicants.

482 Skills Assessment

Skills Assessment Requirement for Chief Executive or Managing Director – Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) Visa

The Institute of Managers and Leaders, generally known as IML, is the assessing authority for Chief Executive or Managing Director. A skills assessment is not automatically mandatory for every 482 applicant in this occupation, though Home Affairs can request one, and many employers arrange it anyway to support a stronger nomination.

Where a skills assessment is used, IML reviews the applicant's qualification alongside up to ten years of relevant senior management employment history. Applicants generally need a bachelor degree or higher in a relevant field, though extensive senior level experience can be considered where no formal qualification is held. IML looks closely at strategic authority, budgetary responsibility, and whether the applicant genuinely managed other managers, rather than just a team of front line staff.

The IML assessment generally requires proving:

• Assessment of qualifications and executive employment history.
• Verification that the applicant has strategic decision-making authority over the entire organization or a major division.
• Genuinely managing other managers, rather than front-line employees, with significant budget authority.

Applicants should provide comprehensive documentary evidence, including:

• A detailed statement of service on company letterhead outlining job title, duties, employment dates, decision-making, and budget responsibility.
• A signed organization chart showing reporting lines (above and below the applicant) and the overall size of the business involved.
• Academic transcripts and qualification certificates.
• Any relevant reference letters and proof of business size.

Subclass 186

SUBCLASS 186 FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many executives already working in Australia on a 482 visa, it is the natural next step. The Direct Entry stream is the relevant pathway for applicants who have not yet worked long enough with their employer to qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or who are applying from outside Australia altogether.

Unlike the 482, a grant under the 186 gives the applicant and their family permanent residency from the day it is approved, with no further visa renewals needed.

186 Visa Requirements

SC 186 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES

For the Direct Entry stream, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A nomination from an approved Australian employer for a genuine, full time, ongoing Chief Executive or Managing Director position
• A salary that meets or exceeds the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, the market rate for the role, and the occupation's earnings caveat
• A positive skills assessment from IML in the nominated occupation, unless an exemption applies
• At least three years of relevant senior management experience, unless exempt from the skills assessment and experience requirements
• Being under 45 years of age at the time of application, with limited exemptions
• Competent English, at an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent
• Health and character clearances

This is a noticeably higher bar than the 482, both on English and on work experience, which is one reason a lot of executives use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

186 Skills Assessment

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES: SC 186 VISA

Unlike the 482, a positive skills assessment from IML is generally mandatory for Direct Entry 186 applicants in this occupation, and it needs to be current at the time the visa application is lodged.

The assessment process is the same one used for the 482, reviewing qualifications and up to ten years of relevant senior management experience. Because the Direct Entry stream also requires three years of relevant experience on top of the assessment itself, it helps to start gathering employment evidence, an organisation chart, and reference letters well before applying, since both IML processing and document preparation take time. Executives who already hold an eligible temporary visa in a genuinely equivalent role may instead qualify under the Temporary Residence Transition stream, which has its own separate criteria.

English Standards

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Every skilled or employer sponsored visa in Australia comes with an English language test, and the score applicants need to clear depends on which visa they are applying for. For executives looking at the 482 and 186 pathways, the bar is different at each stage, which catches a lot of applicants off guard.

For the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream, applicants generally need Competent English, which works out to an overall IELTS score of 5.0 with no band below 5.0, or an accepted equivalent test result.

For the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, Direct Entry stream, the standard is higher. Competent English here means an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0.

English Exemptions

EXEMPTIONS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland are generally exempt from formal English testing, along with applicants who have completed a set period of study conducted in English. Test results typically need to be current within three years of lodgement, so if an applicant's score is getting old, it is worth sitting the test again before applying rather than finding out partway through processing.

Caveats & Business Requirements

CAVEATS AND BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES

Chief Executive or Managing Director does not require a professional licence the way many trade and technical occupations do, but it comes with its own hurdle in the form of a caveat. Under both the Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 visas, a nominated position does not qualify if the nominated annual earnings fall below the threshold set out in the relevant legislative instrument, which currently sits at just above one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. If the nominee is being transferred to fill the position, the transfer also needs to be a genuine intra corporate transfer connected to an international trade obligation.

Beyond the earnings caveat, Home Affairs and IML both look closely at the size and complexity of the sponsoring business. A small operation with only a handful of staff is unlikely to support a genuine Chief Executive or Managing Director nomination, since the role is expected to carry real authority over strategy, budget, and other senior managers. Businesses with an established structure, a meaningful headcount, and a clear reporting line to the applicant tend to make a much stronger case.

Salary Rates

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

On top of base salary, executive packages in Australia commonly include performance bonuses, superannuation, and other incentives, which can make total remuneration considerably higher than the base figure alone.

Industry Shortage

WHY CHIEF EXECUTIVES ARE IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Australian businesses are looking for experienced leaders who can guide growth, digital transformation, and increasingly complex regulatory environments
• Emerging industries such as renewable energy, technology, and advanced manufacturing need proven executives to scale operations
• Family owned and mid-sized businesses across the country are professionalising governance and bringing in outside executive talent
• Multinational companies expanding their Australian operations often need to bring in a Chief Executive or Managing Director with a proven track record rather than build one internally
• Jobs and Skills Australia has flagged senior management and executive talent as a persistent area of demand across several sectors

Employer Sponsorship

Employer Sponsorship for Chief Executives in Australia

Australian businesses can sponsor overseas Chief Executives and Managing Directors through the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, and other eligible employer sponsored pathways when a suitably experienced local candidate is not available. With demand for proven senior leadership continuing across many industries, employer sponsorship has become a practical way for growing businesses, family owned companies, and multinational subsidiaries to bring in experienced overseas executives.

At Migration Republic, we assist employers with every stage of the sponsorship process, including Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications, nomination applications, visa lodgements, and ongoing sponsorship compliance. Our Registered Migration Agents ensure your business meets all Department of Home Affairs requirements, including the salary and business size caveat that applies specifically to this occupation, while making the sponsorship process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

Whether you need to sponsor a Chief Executive or Managing Director for a family business, a growing company, or an Australian subsidiary of an overseas parent, we can help you identify the most suitable employer sponsored visa pathway. We work with businesses of all sizes across Australia, helping employers sponsor senior executives under the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and secure permanent residence pathways through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, where eligible.

We help businesses with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications
• Sponsoring overseas Chief Executives and Managing Directors under the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) applications
• Confirming the position meets the occupation's earnings and business size caveat
• Employer nomination applications
• Employer sponsorship compliance obligations
• Permanent residency pathways for sponsored executives

If your business is looking to sponsor a Chief Executive or Managing Director, or recruit senior overseas leadership more broadly, Migration Republic can manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish, so you can focus on running your business while we handle the migration side.

Interactive Tools

Calculate Points & Check Your Visa Eligibility

Use our interactive self-service migration tools to calculate your points score, test your eligibility, and discover your potential Australian visa options instantly.

Migration Services

HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

Migrating to Australia as a Chief Executive or Managing Director means working through a genuinely senior ANZSCO definition, an earnings and business size caveat, an IML skills assessment, and two visa pathways with different English and experience thresholds. Our registered migration agents at Migration Republic handle this every day, and we can help you get it right the first time.

Here's what we take care of for you:

• Confirming your role genuinely matches the ANZSCO 111111 definition
• Checking the nominated position against the earnings and business size caveat
• Preparing a complete, decision ready IML skills assessment application
• Structuring your employment references and organisation chart so they meet IML's requirements
• Comparing the 482 and 186 pathways to find the right fit for your circumstances
• Managing your full visa application from lodgement through to grant

Frequently Asked Questions Employer Sponsorship for Chief Executives

Migration Republic is an Australia based migration agency offering paid consultation and visa lodgement services for skilled and employer sponsored migration.