Skilled Migration Pathway

POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGER | ANZSCO 132411

Government agencies, large corporations, and peak bodies across Australia all need people who can turn a strategic direction into a workable policy or plan, and that kind of role comes with its own specific migration rules. Under ANZSCO 132411, also known by the alternative title Public Policy Manager, skilled Policy and Planning Managers are being sponsored by organisations that need genuine strategic and policy expertise rather than general project support. This occupation carries a distinctive set of caveats, so applicants and employers both need to check the fine print before lodging a nomination.

This guide covers what a Policy and Planning Manager actually does, the English language standard applicants need to meet, and a full breakdown of two of the most common visa pathways for this occupation: the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.

Migration Republic, Expert visa pathway preparation for Policy and Planning Managers and strategic consultants

ANZSCO 132411

WHAT DOES A POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGER DO?

A Policy and Planning Manager under ANZSCO 132411 plans, organises, directs, controls, and coordinates policy advice and strategic planning within an organisation. The occupation sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, which generally means a bachelor degree or higher qualification, though at least five years of relevant experience can substitute for the formal qualification in many cases. Common specialisations under this occupation include Corporate Planning Manager and Strategic Planning Manager.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Developing, implementing, and monitoring strategic plans, programs, policies, processes, systems, and procedures to achieve goals, objectives, and work standards
• Developing, implementing, administering, and participating in policy research and analysis
• Coordinating the implementation of policies and practices across the organisation
• Establishing activity measures and measurements of accountability
• Overseeing and participating in the development of policy documents and reports
• Consulting with and providing expert advice to government officials and board members on policy, program, and legislative issues

One thing worth flagging early: nominations for this occupation need to clear a specific set of caveats before Home Affairs will accept them, including a salary threshold and, for the 482 visa, a location requirement. More on that further down.

CSOL List

SUBCLASS 482 FOR POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGERS – 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, technical, and managerial fields.

Policy and Planning Manager sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 132411, 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, Home Affairs pays close attention to whether the nominated role genuinely involves setting policy and strategic direction, rather than a narrower project coordination or research assistant function.

ANZSCO Requirements

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGERS

The nominated position has to genuinely reflect the work of a Policy and Planning Manager, not just carry the title. The Department looks at the actual scope of the role, including whether the applicant develops and directs policy and strategy, advises senior officials or board members, and takes accountability for outcomes, rather than simply carrying out research or drafting tasks under someone else's direction.

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 experience where a formal qualification is not held. Roles that are largely research assistant, policy officer, or project coordination based 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 POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGERS

To be granted a Subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream as a Policy and Planning Manager, 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 132411, with a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold, the market rate for the role, and the occupation's caveat requirements
• At least one year of full time equivalent work experience as a Policy and Planning Manager, or in 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 Policy and Planning Manager – Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) Visa

VETASSESS is the assessing authority for Policy and Planning Manager. 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, VETASSESS generally looks for a qualification assessed as comparable to an Australian bachelor degree or higher in a highly relevant field, together with at least one year of post qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years. Where the qualification is not highly relevant, or supplemented by a diploma level qualification, additional years of relevant employment can be counted instead, and applicants without a highly relevant bachelor degree at all may still be considered under an alternative pathway with a longer employment history.

A strong application usually includes certified academic transcripts, position descriptions, and detailed statements of employment describing the policy and strategic planning work carried out, along with evidence of advice provided to senior officials or board level stakeholders.

Subclass 186

SUBCLASS 186 FOR POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGERS – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many Policy and Planning Managers 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 POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGERS

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 Policy and Planning Manager position
• A salary that meets or exceeds the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, the market rate for the role, and the occupation's caveat requirements
• A positive skills assessment from VETASSESS in the nominated occupation, unless an exemption applies
• At least three years of relevant work 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 Policy and Planning Managers use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

186 Skills Assessment

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGERS: SC 186 VISA

Unlike the 482, a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS 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 the applicant's qualification and relevant employment history against the criteria VETASSESS applies for this occupation. 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, academic transcripts, and reference letters well before applying, since both VETASSESS processing and document preparation take time.

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 Policy and Planning Managers 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 POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGERS

Policy and Planning Manager does not require a professional licence the way many trade occupations do, but it carries a more distinctive set of caveats than many other management occupations, applying to both the Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 visas.

A nominated position does not qualify if the nominated annual earnings are less than ninety thousand dollars. On top of this, the Subclass 482 visa carries an additional location based requirement for this occupation, connected to whether the position is based in a regional area. Because the exact application of this location requirement can be nuanced and depends on current legislative settings, it is worth having a registered migration agent confirm exactly how it applies to a specific role and location before lodging a nomination.

Because of these caveats, Home Affairs and VETASSESS both look closely at the salary attached to the role and, for the 482 visa, its location, alongside whether the position genuinely involves policy and strategic planning responsibility. Employers should be ready to show a clear position description and salary evidence to support the nomination.

Salary Rates

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Roles within government agencies and large corporate head offices, particularly those advising at board or executive level, tend to sit toward the higher end of the range.

Industry Shortage

WHY POLICY AND PLANNING MANAGERS ARE IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Government agencies at every level continue to need experienced policy leadership to respond to changing legislative and community priorities
• Large corporations and peak bodies rely on policy managers to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and direct strategic advocacy
• The transition to new energy, infrastructure, and technology standards requires policy experts who can design and execute complex transitions
• Public-private partnerships and consultancies keep growing, creating constant demand for managers who can bridge business and policy
• Jobs and Skills Australia tracks policy and planning specialists as part of the broader specialised managers workforce, where policy leadership remains highly sought after

Employer Sponsorship

Employer Sponsorship for Policy and Planning Managers in Australia

Australian organisations can sponsor overseas Policy and Planning Managers 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 strong policy and planning leadership continuing across many sectors, employer sponsorship has become a practical way for organisations to bring in experienced overseas managers.

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 organisation meets all Department of Home Affairs requirements, including the salary and location based caveats that apply to this occupation, while making the sponsorship process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

Whether you need to sponsor a Policy and Planning Manager for a government agency, a large corporation, or a peak body, we can help you identify the most suitable employer sponsored visa pathway. We work with organisations of all sizes across Australia, helping employers sponsor skilled managers under the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa and secure permanent residence pathways through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, where eligible.

We help organisations with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications
• Sponsoring overseas Policy and Planning Managers under the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) applications
• Confirming the position meets the occupation's salary and location based caveats
• Employer nomination applications
• Employer sponsorship compliance obligations
• Permanent residency pathways for sponsored managers

If your organisation is looking to sponsor a Policy and Planning Manager, or recruit senior overseas policy and strategy talent more broadly, Migration Republic can manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish, so you can focus on your organisation's priorities 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 Policy and Planning Manager means working through a specific ANZSCO definition, a salary and location based caveat, a VETASSESS 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 132411 definition
• Checking the nominated position against the occupation's salary and location based caveats
• Preparing a complete, decision ready VETASSESS skills assessment application
• Structuring your employment references so they meet VETASSESS 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 Policy and Planning Managers

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