Chief Executive or Managing Director Visa Pathway to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
Updated: 29 October 2026
Australia classifies Chief Executive or Managing Director under ANZSCO 111111. The Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML) conducts the skills assessment. The occupation sits on the MLTSSL and the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Home Affairs lists it for the 482 and 186 employer-sponsored visas and the 494 regional employer visa, but not for the 189, 190 or 491. Typical 2026 salaries range AUD $165,000-$275,000+. IML's 2026 assessment emphasises "delegated authority" — the demonstrated power to hire, allocate capital and bind the organisation contractually.
Quick Facts: Chief Executive or Managing Director Migration Pathway
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 111111 (Chief Executive or Managing Director) |
| Skill Level | 1 (Bachelor degree or higher; 5+ years of relevant experience may substitute) |
| Skills Assessment | IML (Institute of Managers and Leaders) |
| Occupation List | MLTSSL and CSOL |
| Visas Home Affairs lists | 186, 407, 482 and 494 |
| Demand Level | Steady — driven by foreign-owned subsidiaries, PE-backed companies, and high-growth tech firms |
| Salary Range | AUD $165,000-$275,000+ (SEEK Managing Director and CEO data, 2026) |
| Typical 482 Salary | Specialist Skills threshold AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026) — almost all 111111 nominations clear this easily |
| Key Challenge | Demonstrating delegated authority over a substantive business — IML rejects "Director in name only" roles in small family businesses |
| Official figures checked | 28 October 2026 (Home Affairs occupation list, visa fees and processing times) |
What ANZSCO 111111 Actually Covers
Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111) is the most senior operational role inside a single organisation. The person who reports to the board, sets and executes strategy, allocates capital, hires and fires the executive team, and signs the contracts that bind the company. In a listed company that is the CEO. In a private company that is often the Managing Director. In a foreign-owned subsidiary it is the Country Manager or Australian CEO. In a startup beyond founder stage it is the appointed CEO.
IML — the assessing authority — describes its mandate as assessing "senior-level management skills" for skilled migration. The bar is delegated authority, not just title. A CEO of a 4-person consultancy is harder to assess than the CFO of a 200-person mid-market firm, because the question is not what's on the business card but what the role actually controls. IML's 2026 guidance places strong emphasis on the ability to make independent strategic decisions including hiring, resource allocation, and binding financial commitments.
The role is distinct from Corporate General Manager (111211), which sits one layer below CEO and typically runs a business unit or function rather than the whole organisation. It is also distinct from functional management codes like Sales and Marketing Manager (131112), Engineering Manager (133211) or Human Resource Manager (132311), which are functional rather than enterprise-level roles. IML assesses all of these — but each has its own evidence bar.
Where Australia Hires 111111 Roles
Demand for ANZSCO 111111 in Australia in 2026 sits in three main pools:
Foreign subsidiaries. Multinational companies opening or scaling Australian operations bring in a Country Manager / Managing Director to lead the local entity. Common in technology (Salesforce, ServiceNow, Stripe and others have run this model), professional services, manufacturing, and consumer goods. The role typically reports to a regional president overseas.
Private equity portfolio companies. PE-backed mid-market firms (BGH, Pacific Equity Partners, Quadrant, KKR-owned assets) regularly recruit international CEOs and MDs for portfolio companies undergoing operational transformation. The visa pathway most commonly used is 482 Specialist Skills, often transitioning to 186 within 2-3 years.
High-growth tech and scale-ups. Australian scale-ups bringing in experienced operators from US, UK or Singapore markets at CEO and Managing Director level. Atlassian, Canva, Airwallex, Employment Hero and others have hired internationally at executive level.
A smaller but real pool sits in family business succession, where founders hire an external Managing Director to professionalise the firm and exit operationally. This is the riskiest evidence base for IML — the role must be substantive and not nominal.
ANZSCO 111111 — The Code in Detail
The ABS classifies Chief Executive or Managing Director at Skill Level 1 under ANZSCO 2022 revision 1. The role covers determining, formulating, directing and reviewing the policies, programs and budgets of an organisation, and ensuring conformance with relevant legislation and standards.
Tasks include developing and implementing organisational strategy, directing senior managers, monitoring organisational performance against objectives, representing the organisation to stakeholders and external bodies, and reporting to a governing body (board, shareholders, parent company).
The skill level requires a bachelor degree or higher qualification, although at least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. For migration purposes IML requires both — qualification plus substantial executive experience.
Skills Assessment — Institute of Managers and Leaders
IML is the sole assessing authority for ANZSCO 111111. The assessment looks at qualification, employment evidence, delegated authority, and overall fit to the occupation description.
Standard Migration Skills Assessment
The default IML pathway. You provide ten years of employment evidence, qualification documents, organisational structure documents showing your reporting line, and detailed role descriptions demonstrating delegated authority.
- Fee: AUD902 including GST if you live in Australia, or AUD820 excluding GST if you live outside Australia (fees effective 21 September 2026); IML also lists an express fee of AUD240 or AUD218
- Processing time: a standard service time of 10 weeks (6 weeks with express processing) from receipt of a complete application
- Validity of positive assessment: 3 years from issue
Common rejection reasons:
- Role title of CEO or Managing Director without supporting evidence of organisational scale or delegated authority (small family businesses where the applicant is essentially self-employed)
- Insufficient evidence of binding decisions — no examples of hiring at senior level, no capital allocation evidence, no contracts signed in the role
- Mismatched qualification (degree in unrelated field with no MBA or comparable executive education and limited substitution evidence)
- Reporting line confusion — applicants who report directly to a CEO are normally Corporate General Manager (111211), not Chief Executive
Review and Appeal
If your assessment outcome is negative, IML offers a review within 90 days (A$601 if you live outside Australia, A$661 inside Australia, with a 4-week service time) and an appeal (A$985 or A$1084, with a 12-week service time). See the IML fees and timeframes page.
Visa Pathways for Chief Executive or Managing Director
ANZSCO 111111 is on the MLTSSL and CSOL, but Home Affairs does not list it for the 189, 190 or 491. The realistic pathways are employer-sponsored — but a CEO is normally the employer's own appointment, which makes the dynamic different from junior trade migration.
Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand (Specialist Skills Stream)
The dominant pathway for senior executives. Because the salary almost always reaches the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026), applicants qualify for the Specialist Skills stream of the 482, which carries faster processing. Labour market testing applies to 482 nominations, so check whether an exemption applies under the Migration Act (sections 140GBA to 140GBC).
Key details:
- Visa fee: AUD4,015 for the main applicant
- Salary thresholds: Core Skills Income Threshold AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026); Specialist Skills Income Threshold AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026)
- Duration: Up to 4 years
- Pathway to PR: Subclass 186 TRT after at least 2 years of eligible sponsored employment
- Processing time (Specialist Skills): 50% of applications processed within 37 days and 90% within 78 days
Home Affairs adds a caveat for this occupation on the 482 Core Skills stream and the 186 Direct Entry stream. It excludes any position that "has nominated annual earnings of less than AUD180,001", unless the person is transferred to fill it under an intra-corporate transfer to which an international trade obligation applies. The occupation list states this caveat for the Core Skills stream and Direct Entry. The Specialist Skills stream needs a salary of at least AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026).
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme
The most common permanent residency route for senior executives. Either Direct Entry (immediately, if the employer is willing) or TRT (after at least 2 years on 482).
Key details:
- Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
- Salary requirement: for Direct Entry, Home Affairs excludes any position that "has nominated annual earnings of less than AUD180,001" unless it is filled by an intra-corporate transfer to which an international trade obligation applies (see the caveat above)
- English: Competent (IELTS 6 each band or equivalent) for Direct Entry
Executive or Senior Manager Concession (International Trade Obligations)
Home Affairs maintains a published list of executive and senior manager occupations that qualify for streamlined processing where the role meets international trade obligations under agreements such as AUSFTA. Chief Executive or Managing Director sits on this list. Labour market testing applies to 482 nominations unless an exemption applies under the Migration Act (sections 140GBA to 140GBC). Your migration agent should check whether an international trade obligation exemption applies to your situation.
Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
If the role is based in a regional area (mining-region operations, regional manufacturing, regional health systems), the 494 is a 5-year provisional visa with a PR pathway via subclass 191 after three years of qualifying regional residence and income.
- Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
State Nomination
ANZSCO 111111 is on the MLTSSL, but Home Affairs does not list it for the 190 or 491, so state nomination is not available for this code. The business and investment visas are not an alternative: Home Affairs says the Business Innovation and Investment Program "is closed as of 31 July 2024", and the subclass 132 business visa "closed to new applications on 1 July 2021".
Salary and Employment Outlook
Pay by role and location
| Role / Location | Typical Salary Range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Managing Director — National Average | $210,000-$230,000 |
| Managing Director — Brisbane | $275,000 |
| Managing Director — Perth | $225,000 |
| Managing Director — Sydney | $190,000 |
| Managing Director — Melbourne | $165,000 |
| Chief Executive Officer — National Average | $225,000-$245,000 |
| Executive Director | $220,000-$240,000 |
| Director (functional / divisional) | $160,000-$180,000 |
Sources: SEEK CEO, Managing Director, Executive Director and Director salary insights (early 2026 data through May 2026).
These are base salaries. Total executive packages include superannuation (12% on top), short-term incentive (typically 20-50% of base, paid annually against performance metrics), long-term incentive (equity, options or deferred cash, typically 30-100% of base over 3-5 year vesting), and benefits (vehicle, health, expense allowance). A Managing Director with $230,000 base in Sydney commonly has a total package of $350,000-$500,000+ when STI and LTI are included.
Highest-paying sectors
- Financial services — Big Four banks, AMP, Macquarie, insurance and superannuation funds
- Resources — BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, Woodside, and the broader mining services chain
- Professional services — Big Four accounting (PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, EY), MBB consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain), the large law firms at managing partner level
- Technology — Atlassian, Canva, REA, Seek, plus US tech subsidiaries (Salesforce, Microsoft, AWS, Google)
- Healthcare and life sciences — CSL, Cochlear, ResMed, Ramsay Health Care
Brisbane and Perth often appear higher than Sydney and Melbourne in headline executive salary surveys because resources-sector executive roles concentrate there and pay above east-coast banking benchmarks.
Tips for a Successful Application
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Document delegated authority, not just title. IML's 2026 emphasis is squarely on what the role actually controlled. Build a portfolio of evidence — board minutes (redacted where confidential), org charts showing direct reports, examples of capital decisions you made, contracts you signed, executives you hired. A title alone does not pass IML.
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Match the qualification framework. A bachelor degree minimum, with an MBA, executive education or other advanced qualification meaningfully strengthening the case. If you have no degree but 20+ years of senior executive experience, the experience substitution applies — but you need to demonstrate it cleanly with employer letters and organisational charts.
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Choose the right 482 stream from the start. Almost every 111111 nomination meets the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026). Specialist Skills processes faster than Core Skills. Make sure your sponsor and migration agent lodge under Specialist Skills rather than Core.
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For founder-CEO scenarios, structure carefully. If you are the founder of an established overseas business expanding to Australia, your main path is the 482, or in some cases the National Innovation visa (subclass 858). The Business Innovation and Investment Program closed on 31 July 2024. Speak with a registered migration agent before choosing. Each path has different timelines, capital requirements and outcomes.
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Use the executive concession where applicable. The Executive or Senior Manager concession under international trade obligations can streamline 482 nominations. Your migration agent should confirm whether the relevant trade agreement (AUSFTA, CPTPP, A-UKFTA) applies to your circumstances and structure the application accordingly.
Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap
- Confirm your role maps to ANZSCO 111111 via the code finder, not to a more junior management code
- Verify the code's current status on the CSOL
- Compile 10 years of executive employment evidence: organisational charts, role descriptions, capital decisions, hires made, contracts signed
- Engage IML for assessment — choose standard or express service
- Sit your English test — IELTS, PTE or OET — at Competent minimum for 186 Direct Entry
- Confirm sponsor arrangement: foreign parent posting you to Australia, Australian subsidiary, PE-backed portfolio firm, or Australian-based hiring company
- Verify nominated salary clears the Specialist Skills threshold of AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026)
- Employer lodges sponsorship and nomination under 482 Specialist Skills stream
- You lodge subclass 482 application via ImmiAccount
- Complete health and character checks
- Receive visa grant and relocate
- Transition to subclass 186 — either Direct Entry immediately, or TRT after at least 2 years on 482
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IML mean by "delegated authority"?
Delegated authority is the substantive power, exercised in the role, to make decisions that bind the organisation. The clearest indicators are hiring decisions at senior level, capital allocation decisions above a meaningful threshold, signing authority on customer or supplier contracts, and reporting directly to a board or parent company rather than to another executive. IML's 2026 assessment guidance places this at the centre of the evidence review.
Is the salary threshold for the 482 met by typical CEO roles?
Almost always. The Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026). SEEK 2026 salary data shows Managing Director averages from AUD $165,000 (Melbourne) to AUD $275,000 (Brisbane), and CEO averages of $225,000-$245,000. Even the lowest-paying capital city averages comfortably exceed the threshold. Some smaller-organisation MD roles may sit closer to the line — confirm before nomination.
What's the difference between Chief Executive (111111) and Corporate General Manager (111211)?
Chief Executive or Managing Director (111111) is the top operational role inside an organisation, reporting to the board or parent company. Corporate General Manager (111211) reports to a CEO and typically runs a business unit, division, or country operation within a larger group. The distinction matters for IML assessment — if your reporting line is to another executive rather than a board, you are likely 111211, not 111111. Both codes are on the MLTSSL and CSOL and both are assessed by IML.
Can I use the Global Talent program instead of 482?
Possibly. The Global Talent Visa Program (now under National Innovation visa pathways) targets exceptionally talented and internationally recognised individuals in target sectors. Senior executives with substantial track records may qualify if they have "current earnings or an offer of employment with earnings at or above the Fair Work High Income Threshold" in their area of achievement (see the National Innovation visa page). Eligibility is narrower than the 482, but the process can be faster. Discuss with a registered migration agent before committing.
What happens if my role is a startup CEO with a small team?
Startup CEOs sit at the harder end of IML assessment. The evidence bar is the same — delegated authority over a substantive business. If your startup has 20+ employees, meaningful revenue, external investors, and you have made real hiring and capital decisions, IML can assess favourably. If you are a 3-person founder-led company with no external capital, the assessment is more likely to push back. Build evidence around investor agreements, board minutes, hiring records and contractual decisions before applying.
How long does the IML assessment take?
IML lists a standard service time of 10 weeks (6 weeks with express processing) from receipt of a complete application. Express processing costs extra (see the fees above). Incomplete submissions extend the timeline. Reviews target 4 weeks; appeals target 12 weeks. A positive assessment is valid for 3 years from issue.
For broader skilled migration context, the skills assessment bodies hub covers IML and the other assessing authorities, and the most in-demand occupations list summarises where senior executive migration sits relative to other categories.
