Company Secretary Visa Pathway to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
Updated: 13 May 2026
Australia classifies Company Secretary under ANZSCO 221211, a Skill Level 1 occupation. VETASSESS conducts the skills assessment as a Group A occupation. The role sits on both the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), opening subclasses 190, 491, 482, and 186. Typical 2026 salaries range AUD $140,000-$210,000, with ASX-listed company roles at the top end.
Quick Facts: Company Secretary Migration Pathway
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 221211 (Company Secretary) |
| Skill Level | 1 (Bachelor degree or higher, or 5 years experience in lieu) |
| Skills Assessment | VETASSESS (Group A — Professional) |
| Occupation List | CSOL and STSOL |
| Visa Options | 190, 491, 482, 186 |
| Demand Level | Moderate — concentrated in ASX-listed entities and large private groups |
| Salary Range | AUD $140,000-$210,000 (SEEK, March 2026; Glassdoor 2026) |
| Typical 190 Score | 80-90 points (state nomination essential) |
| Key Challenge | No 189 pathway and a smaller employer pool than ICT/finance roles |
What Company Secretaries Do in Australia
A Company Secretary is the principal governance officer of a company. The role sits at the intersection of legal compliance, board administration, and regulatory reporting. In an ASX-listed entity, the Company Secretary advises directors on governance obligations under the Corporations Act 2001, manages disclosure to the ASX, coordinates board and committee meetings, drafts minutes, and ensures statutory registers are maintained. Every Australian public company is required by section 204A of the Corporations Act to appoint at least one Company Secretary; private companies are not required to but often do.
Work concentrates in Sydney and Melbourne — home to the headquarters of most ASX 200 entities, large unlisted private groups, and the Australian operations of multinationals. Brisbane and Perth host significant employer clusters in resources and energy (BHP, Rio Tinto, Woodside, Santos). The Big 4 banks, AMP, Macquarie, and the major insurers (IAG, Suncorp, QBE) maintain large company secretariat teams. Outside listed entities, employers include not-for-profits, universities, government agencies, and managed investment scheme operators.
The Governance Institute of Australia (GIA) is the dominant professional body. Its Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance is the only postgraduate qualification in the field with higher education accreditation in Australia. The Chartered Secretary designation (CGI), held by GIA members, signals senior-level governance competency and is recognised internationally. The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) overlaps with the role at board level through its GAICD designation.
ANZSCO Code 221211 — What It Covers
ANZSCO 221211 sits in Unit Group 2212 (Accountants), which is misleading — the code itself is governance-focused, not accounting-focused. The official description covers planning, organising and conducting business operations for boards of directors, ensuring statutory and regulatory compliance, and managing corporate records.
Listed tasks include: advising boards on corporate governance, ensuring compliance with the Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rules, organising and supporting board meetings, maintaining statutory registers and lodging required documents with regulators (ASIC, ATO, ASX), coordinating annual general meetings and shareholder communications, and supervising company seal and document execution.
Applicants whose work is primarily accounting (preparing financial statements, tax returns, audit support) should nominate under a different code — usually 221111 Accountant (General). Applicants whose work is purely administrative without governance authority — taking minutes but not advising directors — may fail the Skill Level 1 test under 221211.
The Department of Home Affairs continues to use ANZSCO codes for migration through 2026, even after the Australian Bureau of Statistics released OSCA 2024. The new OSCA code for Company Secretary is 222111, but it is not yet in use for visa purposes.
Skills Assessment — VETASSESS
VETASSESS assesses Company Secretary as a Group A occupation. There are two pathway options.
Pathway 1 — Qualification-based (most common):
- Bachelor degree or higher in a highly relevant field: Corporate Governance, Business Administration, Commerce, Law, Accounting, or Public Administration
- At least one year of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years
Pathway 2 — Experience-only:
- A relevant Diploma or Advanced Diploma plus at least five years of highly relevant post-qualification employment, OR
- No formal qualification plus at least six years of highly relevant employment (rare and difficult to evidence)
Assessment fee: AUD $1,096 offshore / AUD $1,205.60 onshore (includes GST). Priority Processing adds AUD $825 offshore or $907.50 onshore.
Processing time: 8-10 weeks for standard assessment.
Common rejection reasons: The single most common failure is "administrative dressed as governance" — applicants whose actual work is executive assistance, minute-taking, or paralegal support without independent advice to directors. VETASSESS looks for evidence the applicant has authority to interpret legislation, advise the board on disclosure obligations, and execute documents on the company's behalf. The second common failure is for accounting professionals attempting to nominate 221211 when their work is genuinely accounting — VETASSESS recodes those applications.
Visa Pathways for Company Secretaries
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa
State nomination provides permanent residency plus 5 points. The most common route for offshore applicants.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant, indexation from 1 July 2025)
- Minimum points: 65 — realistically 80-90 with state nomination
- Obligation: Commit to live and work in the nominating state for at least 2 years
- Quirk: Both NSW and Victoria nominate Company Secretary in 2026 because Sydney and Melbourne hold the largest concentration of listed-entity governance work
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa
Regional nomination adds 15 points. A 5-year provisional visa with a pathway to subclass 191 permanent residency after 3 years.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant)
- Points boost: +15 from regional nomination
- Quirk: Company Secretary roles outside metropolitan Sydney and Melbourne are limited; this pathway works best for applicants with a regional employer lined up
Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa, up to 4 years. A practical route for senior secretaries moving to ASX-listed sponsors.
- Visa fee: AUD $3,210 (primary applicant)
- Salary requirement: Above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of AUD $76,515, rising to $79,499 from 1 July 2026. Senior secretaries usually clear the Specialist Skills threshold of $141,210 in 2025-26 ($146,717 from July 2026)
- Processing time: 1-3 months for accredited sponsors
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent residency through employer sponsorship.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant)
- Streams: Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) after 2+ years on 482, or Direct Entry for applicants with 3+ years experience and a positive skills assessment
Notably, Company Secretary is not on the MLTSSL, so the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa is not available. State nomination or employer sponsorship is the only route to permanent residency through skilled migration.
Points Test Strategy
The points test applies to subclass 190 and 491 applications. Standard factors:
| Points Factor | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age (25-32) | 30 | Maximum bracket |
| Age (33-39) | 25 | Common for senior governance professionals |
| Qualification (PhD) | 20 | Rare for this occupation |
| Qualification (Bachelor/Master's) | 15 | Standard |
| English (Superior — 8.0+) | 20 | Achievable for governance professionals from English-speaking jurisdictions |
| English (Proficient — 7.0) | 10 | Practical minimum |
| Overseas Experience (8+ years) | 15 | Maximum after VETASSESS-confirmed experience |
| Australian Experience | 5-20 | If you've worked in Australia |
| State Nomination (190) | 5 | Required for most applicants |
| Regional (491) | 15 | Higher boost, regional commitment |
| Partner Skills | 5-10 | If partner has skilled occupation |
Realistic Score Scenarios
Scenario 1 — Senior Secretary, ASX experience: Age 34 (25) + Master's (15) + Superior English (20) + 8 years overseas experience (15) + 190 nomination (5) = 80 points. Competitive for state invitation.
Scenario 2 — Mid-career governance professional: Age 31 (30) + Bachelor's (15) + Proficient English (10) + 5 years experience (10) + 491 regional nomination (15) = 80 points. The regional commitment unlocks the invitation.
State Nomination
New South Wales
NSW nominates Company Secretary on its Skilled Nominated 190 stream because Sydney hosts most ASX-listed entity headquarters. The state's nomination program typically prioritises candidates with current Australian employment offers or 3+ years of recent ASX-equivalent listed-entity experience. NSW also runs the Skilled Work Regional 491 stream for areas outside Greater Sydney, though demand outside Sydney is limited.
Victoria
Victoria nominates Company Secretary for both 190 and 491 visas. Melbourne is home to the headquarters of NAB, ANZ, BHP, and a dense cluster of asset managers and superannuation funds (AustralianSuper, Cbus, Hostplus). The state's nomination criteria emphasise relevant Australian experience or a current Victorian job offer. The 2025-26 Victorian program allocates 2,700 places for subclass 190 and 700 for subclass 491.
Other States
South Australia, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory occasionally nominate Company Secretary, but volume is small and tied to specific employer demand. Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory have not consistently nominated this occupation in 2026. Verify current eligibility on each state's published list before lodging an Expression of Interest.
Salary and Employment Outlook
| Role Level | Salary Range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Assistant Company Secretary | $90,000-$130,000 |
| Company Secretary (private/unlisted) | $130,000-$180,000 |
| Company Secretary (ASX-listed mid-cap) | $180,000-$250,000 |
| Company Secretary (ASX 100) | $250,000-$400,000+ |
| Group / Chief Governance Officer (ASX 50) | $350,000-$600,000+ |
SEEK's March 2026 data places the typical Australian Company Secretary salary between $190,000 and $210,000 for senior roles, with a broader May 2026 dataset showing $140,000-$160,000 once junior and unlisted-company roles are included. Glassdoor's 2026 average of $149,000 sits between the two. Sydney pays roughly 20% above the national average; Brisbane and Perth roughly 5-10% below.
Total packages for ASX 100 secretaries include base salary, short-term incentive bonus (typically 20-40% of base), long-term incentive shares, fully-funded GIA membership and CPD, and 11.5% superannuation. Many senior secretaries hold non-executive director positions on related entity boards, which can add $30,000-$80,000 per board.
Highest-paying sectors: financial services (the Big 4 banks, Macquarie, AMP), resources (BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, Woodside), property (Goodman, Lendlease, Mirvac), and infrastructure (Transurban, APA Group).
Tips for a Successful Application
1. Pursue GIA Chartered Secretary Status
The Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) qualification — held through the Governance Institute of Australia — is the strongest signal of senior competency. Overseas members of CGI affiliates (ICSA in the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa) can typically transfer their designation directly. This both strengthens your VETASSESS application and accelerates Australian employer recognition.
2. Frame Your Experience Around Governance Authority
VETASSESS rejection clusters around "administrative dressed as governance." Have your employer references explicitly describe your authority to advise directors, interpret the Corporations Act (or local equivalent), execute documents on the company's behalf, and manage statutory filings. References that describe the role as "supporting the company secretary" or "minute-taking" rather than independent governance authority can sink the assessment.
3. Calibrate to ASX-Equivalent Experience
If you've worked for a listed entity in another jurisdiction — LSE, NYSE, SGX, NSE, JSE — say so explicitly. Australian listed-entity employers want disclosure experience under ASX Listing Rules or recognisable equivalents. Multinationals (HSBC, Citi, Standard Chartered, BHP) move secretaries between jurisdictions and Australian employers value that mobility.
4. Target State-Specific Demand
NSW and Victoria are the only states with consistent Company Secretary nomination volume in 2026. Build your job applications and EOI around Sydney or Melbourne employers. Regional 491 is theoretically open but practically thin — most regional employers don't have a separate Company Secretary role.
5. Use the Subclass 482 Route If Points Are Below 80
If your points score sits below 80 with state nomination, employer sponsorship through 482 is usually faster than chasing a points-based invitation. Senior salaries clear the Specialist Skills threshold of $141,210, accelerating processing. The 482 transitions to a 186 permanent residency after 2 years.
Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap
- Confirm ANZSCO 221211 fits your duties — read the official description and align references
- Pursue Chartered Secretary status — through GIA or a CGI-affiliated body
- Sit your English test — IELTS 8.0+ for maximum points if you can achieve it
- Lodge VETASSESS Group A assessment — pay $1,096 offshore or $1,205.60 onshore
- Calculate points with confirmed experience — VETASSESS sometimes excludes years that didn't meet skill-level requirements
- Submit EOI in SkillSelect — for 190 or 491
- Apply for state nomination — NSW or Victoria for 190; verify regional state for 491
- Alternatively, apply directly to Australian employers — ASX 200 secretariats, Big 4 banks, large private groups
- Receive invitation or job offer with sponsorship
- Lodge visa application — 190/491 ($4,910) or 482 ($3,210)
- Complete health and character checks
- Receive visa grant and relocate to Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Company Secretary in Australia without a formal qualification?
The Corporations Act 2001 sets a low statutory bar — a Company Secretary must be at least 18 and not disqualified from managing corporations. There is no legal qualification requirement. However, the migration pathway is different. VETASSESS requires either a Bachelor degree in a relevant field plus a year of experience, or a Diploma plus five years, or six years of unqualified experience. Without these, the skills assessment will fail regardless of your professional capability.
Does my Chartered Secretary qualification from the UK or Singapore transfer?
Often yes. The Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) is the global federation of governance bodies that includes GIA (Australia), ICSA (UK), HKICS (Hong Kong), CSIS (Singapore), and equivalents. Members can typically transfer Chartered Secretary status to GIA with limited additional study. This significantly strengthens both your VETASSESS application and your Australian employer prospects.
Is Company Secretary harder to migrate than Accountant?
Different, not necessarily harder. Accountant (221111) is on the MLTSSL and gives access to subclass 189, which doesn't require state nomination — a structural advantage. Company Secretary is on the CSOL and STSOL only, so state nomination or employer sponsorship is required. However, the senior salary range is higher, the employer pool concentrated, and demand more stable. For experienced governance professionals, the pathway is often faster through employer sponsorship despite the missing 189 option.
Will the OSCA classification replace ANZSCO 221211?
OSCA 2024 Version 1.0 was released by the ABS in December 2024 and assigns Company Secretary the new code 222111. The Department of Home Affairs has not yet adopted OSCA for migration purposes — ANZSCO 221211 remains the operative code for visa applications throughout 2026. Watch the skilled occupation list updates for transition announcements.
Which industry sectors hire the most overseas-trained company secretaries?
Resources, financial services, and infrastructure are the most consistent sponsors. BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, Macquarie, the Big 4 banks, AMP, and the major super funds run large governance teams comfortable with international hires. ASX-listed mid-caps in property and energy also sponsor occasionally. Not-for-profits and government agencies rarely sponsor — the budget and demand sit firmly in private-sector listed entities.
