Licensed Club Manager Visa Pathway to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
Updated: 16 June 2026
Australia classifies Licensed Club Manager under ANZSCO 141411, a Skill Level 2 occupation needing an AQF Diploma or higher. VETASSESS conducts the skills assessment. The occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) but unlocks only the employer-sponsored subclasses 482 and 186, not the points-tested 189, 190 or 491. Typical 2026 salaries run AUD $75,000-$110,000 depending on club size and gaming scope.
Quick Facts: Licensed Club Manager Migration Pathway
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 141411 (Licensed Club Manager) |
| Skill Level | 2 (AQF Diploma or higher, or equivalent experience) |
| Skills Assessment | VETASSESS (Group C) |
| Occupation List | CSOL only — not on MLTSSL or STSOL |
| Visa Options | 482, 186 |
| Demand Level | Moderate — steady demand from registered and licensed clubs, strongest in NSW and Queensland |
| Salary Range | AUD $75,000-$110,000 (SEEK 2026) |
| Typical Pathway | Employer sponsorship — no points-tested route applies |
| Key Challenge | No 189/190/491 access, plus local licensing and RSA/RSG requirements on arrival |
What a Licensed Club Manager Does in Australia
A Licensed Club Manager organises and controls the operations of a licensed club to provide food, beverages, gaming, entertainment, sporting and other amenities for members. The role blends hospitality operations with regulated gaming and liquor management. Daily work includes planning and supervising bar, restaurant and function services, running gaming and entertainment activities, overseeing security and property maintenance, reviewing member satisfaction, and liaising with community groups the club sponsors. Financial accountability is central, since registered clubs are member-owned and report to boards.
Australia's club sector is large and distinctive, particularly in New South Wales, where registered and licensed clubs, including RSL, sports and community clubs, form a major part of local social and economic life. Queensland also has a substantial club scene. These venues run sizeable gaming, food and beverage operations, which means experienced managers who understand both hospitality and the heavy compliance load around gaming and liquor are in steady demand. The work is regulated, so local licensing and responsible-service credentials matter from day one.
ANZSCO Code 141411 in Detail
The code 141411 sits in ANZSCO unit group 1414, Licensed Club Managers. The official description covers organising and controlling the operations of a licensed club to provide food, beverages, gaming, entertainment, sporting and other amenities for members, with registration or licensing required. Core tasks include planning and supervising bar, restaurant and function services; planning, booking and supervising sporting, gaming and entertainment activities; supervising security and property maintenance; assessing member satisfaction; and liaising with sponsored community groups.
This is a narrow, specific code. It is distinct from Hotel or Motel Manager (141311) and from Cafe or Restaurant Manager. If your venue is a member-based licensed club with gaming and sporting amenities, 141411 is the fit. If it is a hotel, pub or restaurant, a different code applies. VETASSESS assesses against the duties your references describe, so the club context needs to be clear in your documentation.
Skills Assessment
VETASSESS (Group C)
VETASSESS assesses Licensed Club Manager as a Group C occupation, examining both a relevant qualification and relevant employment.
Requirements:
- A qualification assessed at AQF Diploma level or higher in a highly relevant field, plus at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at the appropriate skill level in the last five years, OR
- An AQF Diploma combined with an additional AQF Certificate IV qualification in a highly relevant field, plus at least one year of relevant employment, OR
- A higher qualification in a related discipline supported by relevant employment.
Assessment cost: AUD $1,096 for applicants outside Australia (AUD $1,205.60 including GST for online applications within Australia), current after the 22 October 2025 fee increase.
Processing time: Around 7 weeks standard. Priority processing returns an outcome in about 10 business days for an extra AUD $825 (AUD $907.50 including GST).
Common rejection reasons: Employment that describes general hospitality or single-department supervision rather than running a licensed club, including its gaming and member functions; and qualifications that are not highly relevant without enough employment to bridge the gap. From 1 January 2026, Pathway 1 applicants must also lodge a Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Skills assessment with their documents.
Visa Pathways for Licensed Club Managers
Licensed Club Manager (141411) is on the CSOL only. It is not on the MLTSSL, the STSOL or the Regional Occupation List, which closes the points-tested subclasses 189, 190 and 491. The only routes are employer-sponsored.
Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand (Temporary)
The primary pathway. A registered or licensed club sponsors you into the role.
- Visa fee: AUD $1,895 (Core stream) or AUD $3,035 (Specialist stream)
- Eligibility: A sponsoring employer, a positive VETASSESS assessment, and a salary meeting the relevant income threshold
- Duration: Up to four years, depending on stream
- Quirk: Pay at smaller clubs can sit near the Core stream floor, so confirm the offered package clears the current threshold before the nomination is lodged.
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent)
Permanent residency through an employer, usually after time on a 482.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910 (primary applicant)
- Streams: Direct Entry for applicants who already meet the experience and skills test, or the Temporary Residence Transition stream after qualifying 482 service
- Quirk: With no points route, the 186 is the main permanent-residency destination, so a stable relationship with a sponsoring club is central to the plan.
Note: there is no Points Test section for this occupation. Because 189, 190 and 491 are closed, the points test does not apply. Focus on securing a sponsoring club and meeting the salary threshold.
State Nomination
State and territory nomination runs through the 190 and 491 visas, neither of which is open to Licensed Club Manager, since the occupation does not appear on the lists those visas use. State nomination is therefore not a pathway for this code in 2026. Direct your effort to employer sponsorship through the 482 and 186. The club sector is concentrated in New South Wales and Queensland, so that is where sponsoring employers are most likely to be found.
Salary and Employment Outlook
| Role | Typical Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Duty / Operations Manager | AUD $70,000-$85,000 |
| Club Manager (smaller club) | AUD $75,000-$90,000 |
| Venue / Club Manager (mid to large) | AUD $90,000-$110,000 |
| Chief Executive / General Manager (large club) | AUD $120,000-$180,000+ |
SEEK places club manager pay around AUD $75,000-$85,000 and venue manager pay around AUD $85,000-$100,000, with the larger registered clubs paying well above that for general managers and chief executives. Big NSW clubs running substantial gaming and hospitality operations are at the top of the market. Packages add superannuation at 11.5%, and some clubs offer performance bonuses tied to member growth and financial results.
The best-paid roles are general management of large registered clubs, where the manager carries full commercial and compliance responsibility for a multi-million-dollar operation. Gaming and liquor compliance experience is valued, because mistakes in this area carry regulatory and financial consequences for member-owned organisations.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Secure a sponsoring club first. With no points route, the 482 offer is the entire pathway. A positive skills assessment alone does not produce a visa.
- Make the club context explicit in references. VETASSESS needs to see member-based club operations, including gaming and function management, not generic hospitality supervision. This is the most common point of failure.
- Confirm the 482 salary threshold in writing. Pay at smaller clubs can land near the Core stream floor, so check the current income figure against the offered package.
- Plan for local licensing on arrival. Managing a licensed venue with gaming requires credentials such as Responsible Service of Alcohol and Responsible Service of Gaming, which are obtained in Australia. Build time for these into your relocation plan.
- Prepare your LLND assessment early. From January 2026 it must accompany your VETASSESS documents, so arrange it at the outset rather than after lodgement.
Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap
- Confirm your ANZSCO code with the ANZSCO code finder and check 141411 fits a licensed-club role.
- Confirm CSOL status on the Core Skills Occupation List and review the Skilled Occupation List for 2026.
- Find a sponsoring club, since the pathway is employer-sponsored only.
- Gather references describing licensed-club management, including gaming and functions.
- Sit an English test to meet the visa English requirement.
- Lodge your VETASSESS skills assessment with the LLND assessment included.
- Have the club lodge the 482 nomination and confirm the salary threshold is met.
- Apply for the 482 visa and begin work.
- Obtain local RSA and RSG credentials as required for the role.
- Transition to the 186 through Direct Entry or Temporary Residence Transition for permanent residency.
- Complete health and character checks at each stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't a Licensed Club Manager use the 189, 190 or 491 visas?
Licensed Club Manager (141411) appears only on the Core Skills Occupation List. It is not on the MLTSSL, STSOL or Regional Occupation List, and those are the lists the 189, 190 and 491 visas draw from. The eligible subclasses are the employer-sponsored 482 and 186, so the route depends on a sponsoring club rather than a points score.
How is this different from a Hotel or Motel Manager?
A Hotel or Motel Manager (141311) runs a property providing guest accommodation. A Licensed Club Manager runs a member-based licensed club providing food, beverages, gaming, entertainment and sporting amenities. The gaming, member-services and community-liaison duties distinguish the club role, and using the wrong code will undermine the skills assessment.
Do I need gaming or liquor licences before applying?
You do not need Australian licences to lodge the skills assessment or visa, but managing a licensed club with gaming requires local credentials such as Responsible Service of Alcohol and Responsible Service of Gaming, obtained after you arrive. Some states also require club managers to hold or work toward specific licences, so confirm the rules for your state.
Where are most club manager jobs located?
New South Wales has by far the largest registered and licensed club sector, followed by Queensland. Most sponsoring opportunities are concentrated there. Because there is no regional points incentive for this occupation, location is driven by where the clubs are rather than by visa strategy.
What can a licensed club manager earn in Australia?
SEEK data places club manager pay around AUD $75,000-$85,000 and venue management around AUD $85,000-$100,000, with general managers of large registered clubs earning AUD $120,000-$180,000 and beyond. Superannuation at 11.5% is added, and larger clubs often pay performance bonuses tied to financial and membership results.
