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Visa sponsorship
Hi
I would like advice regarding emigrating to Australia.
My husband is a part qualified accountant he has 6 years work experience in commercial financial reporting and analysis as well as management accountant. However, he also has over 8 years experience as light vehicle yesterday as his dad runs a garage and he has been working there on weekends however he doesnt have any formal qualifications needed for mechanic. What would be his best options for visa?
Thanks
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10 Replies
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Hi Miriam,
Thanks for reaching out and welcone to our community! Your husband’s experience in both accounting and as a light vehicle mechanic opens up a couple of different visa pathways, but there are some key considerations regarding qualifications and skills assessments.
Accounting Pathway
If your husband is aiming to migrate as an accountant, he would need a skills assessment from a recognised assessing authority such as CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), or IPA (Institute of Public Accountants).
Since he is only part-qualified, he may not meet the full assessment criteria. Generally, a bachelor’s degree in accounting (or closely related field) is required.
The occupation code for Management Accountant is ANZSCO 221112, and for General Accountant it is ANZSCO 221111. Both are currently on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), meaning there are more visa options available, such as:
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – No sponsorship required, but points-based.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – State nomination required.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Requires nomination by a state/territory or a family sponsor in a regional area.
Light Vehicle Mechanic Pathway
The Light Vehicle Mechanic occupation (ANZSCO 321211) is on the MLTSSL, making it eligible for skilled visas.
However, he would need to complete a skills assessment through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). Since he doesn’t have formal qualifications, he may be able to apply for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process to demonstrate his experience.
One option could be the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP), where he provides evidence of work experience, training, and practical skills.
If successful, this could lead to the same visa pathways as accounting (189, 190, 491).
Employer-Sponsored Visa (482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa)
If he can secure a job offer from an Australian employer willing to sponsor him, he may be eligible for a subclass 482 visa (TSS visa) under the Light Vehicle Mechanic occupation.
He would still need to pass a skills assessment (unless exempt).
A good place to search for employer-sponsored jobs is https://482jobs.com, which focuses on visa sponsorship opportunities.
Which Path is Best?
If he can complete his accounting qualification, this could (in theory) be a better long-term option due to broader visa choices and career growth. I add the “in theory” part as its also a very competitive occupation. One of our members @ddt has shared some of her recent struggles securing an opportunity in this space.
On light vehicles, since light vehicle mechanics are in high demand and his experience is strong, he might be able to get a skills assessment and find employer sponsorship more easily.
Feel free to let me know if you would like help finding skills assessment options or job search resources?
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
Best regards,
Mark
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Hi Mark,
He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting snd finance. For CPA skill assessment would he need a IELTS assessment or because he is born and raised in UK and is native english speaker he would not need to do IELTS?
Thanks
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Hi Miriam. Great news on the degree 🙂
On the IELTS question. Since your husband was born and raised in the UK, he does not need to take an IELTS test for his CPA skills assessment.
CPA Australia, CAANZ, and IPA all exempt applicants from providing an English test if they hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, or New Zealand.
However, while he doesn’t need IELTS for the skills assessment, taking an English test like IELTS or PTE (Pearson Test of English) can still be beneficial for visa points.
The General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas (Subclass 189, 190, 491) use a points-based system, and English proficiency contributes significantly:
Competent English (default for UK passport holders) – 0 points
Proficient English (IELTS 7 in each band or PTE 65) – +10 points
Superior English (IELTS 8 in each band or PTE 79) – +20 points 😳
See the article here for more info.
Since accounting is a highly competitive occupation, getting extra points through an English test can improve his chances of receiving an invitation for a skilled visa of applying independently of requiring a sponsor.
I hope this helps.
Best regards,
Mark
gettingdownunder.com
IELTS Score For Australia - A Definitive Guide - Getting Down Under
We have had several enquiries recently regarding the IELTS requirements for Australia or more specifically, the actual IELTS score for Australia that is
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Thanks Mark, my sister in law is a permanent resident in Melbourne would you say the best route would be the 491 visa? Also i have read that accountant invitations are very few and very competitive and need to be at higher end of the points?
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Hi Miriam,
Yes, you’re absolutely right. Accounting is highly competitive at the moment and invitations typically go to applicants with very high points (often 85-95+ for a 189 visa).
Because of this, the 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa could be a strong option for your husband, especially since your sister-in-law is a permanent resident in Melbourne.
Why the 491 Visa Might Be a Good Option
The 491 visa is a regional visa that requires either state/territory nomination or family sponsorship in a designated regional area.
The good news is that all of Victoria (including Melbourne) is considered regional for the 491 visa.
If your sister-in-law is willing to sponsor him, he may be eligible under the family-sponsored stream.
Key Benefits of the 491 Visa
You may already know this but for the benefit of our other members. Some of the key benefits of the 491 Visa include:
- Lower points requirement: The points threshold is often lower than the 189 visa since family sponsorship adds 15 extra points.
- Priority processing: Some regional visas are processed faster than 189 invitations.
- Pathway to Permanent Residency (PR): After living and working in a regional area for 3 years, he can apply for the 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.
Other Options to Consider
190 Skilled Nominated Visa (Permanent Residency from Day One): If Victoria nominates him, he could get permanent residency directly. However, Victoria’s 190 nomination for accountants is very competitive, requiring high points and strong work experience.
Employer Sponsorship (482 Visa): If he finds an employer willing to sponsor him, he could get a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482), which might later lead to permanent residency through the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa.
Next Steps
Check his total points score (including the 15 points from family sponsorship). If he’s close to 85-90, he might still try for a 189 or 190 visa, but if he’s in the 70-80 range, the 491 could be a more realistic option.
Consider taking an English test (IELTS/PTE) to increase his points.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Best regards,
Mark
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What is the best way to find a accounting and finance role that offers sponsorship? We have been using seek and 482jobs but theres hardly any jobs that offer visa sponsorship.
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Hey Miriam. It’s a bit of a stark reality unfortunately with this particular role. We have a small group of editors that search for and repost jobs and the lack of accountancy roles on 482jobs is an indication of the fact that the roles are far and few between.
Some additional Suggested sources for Australian companies who have sponsored accountants:
Based on our own research, below are some companies and industries that have historically sponsored accountants and finance professionals in Australia (noting these are some of the companies our editors regularly check for the roles we add to 482jobs.com)
1. Big 4 Accounting Firms (Most Likely to Sponsor)
These firms have a strong track record of sponsoring skilled migrants, especially in audit, tax, advisory, and financial management roles:
PwC Australia (https://www.pwc.com.au)
Deloitte Australia (https://www2.deloitte.com/au)
EY (Ernst & Young) Australia (https://www.ey.com/en_au)
KPMG Australia (https://home.kpmg/au)
2. Mid-Tier Accounting & Advisory Firms
These firms also sponsor accountants but may have fewer roles available compared to the Big 4:
BDO Australia (https://www.bdo.com.au)
Grant Thornton Australia (https://www.grantthornton.com.au)
RSM Australia (https://www.rsm.global/australia)
Pitcher Partners (https://www.pitcher.com.au)
3. Large Corporations That Have Sponsored Accountants
While not all companies publicly advertise sponsorship, these organisations have historically hired skilled migrants in finance and management accounting roles:
BHP (Mining & Resources) – https://www.bhp.com
Rio Tinto (Mining & Resources) – https://www.riotinto.com
Woolworths Group (Retail & FMCG) – https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au
Coles Group (Retail) – https://www.colesgroup.com.au
Qantas Airways (Aviation & Transport) – https://www.qantas.com/au/en.html
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) – https://www.commbank.com.au
ANZ Bank – https://www.anz.com.au
Westpac Banking Corporation – https://www.westpac.com.au
4. Recruitment Agencies Specialising in Sponsorship
These agencies actively recruit overseas professionals and may have contacts with employers willing to sponsor:
Robert Half Australia (https://www.roberthalf.com.au)
Hays Recruitment (https://www.hays.com.au)
Michael Page Finance (https://www.michaelpage.com.au)
Randstad Australia (https://www.randstad.com.au)
Best Approach to Get Sponsorship as an Accountant in Australia
Check company career pages – Some firms advertise visa sponsorship directly on their job postings (see links above and navigate to their career pages)
Use LinkedIn – Reach out to recruiters and HR managers at these firms. Also consider these tips: 15 Expert Tips to Get Noticed by Australian Recruiters on LinkedIn
Apply for regional roles – Sponsorship is more common in regional locations where there’s a shortage of skilled accountants.
Consider a temporary visa first – Some companies are more willing to sponsor if you’re already in Australia on a Temporary Graduate (485) visa or Working Holiday visa.
I hope this helps Miriam and please let me know if we can assist further.
Regards
Mark
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Hey Mark,
Thanks so much for this 🙂 This helps a lot directly or indirectly. I have recently had a few calls, none offering visa sponsorship but at least I know I have the experience, skills or background they need and some were really kind to say that they would check with colleagues or keep my resume in their files in the event something pops up.
As my visa has expired and I do not have any visa that allows me to work there at the moment, it makes it harder for the recruitment process as well.
Just an update / information I thought I would share with all.
Warm wishes,
Darlene
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Thank you Darlene. I’m really pleased you also found this helpful. Thank you for keeping in touch and providing an update. 🙂
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Tagging our other recent accountants in our community @givy @ddt @Valerie28 @salman and @kavi in case you also find the above information helpful. 🙂
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