The Australian Government’s General Skilled Migration Program is implemented through a partnership between government and industry.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) work with industry (represented by professional migration assessing authorities) to ensure that policies and procedures for assessing the skills of prospective migrants are appropriate, transparent and do not pose unreasonable barriers to migration.
CPA Australia is one of three assessing authorities specified by the minister for immigration and citizenship in accordance with the Migration Regulations Act 1994 to undertake migration skills assessments for:
- accountant (general) (ANZSCO code 221111)
- external auditor (ANZSCO code 221213)
- management accountant (ANZSCO code 221112)
- taxation accountant (ANZSCO code 221113)
- finance manager (AZNSCO code 132211)
- corporate treasurer (ANZSCO code 221212)
DEEWR supported this process through its role in approving migration assessing authorities. Approval is granted to professional bodies which meet established criteria, including a commitment to support of the objectives of the General Skilled Migration Program and the provision of an appropriate assessment service to prospective migrants.
Step-by-step guide: applying to migrate to Australia
- Do you want to migrate to Australia under the general skilled migration visa categories in one of the accounting occupations listed above?
- If so, you will need to have your skills assessed by CPA Australia.
- CPA Australia will assess your skills and let you know if they are suitable or not suitable for your nominated occupation against the requirements it has established.
- This skills assessment must be included with your visa application to DIAC.
- Make certified copies for your own records of your skills assessment and any other documentation before you give the originals to DIAC.
- You must also show DIAC all the documentation you have relied upon when seeking a skills assessment.
Successfully migrating to Australia in your chosen accounting occupation is no guarantee of membership of CPA Australia, or employment in Australia.
A positive assessment from CPA Australia does not guarantee that your visa application will be successful.
CPA Australia can only provide advice on applying for a skills assessment. Questions relating to migration should be directed to DIAC.