Accountant (General)
Competitive 189/190 invitations with high points threshold. Specialist tax and audit roles fare best for sponsored 482 pathways.
Years from now to permanent residency
Metro pathway
Major-city study- Master of Professional Accounting · 2 yrConversion master's for non-accounting graduates.
- 485 Graduate Visa · 3 yr
- CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA assessment · 0.4 yr
- EOI + visa grant (medium demand) · 1 yr
Regional pathway
Regional study + 491- Master of Professional Accounting · 2 yrConversion master's for non-accounting graduates.
- 485 Graduate Visa (regional, Cat 2 +1 yr) · 4 yr
- CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA assessment · 0.4 yr
- EOI + 491 grant (medium demand) · 1 yr491 holders convert to PR via the 191 visa after 3 years working in regional Australia. The age clock stops once 491 is granted.
Are you near an age cap?
Australian skilled visas have hard age caps. Enter your age now and we'll flag any visa that would close before you complete this pathway.
Age caps that apply to this occupation
- 186Cap: 45. 186 generally requires under 45 with several concessions.
- 189Cap: 45. 189 has a hard 45 cut-off. Points reduce sharply from 33; from 40, only 15 points for age.
- 190Cap: 45. 190 nomination requires under 45 at invitation.
- 482No general cap. 482 has no general age limit, but the 482 → 186 PR transition typically requires under 45.
- 485Cap: 35. 485 has a hard 35 cut-off, with two narrow exemptions.
- 491Cap: 45. 491 requires under 45 at invitation. Once granted, the age clock stops; 491 → 191 PR has no further age cap.
- 494Cap: 45. 494 requires under 45 with limited exemptions.
Qualifications that lead here
The CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA assessment is the gate. These are the qualifications most commonly accepted to clear it.
Master of Professional Accounting
Conversion master's for non-accounting graduates.
- ·Master of Professional Accounting — Macquarie University
- ·Master of Professional Accounting — UNSW
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
- ·Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) — Monash University
- ·Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) — University of Melbourne
Visa subclasses this occupation unlocks
Employer Nomination Scheme
Skilled Independent
Skilled Nominated (State)
Skills in Demand
Temporary Graduate
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
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Pressure-test your plan with a registered migration agent.
We don't take referral fees. We do recommend confirming your chosen pathway with a MARA-registered agent before paying course deposits; they'll know the latest assessing-authority quirks for your specific qualification.
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Skills assessments and visa criteria are set by individual authorities and the Department of Home Affairs and change regularly. Confirm requirements directly before enrolling in a course.