Senior Executive Migration to Australia

We specialize in making migration to Australia easy for our clients. While it is a complex process, we can guide you and help you prepare documents to present your best possible case to the Australian Government. Below is a brief summary of the rules.

If you want our help, and do not like reading rules please complete our Free Business Case Assessment.

Senior Executive Migration 2 Stage Process

The Australian Government offers a 2 stage process for Senior Executives to gain Permanent Residence in Australia. Stage 1 is a four year business visa. At stage 2 you have a number of options, listed below.

Stage 1: Temporary Senior Executive Visa

There are 2 ways to apply for the Stage 1 temporary senior executive visa – on your own merit, or sponsored by an Australian State/Territory Government. The rules are easier if you are sponsored, but a sponsorship must be obtained (we can arrange sponsorship).

All Senior Executives (sponsored and unsponsored)

Whether you apply on your own merit, or are sponsored, you must:

Have ‘Senior Executive’ management experience:
- Job in the top 3 levels of the management structure of a non-government employer
- Responsibility level: strategic policy development effecting a major part of (or a wide range of operations of) the employer’s business
- Minimum of 2 years experience in the last 4 years in that job
- Employer’s turnover must exceed the amount above during the 2 years you claim
No ‘unacceptable’ business history (examples: illegal drugs, smuggling)
Have a real commitment to own and actively manage a business in Australia (examples: buy a business, enter a partnership, buy a share in a business, establish a new business).
Prove that you need to be personally in Australia to manage that business
Had an overall successful business career (examples: no bankruptcy, company liquidation)
Health & police checks will be required.

How Do I Prove I am a Senior Executive?

The 'top 3 levels' only refers to active management. A corporate structure diagram is the Australian Government's normal means of determining a manager’s position in the company hierarchy. As a general guide, persons described in the prospectus, annual report, etc as Chief Executive, Group/Chief Manager, General Manager of a division/State/region, Owner/manager, or Senior functional manager are likely to be responsible for 'strategic policy development'. You must have been responsible for strategic policy development affecting a major component or a wide range of operations of that major business. To be regarded as "responsible" for those important aspects of the business you must make decisions affecting areas such as (but not necessarily limited to):

Profits;
Production activities;
Significant expenditure; and
Major staffing issues.

The Australian Government believes that ‘strategic policy development’ would be carried out:

Only in the headquarters or general coordinating center for a country or region (if the business operates many small branches, eg a large bank); OR
Only in a headquarters, regional center or other general coordinating center of the business responsible for determining policy.

The Australian Government believes that a person responsible for these aspects of a business would be able to demonstrate several of the following attributes:

A remuneration package in the top 5% of salary earners in the country where the business is operating;
A direct line of communication to the chief executive and/or board of directors of the business;
Your current range of responsibilities includes management responsibility over other specialist or functional managers;
Affiliations with professional management associations that are equivalent to a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management;
Peer and marketplace recognition of your status and reputation (eg by recognition in industry publications);
Evidence that you are highly valued by your organization (are you a beneficiary of company profit-sharing schemes? Are you the subject of "key person" insurance? Were you "headhunted" by the organization?).

Senior Executive (no sponsorship)

To apply on your own merit, you must also meet these requirements:

English - Vocational English required
Age - Under 45
Senior Executive experience - ‘Big business’ employer: employer turnover AUD50,000,000
TotalAssets - AUD500,000, lawfully acquired & available to invest in Australia in 2 years.
Other money - AUD50,000 for settlement and living costs

Stage 2 - Permanent Residence

Senior Executives may apply for Permanent Residence in a number of ways, including:

Employer Sponsored migration
Business Owner (of a business in Australia)

We can give you information on the Permanent Residence option which suits your case best.

We offer a Free Business Case Assessment.

This is a summary of the Rules and is not a substitute for legal advice on your case. We would be very pleased to consult with you regarding your case and advise you about your opportunities.