South African Accountants: How to Move Your Career to Australia

TL;DR

South African chartered accountants (CA(SA)) have a clear pathway to Australia. SAICA qualifications are well-regarded, and mutual recognition arrangements with CPA Australia and CA ANZ simplify assessment. Accountant is on the MLTSSL for subclass 189, 190, 491, and 482. Sydney and Melbourne have the strongest finance job markets.

Introduction

Australia's finance and professional services sector is one of the largest in the Asia-Pacific region. Accountants remain on the skilled occupation lists, and demand for qualified professionals continues across audit, tax, management accounting, and financial advisory.

For South African chartered accountants, the pathway is well-trodden. SAICA (the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants) has established mutual recognition agreements with Australian professional bodies. Thousands of South African CAs already work in Australia, and the community is strong.

This guide covers everything from skills assessment through to settling in. For the broader picture of relocating from South Africa, see the complete overview guide.

Visa Options for South African Accountants

Accountant (ANZSCO 221111) and related roles like External Auditor (221213) and Management Accountant (221112) appear on the MLTSSL. This gives you access to the full range of skilled visas.

Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent

The subclass 189 grants permanent residence without employer sponsorship or state nomination. Accounting is one of the most popular 189 occupations, which means competition is high and a high points score matters more than the 65-point minimum.

The high competition makes English scores and additional points factors critical for accountants pursuing the 189. Check your estimated score with the points calculator.

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated

State nomination adds 5 points and requires you to live in the nominating state for two years. Not every state nominates accountants — check current state nomination lists before applying. States like South Australia and Tasmania have historically been more open to accounting nominations.

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional

The regional pathway adds 15 points. This is often the most accessible route for accountants whose 189 score falls short. After three years of holding the visa, you can apply for the subclass 191: Home Affairs requires notices of assessment from the ATO for three of those years, but sets no minimum income amount.

Regional areas include everywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane — so cities like Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, and Canberra all count. Several of these cities have growing finance sectors and established South African communities. For more on visa pathways from South Africa, see our detailed guide.

Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) allows an Australian employer to sponsor you directly. You need at least one year of relevant work experience and must meet the salary threshold. The employer must be an approved sponsor.

This route bypasses the points test. It is particularly useful if you have a job offer from an Australian firm. The 482 leads to permanent residence through the subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) after a qualifying period.

Skills Assessment for South African Accountants

Three bodies assess accountants for migration purposes:

• CPA Australia
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
• Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)

You choose one. A positive assessment from any of the three is accepted for all skilled visa subclasses.

SAICA Mutual Recognition

SAICA has mutual recognition arrangements with both CPA Australia and CA ANZ. This means your CA(SA) qualification is recognised as meeting many of the core requirements. However, mutual recognition for migration assessment and mutual recognition for full professional membership are different things.

For the migration skills assessment, you submit your qualifications, transcripts, and work experience evidence. The assessing body confirms that you meet the requirements for the Accountant occupation. This is a migration-specific assessment — it does not automatically grant you membership or practice rights.

For full professional membership after you arrive, each body has its own bridging or pathway requirements. CA ANZ, for example, has an international pathway for SAICA members that may involve completing specific modules. CPA Australia has a similar process.

What to Submit

Regardless of which body you choose, you typically need:

• Certified copies of your degree and postgraduate qualifications
• SAICA membership certificate and letter of good standing
• Academic transcripts showing subjects completed
• Evidence of relevant work experience (employer references on letterhead)
• English test results (unless exempt)

Assessment Costs and Timing

CPA Australia and IPA both offer a faster paid option: around 5 business days for CPA Australia, around 2 business days for IPA. CA ANZ's fast-track option and fee are on its own fees page. Fees are reviewed periodically — check the assessing body's own fee page before applying. Start your assessment early. You cannot lodge a visa application without a positive outcome.

English Requirements

Accountants need at least Competent English:

• IELTS: 6.0 in each band
• PTE Academic: 50 in each section

South African applicants who completed their degree in English at a recognised South African university may be eligible for an English exemption for the skills assessment. However, sitting a test is strongly recommended because English points are the single biggest differentiator for accountants on the points test.

Because accounting is a high-competition MLTSSL occupation, scoring well above the 65-point minimum usually means Proficient (10 points) or Superior (20 points) English rather than Competent. South Africans educated in English are well-positioned to score highly with preparation.

Points Test Strategy for Accountants

Here is a typical profile for a 29-year-old CA(SA) with 5 years of post-qualification experience:

At 65 points, you meet the minimum but are unlikely to receive a 189 invitation for accounting. Ways to improve:

• Superior English (IELTS 8.0): 20 points instead of 10
• NAATI CCL: +5 points for community language certification (Afrikaans may be available)
• State nomination (190): +5 points
• Regional nomination (491): +15 points
• Partner skills: +5 to 10 points if your partner has a skills assessment and competent English

A Professional Year used to add 5 points for accountants, but CPA Australia, CA ANZ and IPA jointly discontinued the Accounting Professional Year Program — new enrolments stopped in March 2025 and the program wound up by 1 May 2026. It is no longer an available strategy for this occupation.

The 491 is often the most realistic pathway for accountants. With the example above plus regional nomination, you reach 80 points — competitive for many states. Use the points calculator to model different scenarios.

Costs and Timeline

Total Estimated Costs

The SAPS fee is the government charge for lodging the application in South Africa; applying from Australia through a courier or agent, or via a South African mission, typically costs more, and neither publishes a fixed schedule. Home Affairs does not set a fixed price for the visa medical examination — panel physicians set their own fee, so check with your panel clinic directly. Migration agent fees are not published as a market rate: the Code of Conduct requires the fee to be set out in your written service agreement, with no payment (beyond a reasonable initial-consultation fee) taken before that agreement is signed. On Migratio, agents' initial consultation fees have run from 150 to 275 AUD (median 220), based on 686 quotes across 57 agents as at September 2026.

Typical Timeline

Processing times are Home Affairs' published medians and 90th percentiles for the quarter ending 30 June 2026, and move over time — check the current figures before planning around them. The EOI invitation wait is the biggest variable for the 189: accounting is a high-competition occupation, and some applicants do not receive an invitation at all in a given programme year.

Employer Sponsorship Reality

Where Accounting Jobs Are

Sydney and Melbourne dominate Australia's finance sector. The Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) and mid-tier firms have offices in both cities. Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide also have growing professional services markets.

Industry sectors beyond public practice include:

• Banking and financial services — major banks and insurers
• Mining and resources — management accounting and financial reporting
• Government — federal and state public service roles
• Technology — fintech companies and startups

Getting Sponsored

Many accounting firms sponsor skilled overseas professionals. To increase your chances:

• Apply for roles directly through firm websites and job boards like Seek
• Specify in your application that you are open to sponsorship and have relevant work rights or are seeking sponsorship
• Build connections through industry events and Australian branches of South African professional networks
• Consider mid-tier and boutique firms — they often have easier sponsorship processes than the Big Four
• A MARA-registered migration agent can advise on employers known to sponsor

The 482 visa requires the employer to pay at least the Core Skills income threshold. For accountants, this means salaries are generally competitive from the outset.

Settlement Notes

Professional Registration

To practise as a registered accountant in Australia, you need membership with CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA. This is separate from the migration skills assessment. Each body has a membership pathway for internationally qualified accountants.

CA ANZ offers a specific pathway for SAICA members. CPA Australia accepts international qualifications with bridging study requirements. Research both before deciding which to join long-term.

Professional Year Programme

The Accounting Professional Year Program — a 44-week programme combining formal learning and a 12-week internship, worth 5 points and Australian workplace experience — was jointly discontinued by CPA Australia, CA ANZ and IPA. New enrolments stopped in March 2025 and the program wound up all activity by 1 May 2026, so it is no longer available to accountants. Professional Year programmes continue to run for other occupations, such as computing and engineering.

South African Community

The South African community in Australia is large and well-organised. Cities like Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney have South African social clubs, braai groups, churches, and professional networks. Several LinkedIn groups connect South African finance professionals in Australia. This community can be invaluable for job leads, settling-in advice, and social support. Read our settling guide for more on daily life.

Next Steps

1. Check the occupation lists. Confirm that Accountant (221111) or your specific role is listed for your preferred visa at Home Affairs.
2. Estimate your points. Run your profile through the Migratio points calculator.
3. Choose your assessing body. Compare CPA Australia, CA ANZ, and IPA. Start the assessment process early.
4. Book your English test. A strong score is critical for accountants. Register at IELTS or PTE Academic.
5. Prepare your documents. Begin the authentication process for your South African qualifications and police clearance.
6. Consider your pathway. If the 189 looks out of reach on points, investigate state nomination (190) or the regional pathway (491).
7. Talk to a migration agent. A MARA-registered agent can assess your specific circumstances and recommend a strategy. See our guide on how to choose a migration agent.

Related Resources

• South Africa to Australia: The Complete 2026 Overview
• Australian Visa Options for South Africans
• Cost of Moving to Australia from South Africa
• South Africa Document Authentication for Australia
• Settling in Australia from South Africa
• South African Civil Engineers Moving to Australia
• What Is a Skills Assessment?
• How to Choose a Migration Agent

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Is a CA(SA) recognised in Australia?

CPA Australia has a membership pathway agreement with SAICA, and CA ANZ has a reciprocal membership agreement with SAICA through the Global Accounting Alliance. Your CA(SA) is well-regarded, but you still need a formal migration skills assessment — a separate process from professional membership. Bridging requirements may apply for full local registration depending on which body you apply through.

Do I need to complete a Professional Year in Australia?

No — the Accounting Professional Year Program has been discontinued. CPA Australia, CA ANZ and IPA jointly stopped taking new enrolments in March 2025 and wound the program up entirely by 1 May 2026, so it can no longer be used to add 5 points or gain Australian workplace experience for the accounting occupation.

Which assessing body should I choose — CPA, CA ANZ, or IPA?

All three are accepted for migration purposes. CA ANZ has a reciprocal membership arrangement with SAICA through the Global Accounting Alliance and may be a smooth pathway for CA(SA) holders. CPA Australia is the largest body and widely recognised. Compare their assessment fees, processing times and ongoing membership benefits before choosing.

Can I work in public practice in Australia with my South African qualification?

Working in public practice (audit, tax) requires registration with one of the Australian professional bodies and may involve bridging exams or courses. The migration skills assessment alone does not grant public practice rights. Check specific requirements with CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA.

What salary can I expect as an accountant in Australia?

Migratio does not publish salary benchmarks — pay varies by city, firm size, specialisation and experience. Job listings on Seek and firm-published graduate programme pages are a more current source than any fixed figure.