South African Accountant to Australia 2026: Visas, CPA/CA ANZ Fees, Points

How a South African chartered accountant (CA(SA)) moves to Australia: which visas Accountant is open to, the three assessing bodies and their fees, the points test, and what changed when the Accounting Professional Year Program was discontinued. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

Watch

Chapters

  1. 0:00 Accountant is on Australia's skilled list — open to 5 visas
  2. 0:14 5 visas open to accountants
  3. 0:31 3 assessing bodies. Any one is accepted.
  4. 0:46 Assessment fees
  5. 1:02 Fast track: ~5 days CPA, ~2 days IPA
  6. 1:26 65 points: the minimum, not the competitive score
  7. 1:43 The Accounting Professional Year Program has been discontinued
  8. 1:55 Visa application charges
  9. 2:11 How long it takes
  10. 2:29 491 → 191 after 3 years.
  11. 2:45 482 needs 1 year of experience, not 2
  12. 2:55 Where to read more

Transcript

Accountant sits on Australia's Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. For a South African CA(SA), that opens up five different visas.

Accountant, ANZSCO two two one one one one, along with External Auditor and Management Accountant, is on that list. That opens the subclass 189, 190, 491, 482 and 186.

Three bodies assess accountants for migration: CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Institute of Public Accountants. A positive result from any one of them is accepted for every skilled visa.

CPA Australia charges $514 offshore, $565 onshore, plus an administration fee, at around 10 business days standard. IPA charges $595, also around 10 business days.

Both bodies offer a faster paid option: around 5 business days for CPA Australia, around 2 business days for IPA.

Accountants need at least Competent English: 6.0 in each IELTS band, for zero points. Proficient, 7.0 per band, adds 10 points. Superior, 8.0 per band, adds 20.

A typical profile: age 25 to 32 scores 30. A Bachelor's degree with honours scores 15. 5 to 7 years of overseas experience scores 10. Proficient English scores 10. That totals 65.

One thing that used to help no longer does. The Accounting Professional Year Program stopped taking new enrolments in March 2025, and wound up completely by the 1st of May 2026.

The visa itself: $6,135 for the subclass 189. $6,140 for the 190 or 491. $4,015 for the employer-sponsored 482.

Processing times vary a lot. The 482 Core Skills stream has a median of 69 days. The 189 sits at 7 months. The 190 and 491 run about 12 months, up to 17 or 18 months for the slowest cases.

The 491 adds 15 points and is often the most realistic route. After three years on it, you can apply for the subclass 191. Home Affairs asks for three years of ATO notices of assessment — but sets no minimum income amount.

One common mix-up: the subclass 482 needs at least 1 year of relevant work experience, not two — worth checking before you assume you don't qualify.

The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.

Short versions

Talk it through with a registered agent

Every agent on Migratio is on the official OMARA register. Compare agents and their consultation fees.

Related Migratio resources