Temporary

Candidates for contract positions with public accounting firms in Australia need a work visa provided by the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. These visas, entitled Temporary Business (Long Stay) Visas, are granted to public accounting firms under an agreement entitling them to sponsor skilled employees for a period ranging from three months to four years. At the end of the term, expatriate employees must return to their country of origin. 

Permanent

For accountants who are interested in permanent residency in Australia and who do not have an employer/sponsor, application must be made to obtain a work visa. Accountancy is considered a profession and earns the full 60 points required on the government’s point test to obtain a visa. The most desirable applicants are people under 45 years of age with recent, related work experience and a good command of English. There are several web sites that provide a free online assessment of a potential applicant’s qualifications. See:

http://www.australia.gov.au/365
http://www.immi.gov.au/migration/employers/index.htm
http://www.immi.gov.au/employers-info/overseas_worker.htm

Accountants whose family accompanies them to Australia will need to investigate the potential for their spouse to be employed during the term of their contract. The spouse will require a temporary visa that grants permission for employment. Without this visa, foreign nationals are not permitted to take employment. Strict fines can apply if employment is taken without the appropriate documentation.