Senior manager in Vietnam? Ask these questions before planning your Australian visa

Visa guide · 2026-09-28 · 3 min read

You may have worked hard for many years and grown from executive to senior manager. That is a real achievement. But Australia does not give a visa because of a job title. It looks at your duties, which means the work you really do. This guide helps you think clearly before you make big decisions.

Why the title is not enough

Two people can both be Operations Manager. One leads a whole business unit and manages the budget. Other managers report to this person. The other leads a small team and sends most decisions to a higher level. Their titles are the same. Their work is not. In a visa assessment, they may be placed in different occupations.

The same is true for Director or Vice President. In some companies these titles are given to senior specialists. In others they are only for people who lead the whole company. So keep your attention on your duties: planning, budgets, policy and leading senior staff.

The main routes, in plain words

There is no visa called Australian Manager Visa. Managers often look at these routes.

Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). An employer sponsors you. This means the employer supports your visa. It has Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams. For 2026-27, the indexed income thresholds are roughly AUD 79,423 and AUD 146,576 for the two streams. You generally need at least 12 months of relevant experience.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). This is a permanent visa. A temporary sponsored job can sometimes lead to it.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494). This visa can run up to five years. It may lead to permanent residence. It is for regional areas, not only big cities.
Points-tested visas (subclasses 189, 190 and 491). Your age, occupation, English and qualifications matter. The 190 and 491 need state or territory nomination.

Rules and thresholds change. Please check the Home Affairs visa listing first.

Questions to ask yourself

Which occupation truly matches my duties?
Is that occupation eligible for the route I want?
How does my age affect my options?
Does my salary meet the rules and match the market?
Do I need a skills assessment?
Is there an employer who can and will sponsor me?
Should I look at regional roles?
Can I prove my experience?
What is my path to permanent residence?

Answer these before you resign, move your family, or count on an employer to sponsor you.

Prepare your Vietnamese documents

Keep your work contracts, reference letters, promotion letters, payslips and tax papers. Keep charts that show who reports to you, and proof of the budgets you manage. Your degree may be assessed again in Australia if a visa or employer asks for it. Where the visa rules ask, get certified English translations of Vietnamese documents. If a police certificate is requested, you will usually need the Judicial Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2). You may also need IELTS or PTE.

Stay safe

Deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a job or a visa.

Being wanted is not the same as being eligible

Employers in Australia may value your record in sales, operations, projects or compliance. That is employability. A visa is a separate question about eligibility. You need both. Check each one early, and you will have fewer surprises later.

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