The Institute of Managers and Leaders is the named assessing authority for ANZSCO 111111 — Chief Executive or Managing Director — and the related management codes in unit group 1111. The assessment is mandatory for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry pathway and waived for Subclass 186 TRT after a Subclass 482 period.
This guide is what IML actually checks, what fails, and how to assemble an evidence pack that clears the first review.
What IML assesses
IML evaluates two dimensions: qualifications and employment. Both must align with the ANZSCO 111111 occupation profile published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Qualifications. A bachelor degree or higher in a discipline relevant to senior management. Common acceptable disciplines include business administration, commerce, finance, economics, engineering management, public administration, and law. IML may accept a lower qualification combined with substantial senior management experience, but the bar rises.
Employment. A minimum of five years post-qualification employment in management, with the most recent two years at Chief Executive or Managing Director level or equivalent. "Equivalent" means the role had genuine final-decision authority — strategic planning, P&L responsibility, and reporting to a board, governing body, or sole shareholder.
The ANZSCO 111111 task profile
ABS defines the role as one that "determines, formulates and reviews the general policy program and the overall direction of an organisation within the framework established by a board of directors or similar governing body." IML maps your reference letters to these specific duties:
- Determining objectives, strategies, policies, and programs
- Providing overall direction and management of the organisation
- Directing and ensuring conformity with relevant legislation
- Authorising material commitments and managing all programs
- Consulting with senior subordinate staff and reviewing operational reports
- Representing the organisation in external negotiations
- Selecting and managing senior staff
A reference that says "managed a team of 50" without describing strategic decision-making, board interaction, or overall direction will not satisfy the assessor.
The evidence pack
A clean IML submission has four sections. Build them in this order.
1. Identity and qualifications.
- Certified copy of passport bio page
- Certified copy of birth certificate (if name on passport differs from academic transcripts)
- Certified copies of degrees and academic transcripts
- If qualifications are non-Australian, an academic credential evaluation may be required — IML will tell you when
2. Employment evidence.
- Detailed CV listing every role, dates (DD/MM/YYYY), employer, location, and reporting line
- Reference letter on company letterhead for each role claimed, signed by the Chair, board member, or HR director — not by yourself, and not by a direct subordinate
- Each reference letter must include: exact role title; start and end dates; full-time or part-time status with hours per week; a description of duties mapped to the ANZSCO 111111 task list; a sign-off block with signatory name, position, contact email, and direct phone line
3. Salary and tax evidence.
- Tax returns or statements covering the claimed period
- Payslips for at least the most recent 12 months in each claimed role
- Bank statements showing salary credits matching payslips
4. Organisational context.
- Organisation chart for each employer showing your position, your direct reports, and the line above you (the board or governing body)
- Annual report or audited financials for the most recent year of each role, demonstrating organisation size and complexity
- Any board minutes or letters of appointment where you appear as Chief Executive or equivalent
Five rejection patterns we see most often
1. Reference letters with no task detail. "John was an excellent CEO" is not evidence. The assessor cannot map that to the ANZSCO 111111 duties. Each reference needs at least 250–400 words describing actual duties using language that mirrors the ABS task profile.
2. Title inflation. "CEO of a small consultancy" where the consultancy was a single-person operation does not meet the ANZSCO 111111 threshold. The role needs strategic decision authority over an organisation, not over yourself. Closer matches for solo or sub-scale operations may be 132111 Corporate Services Manager or 132411 Policy and Planning Manager — different codes, different assessing authorities.
3. Missing organisational context. Without an org chart or annual report, the assessor cannot verify that the role had the scope claimed. Include the chart for each year of the claimed period if structures changed.
4. Identity-document drift. Names on the passport, birth certificate, and academic transcripts must reconcile. If you changed name, include the certificate of name change. Mismatches trigger a request for further documents and add weeks.
5. Reference signatory conflicts. Letters signed by direct reports or by yourself fail the independence test. The signatory must be senior to you in the structure — chair, board member, or HR director — and contactable on a verifiable corporate channel.
How long it takes and what it costs
IML publishes its current processing times and fee schedule on its own website. The fee is not displayed publicly — you request a quote when starting the application, and IML responds within a few business days.
A clean submission typically lands an outcome inside 8 to 12 weeks. Submissions with gaps or inconsistent evidence can run 4 to 6 months because every clarification round adds 2 to 4 weeks. The fastest way to shorten the calendar is to be complete on day one — there is no "fast-track" option.
How the assessment fits the visa application
For Subclass 186 Direct Entry, the IML positive assessment is one of the four core requirements (alongside the employer nomination, your three years of full-time post-qualification work, and competent English). You attach the assessment outcome letter to your visa application in ImmiAccount.
For Subclass 482, the December 2024 reform removed the skills assessment requirement at the visa stage. Your employer's nomination evidence — the position description, salary documentation, and labour market testing where applicable — does the verification job.
For Subclass 186 TRT after a 482 period, no fresh IML assessment is required as long as you have worked the nominated 482 occupation with the same employer for at least two of the previous three years.
Where IML sits in the Australian regulatory map
IML is one of several authorities Home Affairs accredits for ANZSCO assessment. Authorities are listed under Skills assessment for migration on the Home Affairs site. For ANZSCO 111111 there is no second-choice authority — IML is the only accredited assessor, so you cannot shop around.
If you want to verify any migration agent advising you, search the MARA register.
Practical preparation order
- Confirm ANZSCO 111111 is the correct code — cross-check the ANZSCO search with your role title and scope
- Build the CV first; it tells you which roles need reference letters
- Draft the reference letters yourself, hand them to the signatory in Word format with the dates and duties pre-filled — saves weeks
- Order certified document copies once everything is drafted, not before
- Submit through IML's online portal in a single complete batch — partial submissions create more friction than they save
For your end-to-end document plan, use the document checklist.
Next step
Want a registered MARA agent to review your IML evidence pack before you submit? Book a free 30-minute strategy call. We'll spot the gaps an assessor would flag.