The Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML ANZ) is the official Australian assessing authority for senior-level management occupations under skilled migration. An IML Skills Assessment reviews your relevant tertiary qualification(s) and up to 10 years of managerial experience against the nominated ANZSCO occupation.
A positive assessment yields a formal skills-assessment letter (valid for 3 years) confirming your eligibility for migration purposes. A negative outcome provides detailed feedback on deficiencies. Applicants must apply online, submit extensive supporting documents, and pay the non-refundable fee in full at lodgement.
Purpose and Outcomes of IML Skills Assessment
The IML Migration Skills Assessment exists solely to evaluate senior management skills for Australian skilled migration. It is not a general migration advice service, and it cannot predict visa grant chances or replace Home Affairs guidance. Specifically, IML assesses whether your qualifications and experience meet the requirements of one of nine managerial ANZSCO occupations. The purpose is to confirm that you hold the skills needed for your nominated role.
A positive outcome is a letter stating that your qualifications and experience satisfy IML’s criteria. This letter is a prerequisite for various skilled visa streams. It is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. If IML finds gaps, you receive a negative decision with reasons. You may then either request a review or, if still unsuccessful, appeal the decision. Throughout, IML reserves the right to verify any information with third parties, including contacting your referees or employers.
Required Eligibility Criteria
Occupations Criteria
IML assesses only senior-level management roles. The nine eligible ANZSCO codes (with common titles) are:
- 111111 Chief Executive or Managing Director
- 111211 Corporate General Manager
- 131112 Sales and Marketing Manager
- 131113 Advertising Manager
- 131114 Public Relations Manager
- 132311 Human Resource Manager
- 133211 Engineering Manager
- 133611 Supply and Distribution Manager
- 133612 Procurement Manager
If your occupation is not on this list, you must find the correct assessing authority via the Home Affairs skilled occupation list.
Work Experience Criteria
Applicants must have substantial managerial experience. IML explicitly states that recent graduates without work experience are not eligible. There is no minimum education level required, but in practice, the work experience must clearly demonstrate senior management experience. Ensure your nominated occupation truly matches your past duties, as choosing the wrong ANZSCO code is a common error.
Visa Requirement Criteria
Only certain visa subclasses require a skill assessment. Verify that your intended visa stream requires an IML assessment. If uncertain, consult a migration agent or Home Affairs. However, you must pay the fee regardless of the outcome, and you cannot withdraw for a full refund after two business days.
One Application, One Occupation
Each application can only cover one ANZSCO occupation. You must select the occupation whose criteria best match your background and provide evidence specific to it. If you later want to be assessed against a different occupation, you must lodge a new application and provide consistent documentation for the new role.
IML Required Documents
Below is a concise table mapping each document type to the evidence required as per IML’s checklist:
| Document Type | Required Evidence/Details (extract from IML Checklist) |
| Identification | Passport bio page, current visa grant (if in Australia), plus two other IDs (e.g., birth cert, driver’s license, national ID, social security card). At least two IDs must have a photo. Provide name-change docs if needed. |
| Qualifications | Degree/diploma certificates (Award) and full academic transcripts. Upload each qualification as a separate PDF. If applicable, include additional documents (e.g., HEC attestations, CSSD verification for China, diploma supplements for the EU, sealed envelopes from Nigeria). |
| Employment Evidence | For each role: Statement of Employment (on letterhead, signed by manager/HR, with your name, dates, hours, title, salary, duties); Organizational Chart (showing CEO/MD, your position, your subordinates, signed); Detailed Position Description of your role; and brief descriptions of your subordinates’ roles. Consolidate each role’s documentation into a single PDF. |
| Additional Employment | Contracts of employment, appointment/promotion letters, pay slips, or bank statements showing salary, employment-linked pension/provident records, and official government records (e.g., visas or tax documents) that corroborate your employment. These are optional, but they strengthen your case. |
| Referees | Names and official contact details (company email, phone) of two referees (current or recent supervisors, or a business associate if you are the CEO). Referees should not be related to you. |
| Resume / CV | A comprehensive CV outlining at least 10 years of career history (companies, positions, dates). (This supplements but does not replace the above evidence.) |
| Competency Statements | Three written examples (≤500 words each) using STAR format, one for each competency area (self, others, business) per IML’s framework. Clearly label which competency each addresses. |
| Agent Form | Signed IML Migration Agent Authorization Form (if appointing or terminating an agent). Submit it with your application. |
Below is the step-by‑step IML application process with complete guidelines by the CDRAustralia.Org professionals team to ensure a positive outcome.
IML accepts applications only through its online portal, and the process is broadly structured as follows:
1.) Select the correct ANZSCO occupation
Identify the ANZSCO code that best matches your role, ensuring it falls within IML’s assessing scope.
Confirm that your job title and responsibilities align with the nominated occupation, not just the title.
2.) Register for an IML account and create a draft
Create an account on the IML migration skills assessment portal.
Start a draft application to review the online form fields and mapping requirements.
3.) Compile and upload documents
Group documents as per the checklist (personal ID, qualifications, employment, and competency response).
Ensure each set is in a single PDF per qualification/per employment position, with clear, legible scans and consistent naming.
4.) Submit the application and pay the fee
Complete all mandatory fields, attach the required documents, and review for consistency before submission.
Pay the prescribed skills-assessment fee (IML publishes fee schedules on its website by assessment type).
5.) Respond to queries (if any)
IML may request additional clarifications or documents; respond promptly with accurate, additional evidence.
Delays or inconsistencies in responses can extend processing time.
6.) Receive and use the outcome
A positive outcome from IML is generally valid for three years and can be used for skilled-migration or employer-sponsored visas.
If the outcome is negative or conditional, you may revise and reapply after addressing the identified gaps (e.g., upgrading qualifications or gaining more senior-level experience).
Assessment Criteria and Methods
IML assesses both qualifications and experience. Your formal education is evaluated against Australian standards (AQF), guided by official Country Education Profiles. Qualifications deemed “not comparable” or “not highly relevant” will weaken the result. Continuing professional development (CPD) activities may also be considered, though no specific CPD proof is required.
The core of the assessment is your work experience and managerial competency. IML reviewers will verify your Statements of Employment, organizational charts and position descriptions for consistency and alignment with the nominated occupation. They may contact your referees for confirmation. Interviews are generally not part of IML’s process. Instead, evidence speaks through your documentation.
The IML Competency Framework requires a written demonstration of leadership skills. You must show concrete examples for each of the three competency areas (self, others, business). These STAR statements are scrutinized: they must be specific, focused, and clearly relevant to the occupation.
IML may also consider additional third-party evidence if standard documents are unavailable. For instance, if an employer cannot provide a reference or chart, you can submit a signed statutory declaration from a colleague attesting to your duties. Similarly, owners of small businesses must provide financial reports or incorporation documents to substantiate their roles and the size of their companies.
Post Assessment Steps
Once IML completes its review, you will be notified via email and the IML portal. If positive, IML issues your skills assessment letter. Use this letter as required documentation for your visa application. Remember, the letter is valid for three years, so you must lodge your visa application (or at least the relevant step) within that timeframe. If your letter is valid for 2 years (legacy cases), you may apply to IML for a 12-month extension to reach 3 years.
If negative, carefully review the feedback. You may request a decision review if you believe errors were made. This must be done following IML’s review process (usually within a set time and with an additional fee). If the review still fails, you can appeal the outcome (again with fee and following IML’s appeals procedure). Each review or appeal is assessed on its own merits and can take several weeks.
In any case, you should coordinate your IML results with your visa strategy. A positive skills assessment is a prerequisite for skilled migration applications, but it does not guarantee a visa. It does not replace other visa requirements (English test, points, sponsor nomination if needed, health/character checks).
Ensure that you understand the visa criteria: e.g. for a Temporary Graduate (485) visa, a separate Qualification Assessment is needed (paid service by IML). For permanent skilled visas (189/190/491), you will submit the IML letter along with your Expression of Interest or visa application.
Finally, IML recommends keeping membership status (CPMgr or Chartered) separate from skills assessment. IML membership is not required for assessment, nor does membership grant you any migration benefit. Focus on the documented evidence and competencies that IML specifically requires.