[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":25},["ShallowReactive",2],{"layout-auth":3,"$fSJBTcYVYJ-eddsExbi-1paGJU_xftcDtkQ0hwSLr07k":4},null,{"_id":5,"title":6,"slug":7,"description":8,"body":9,"date":10,"category":11,"author":12,"image":13,"tags":14,"featured":22,"isPublished":23,"__v":24},"6a032f623260e06365221489","How to Migrate to Australia as a Chef in 2026","migrate-australia-chef-2026","Guide to migrating to Australia as a cook or chef in 2026. Covers the Skills in Demand visa, VETASSESS assessment, state nomination, and the employer-sponsored pathway to permanent residence.","Chefs are one of the fastest-growing occupations in Australia's employer-sponsored visa program. In 2024–25, Chefs (ANZSCO 351311) accounted for 8.1% of all Skills in Demand visa grants — more than 3,900 visas — and approvals grew by 160% compared to the previous year. Australia's hospitality and food service sector has a persistent shortage of qualified chefs across restaurants, hotels, aged care facilities, and catering operations. This guide covers the visa pathways available to chefs in 2026.\n\n## Is cooking on Australia's occupation lists?\n\nYes. Chefs and Cooks appear on several Australian migration occupation lists:\n\n- **Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)** — Chef (ANZSCO 351311) and Cook (ANZSCO 351411) are both listed, making them eligible for the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) under the Core Skills stream.\n- **State and territory nomination lists** — Many states nominate Chefs and Cooks on their 190 and 491 occupation lists, particularly in regional areas with acute hospitality workforce shortages.\n\n**Note:** Chefs are not on the MLTSSL, which means the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is not available to chefs. The primary pathways are employer sponsorship and state nomination for 190\u002F491 visas.\n\n## Main visa pathways for chefs\n\n### Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) — Employer Sponsored\n\nThe Skills in Demand visa is the most common pathway for chefs migrating to Australia. It requires an Australian restaurant, hotel, or hospitality business to sponsor you.\n\n**Stream:** Core Skills stream for most chef roles\n\nChef is on the CSOL, so Core Skills stream applications are straightforward from an occupation eligibility perspective. The employer must be an approved sponsor and must demonstrate they tried to find an Australian worker before sponsoring overseas.\n\n**Salary requirement:** The sponsored salary must meet the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the position and not be less than any applicable award rate.\n\n**Processing time:** Core Skills stream applications are currently taking 4–8 months. Specialist Skills stream (salary above AUD $135,000) would process in 7–30 days, but most chef roles do not reach this threshold.\n\n**Pathway to permanent residence:** After 2–3 years working for your sponsoring employer, you may be eligible for the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa. Your employer must nominate you and you must still be employed in a role that is listed as permanent in nature.\n\n### Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated (State Nomination)\n\nThe 190 visa is a permanent visa that requires state or territory nomination. Several states and territories nominate chefs and cooks, particularly in regional and tourism-dependent areas.\n\n**Skill assessment body:** Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) or VETASSESS, depending on the specific role and your qualifications.\n\n**Conditions vary by state:** Some states require a job offer in that state; others have a general skilled migration round.\n\n### Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)\n\nThe 491 is a regional provisional visa that attracts 15 additional points. For chefs and cooks willing to work in regional Australia — including tourism towns, regional hotels, and aged care facilities — the 491 can be a more accessible pathway than the 190.\n\nAfter 3 years of regional work and residence, 491 holders can apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Regional) visa.\n\n### Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)\n\nThe 494 is the regional equivalent of the Skills in Demand visa. It requires employer sponsorship in a regional area and leads to the Subclass 191 permanent visa after 3 years. For chefs working in regional restaurants, hotels, or care facilities, this can be an effective combined employer-sponsored and regional pathway.\n\n## Skills assessment for chefs\n\nThe skills assessment body for Chef (ANZSCO 351311) is **Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)**, which operates under the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.\n\nFor Cook (ANZSCO 351411), the assessing body is **VETASSESS**.\n\n### TRA assessment for Chefs\n\nTRA assesses whether your trade qualifications and experience are comparable to an Australian-standard chef qualification (typically Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or equivalent).\n\n**Assessment pathways:**\n- **Overseas Qualification Assessment:** For applicants with a formal chef qualification from overseas. TRA compares your qualification level, duration, and content to Australian standards.\n- **Skills Assessment based on experience:** For experienced chefs without a formal qualification. You must demonstrate substantial experience as a qualified chef.\n\n**Documents required:**\n- Certified qualification documents and transcripts\n- Employment reference letters from employers describing your cooking duties, cuisine type, and level of responsibility\n- Evidence of any relevant licences or certifications\n\n**Processing time:** 8–16 weeks\n\n### VETASSESS assessment for Cooks\n\nVETASSESS uses a Group B assessment pathway for Cook, which requires a relevant qualification at AQF Certificate III level or above, or extensive experience in the occupation.\n\n**Processing time:** 6–12 weeks\n\n## State nomination for chefs in 2026\n\nState nomination for chefs is competitive in some states and more accessible in regional ones:\n\n- **Queensland** — Nominates Chefs for 190 and 491 visas, particularly for regional Queensland operators in tourism areas (Cairns, Whitsundays, Gold Coast hinterland).\n- **Western Australia** — Active nomination through the WA Skilled Migration Program. Regional WA nomination for 491 visas is particularly active for hospitality occupations.\n- **South Australia** — Has nominated chefs through targeted rounds and has a strong regional food and tourism sector.\n- **Northern Territory** — Broad nomination with relatively accessible criteria. Darwin's hospitality sector has consistent chef shortages.\n- **Tasmania** — Active nomination reflecting Tasmania's growing food and tourism economy. Restaurant and hospitality employers in regional Tasmania often struggle to fill chef positions locally.\n\nSome states require a job offer in that state before they will nominate. Others accept EOI registrations and issue invitations based on points.\n\n## What employers look for when sponsoring a chef\n\nAustralian employers considering sponsoring an overseas chef typically look for:\n\n- Formal cookery qualifications (Certificate III equivalent or above)\n- Solid experience in a similar cuisine type to their operation\n- Ability to work across multiple sections of a commercial kitchen\n- Basic food safety certification (equivalent to Food Handler level)\n- Good English communication skills (not necessarily at the migration test level, but functional)\n\nMany hospitality employers have never sponsored a worker before and may need guidance on the sponsorship obligations and costs. A [migration agent](\u002Fagents) can explain the process to employers and help them understand their obligations before they commit to sponsoring.\n\n## Costs and fees\n\nSponsoring an overseas chef involves costs for both the employer and the worker:\n\n- **Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy:** Paid by the employer. For small businesses (turnover under $10 million), AUD $1,200 per year of the visa. For larger businesses, $1,800 per year.\n- **Visa application charge:** Paid by the applicant (or the employer if agreed). The Skills in Demand visa application charge varies by stream and applicant type.\n- **Skills assessment fee:** Paid by the applicant. TRA assessments cost approximately $400–$700 depending on the pathway.\n\nEmployers cannot legally pass the cost of the SAF levy or visa application charge to the worker.\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n### Can a chef get a permanent visa in Australia?\n\nYes, though not directly. The most common path is to enter on the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) sponsored by an employer, work for 2–3 years, and then apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa for permanent residence. The 190 and 491 state nomination visas can also lead to permanent residence.\n\n### Do chefs qualify for the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa?\n\nNo. Chef (ANZSCO 351311) and Cook (ANZSCO 351411) are not on the MLTSSL, so neither is eligible for the 189 visa. The main pathways are employer sponsorship (482, 186, 494) and state nomination (190, 491).\n\n### What is the salary for a sponsored chef in Australia?\n\nSalaries for sponsored chefs must meet the Annual Market Salary Rate for the position and any applicable Award rate under Australia's Fair Work Act. Typical salaries for sponsored Head Chefs in 2026 range from AUD $60,000–$90,000 depending on the establishment type and location. Sous chefs and specialist chefs may earn more.\n\n### How long does it take to migrate to Australia as a chef?\n\nUsing the employer-sponsored pathway: approximately 6–14 months from starting the TRA assessment to visa grant (assuming a Core Skills stream application processing time of 4–8 months). For state nomination pathways, the timeline depends on state invitation rounds and can take 12–24 months from skills assessment to visa grant.\n\n### Which cities in Australia have the most demand for chefs?\n\nSydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have the highest absolute demand, but they also have higher competition for chef roles. Regional areas — including Queensland tourism regions, regional WA, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory — often have more acute shortages and may offer faster pathways to nomination or sponsorship.","2026-05-11T00:00:00.000Z","Occupation Guides","MigrationPages","\u002Farticles\u002Fmigrate-australia-chef-2026.webp",[15,16,17,18,19,20,21],"chef migration australia","cook visa australia","482 visa chef","VETASSESS chef assessment","hospitality migration australia","skilled chef australia 2026","chef 190 visa",false,true,0,1778594507646]