Australia's hospitality sector has faced a critical chef shortage since COVID-19. If you're a qualified chef or cook, here's your pathway to work — and potentially live permanently — in Australia.
Australia's Ongoing Chef Shortage
The COVID-19 pandemic devastated Australia's hospitality workforce, and the industry has not fully recovered. Chefs and cooks consistently appear on national and state-level skills shortage lists, making this one of the more accessible skilled trade pathways for international applicants.
The ANZSCO codes most relevant to this group are:
Chef — ANZSCO 351311 (MLTSSL — independent and regional visas available)
Cook — ANZSCO 351411 (STSOL — primarily employer-sponsored pathways)
Which Visa Can You Apply For?
Chefs (ANZSCO 351311) appear on the MLTSSL, which opens up the 189, 190, and 491 visas, plus the 482 and 494 employer-sponsored routes.
Cooks (ANZSCO 351411) are on the STSOL, which means they are primarily eligible for the 482 (short-term stream) and employer-sponsored pathways. The independent 189/190 route is generally not available to cooks.
The distinction matters: Chefs hold supervisory and broader kitchen management responsibilities. If you are assessed as a cook, your visa options are more limited.
TRA Skills Assessment for Chefs
TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) assesses chefs and cooks. The assessment considers:
Your trade qualifications (equivalent to Certificate III in Commercial Cookery)
Work experience history: you typically need 3+ years of recent, relevant experience
Employment references and evidence
TRA offshore processing typically takes 3–6 months.
Points Score for Chefs
FactorPointsAge 25–3230Competent English (IELTS 6.0)0Proficient English (IELTS 7.0)10Certificate III equivalent qualification105–8 years experience10State nomination5Partner skills5Potential total70
Some states, particularly Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania, have included chefs on their state occupation lists and actively nominate for the 190 or 491.
The 482 Route: Employer-Sponsored for Chefs
Given the shortage, many restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses are already approved sponsors or willing to become one. The 482 offers a 4-year work visa (for chefs on the MLTSSL) with the ability to transition to the 186 (permanent) after 3 years.
Regional restaurants and hotels are particularly open to sponsoring, as staff shortages are more acute outside major cities.
What About the 417 Working Holiday?
The Working Holiday visa (417) allows young people (18–30, up to 35 for some nationalities) to work in Australia including in hospitality. Some chefs use this as a foot-in-the-door to build relationships with employers who then offer 482 sponsorship.
NWI's Role
Our migration agents assess your ANZSCO code classification, points position, and TRA strategy before you invest time and money in the assessment process. Contact us for a free consultation.