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Chef Migration to Australia: Step-by-Step Guide 2026

The Chef migration to Australia in 2026 is one of the most well-organized and highly sought-after skilled trades throughout the Australian immigration process. The skilled occupation of Chef (ANZSCO 351311) is found on the medium- and Long-term Strategic Skills list and is thus eligible to apply for all types of skilled visas available (including Subclass 189 the permanent visa of its kind).

Chefs comprised over 3,900 Skills in Demand grants in 2024-25, making up 8.1% of all grants and an increase of 160% from the previous year. Australia’s hospitality sector faces acute and ongoing chef shortages across restaurants, hotels, aged care, and catering.

This guide covers every step: confirming eligibility, navigating the skills assessment, choosing the right visa, and avoiding the documentation mistakes that sink applications before they reach a decision-maker.

ANZSCO 351311 Chef Occupation Snapshot

Detail	Information
ANZSCO Code	351311
Occupation	Chef
Skill Level	2 (Diploma / Certificate IV or 3 years experience)
Assessing Authority	Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
MLTSSL Eligible	Yes
CSOL Eligible (482/186)	Yes
Subclass 189 Eligible	Yes
Assessment Validity	3 years from issue date

Confirm this is your correct code before investing time in documentation. The Chef vs Cook distinction (covered below) changes everything about your visa outcome.

Chef vs Cook: The Most Expensive Mistake in Chef Migration

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In Australia’s migration system, Chef (ANZSCO 351311) and Cook (ANZSCO 351411) are completely different occupations with separate assessing authorities, different visa eligibility, and vastly different permanent residency pathways. Applying under the wrong code is the single most common and most costly error in chef migration to Australia.

Factor	Chef ANZSCO 351311	Cook ANZSCO 351411
MLTSSL Status	Yes	No
Subclass 189 Eligible	Yes	No
Qualification Benchmark	Certificate IV / AQF Level 4	Certificate III / AQF Level 3
PR Pathway Strength	Strong, multiple permanent options	Limited, mainly employer-sponsored

You qualify as Chef (351311) if your role involves the following:

Planning and developing menus across a full range of cuisines
Preparing and cooking meals at a professional culinary standard
Supervising, rostering, and training kitchen staff
Estimating food costs and managing supply ordering
Coordinating kitchen section operations and workflow
Maintaining food safety, hygiene, and quality standards

You are likely classified as Cook (351411) if:

Your role is limited to a single cuisine or fixed menu
You have no supervisory or menu planning responsibilities
Your duties are primarily food preparation rather than full kitchen management

Rule of thumb: Head Chef, Sous Chef, Chef de Partie with supervisory scope, and Executive Chef all sit under 351311. If your title or duties fall into a grey area, a TRA pre-assessment consultation can confirm your code before you commit to an application.

Skills Assessment Pathways

The assessing authority for your Chef migration application depends entirely on your ANZSCO code.

TRA administers the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) for Chef. There are two pathways:

Pathway 1: Overseas Qualification Holders

For applicants with a formal culinary qualification from their home country. TRA benchmarks your qualification against Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery (AQF Level 4). Key requirements:

Certified overseas culinary qualification at broadly equivalent level
Post-qualification work experience (typically 2–3 years depending on qualification level)
Employment covering the full ANZSCO 351311 duty range not one cuisine or kitchen station
No English language test required for the TRA MSA application itself

Pathway 2: Experience-Based Assessment (No Formal Qualification)

For applicants without a formal culinary qualification. Key requirements:

Minimum 3 years of full-time equivalent chef-level experience
Experience must cover all core ANZSCO 351311 duties
Strong duty-specific employment references with payslip corroboration
Experience must be at Chef level not Cook or Kitchen Hand

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TRA Processing and Fees

Detail	Information
Application Fee	AUD $250–$320 (offshore applicants GST exempt)
Processing Time (complete application)	6 to 9 months
Processing Time (incomplete application)	Paused until documents supplied

Always verify current fees on the official TRA website before submitting fees, as they are updated periodically.

Documents Required for Your Chef Assessment

Document quality is the primary variable between a positive outcome and outright rejection. Every employment period you claim requires two independent forms of evidence.

Academic Documents

Certified copies of your relevant culinary qualification(s) and complete academic transcripts
NAATI-accredited English translation for any documents in other languages

Employment Evidence (for every chef role claimed)

Reference letter from the company on official letterhead. Must be from a named supervisor and include job title, employment dates, hours per week, and detailed chef duties undertaken.
Payslips, bank statements showing salary deposits, or formal tax documentation for each employment period.
Employment contract (if one exists)

Identity Documents

Certified copy of passport bio-data page
Passport-sized photograph

Strengthening Documents (optional but recommended)

Qualifications for food safety/hygiene
Written confirmation of supervisory or menu planning duties
Proof of having mentored or trained junior kitchen staff

The most common reason for rejection is that the reference is “a dependable and honest employee” who doesn’t specify a single duty of the application. TRA needs to see what you actually did in the kitchen, not a character reference.

Visa Options After a Positive TRA Assessment

A positive TRA assessment for Chef ANZSCO 351311 opens access to the widest range of skilled migration visas in the Australian system.

Points-Tested Visas (No Employer Required)

Visa	Type	Key Requirement
Subclass 189	Permanent — Skilled Independent	Points test + positive TRA assessment
Subclass 190	Permanent — Skilled Nominated	Points test + state/territory nomination (+5 points)
Subclass 491	Provisional — Skilled Regional	Points test + regional nomination (+15 points) → PR via 191

Employer-Sponsored Visas

Visa	Type	Notes
Subclass 482	Temporary — Skills in Demand	Core Skills stream leads to PR via 186 TRT after 2 years
Subclass 186	Permanent — Employer Nomination	Direct entry or TRT stream (after 2 years on 482)
Subclass 494	Provisional — Employer Regional	Regional employer sponsorship leads to 191 PRs.

Points Score Strategy for Chef Migration to Australia

Chef migration through the Subclass 189 requires a competitive points score. Current invitation scores for Chef (ANZSCO 351311) under the 189 sit at approximately 85 to 95 points in 2026 rounds.

Typical mid-career Chef profile:

Factor	Example	Points
Age (26–32 years)	28 years old	30
English (Proficient — IELTS 7.0)	7.0 in each band	10
Qualification (Cert IV)	Certificate IV Commercial Cookery	10
Overseas experience (5–7 years)	6 years as Chef	10
Australian experience (1–2 years)	18 months in Australia	5
State nomination (190)	South Australia	5
Single applicant	No partner	10
Total		80 points

To push above 85 points, target these levers:

Achieve Superior English (IELTS 8.0 in all four bands) → +10 additional points
Switch from Subclass 190 to 491 regional nomination → +15 vs +5 = +10 extra points
Build Australian work experience to 3+ years → +5 more points

Chefs scoring 70 to 80 points are better served by the 482 → 186 employer-sponsored pathway or a targeted Subclass 491 regional nomination rather than waiting indefinitely for a 189 invitation.

Practical Route for Many Chefs

For chef migration to Australia, for applicants who cannot reach 85+ points, employer sponsorship is often the fastest and most reliable route to permanent residency. The process is straightforward:

Secure a position with an approved Australian employer willing to sponsor
Employer lodges a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) nomination under the Core Skills stream
You apply for and receive the Subclass 482 visa
Work with the same employer for a minimum of two years
Employer nominates you for Subclass 186 under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
Subclass 186 grants permanent residency

Total timeline from TRA assessment submission to 482 visa grant is typically 12 to 18 months. PR eligibility via the 186 TRT arrives approximately two to three years after arriving in Australia.

Conclusion

Chef migration to Australia in 2026 offers one of the most direct and well-supported pathways to permanent residency in the skilled trades category, but the details decide outcomes. Confirm the correct ANZSCO code, understand whether TRA or VETASSESS applies to your situation, build a complete and consistent document package, and choose the visa strategy that matches your actual points score and employment circumstances.

Whether you pursue the Subclass 189 independent route, a state-nominated 190 or regional 491, or the 482 to 186 employer-sponsored pathway, your verified skills assessment is the essential first step. To discuss your TRA documentation requirements, letters of reference advice, or visa pathway options, please call and speak to our team at CDRAustraliaEngineer before you lodge.

— Common Questions

FAQs

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What is the key difference between Chef ANZSCO 351311 and Cook ANZSCO 351411 for Australian migration?

Chef (351311) is a MLTSSL occupation assessed by TRA and eligible for the Subclass 189 independent permanent visa. Cook (351411) is assessed by VETASSESS, does not appear on the MLTSSL, and cannot access the 189 visa. This role requires supervision of staff and planning the entire menu. The biggest and most expensive error in chef migration to Australia is the applicant applying under the incorrect code.

Does the TRA Chef skills assessment require an English language test?

No. There is no English requirement for the TRA MSA application, but for the visa application you do need Competent English minimum IELTS 6.0 in all four bands; if your score is higher, you will gain points from the points test.

How long does TRA take to process a Chef skills assessment in 2026?

TRA processes complete Chef MSA applications in six to nine months from the date the application is confirmed complete. Missing or inconsistent documents pause processing indefinitely; a fully prepared application is the most effective way to reach the shorter end of that range.

Can a Chef with no formal qualification receive a positive TRA assessment?

Yes. TRA Pathway 2 is for those who do not hold a culinary qualification. A minimum of three years of full-time equivalent chef-level experience over the full range of ANZSCO 351311 duties must be demonstrated through duty-specific reference and payment documentation.

Which Australian states are currently nominating Chefs for Subclass 190 or 491 in 2026?

South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory (which reopens in July 2026) appear to be the busiest states for Chef nominations during 2026. Most states also nominate Chefs for the Subclass 491 regional pathway. Points thresholds and eligibility criteria change each round; always verify current state requirements before lodging your Expression of Interest.

What points score do Chefs need for a Subclass 189 invitation in 2026?

At present, the invite scores for Chefs (ANZSCO 351311) under Subclass 189 visa are ranging between about 85 and 95 points. Best English skills or a Subclass 491 nomination can both boost the points significantly higher.