OSCA 161631 Senior Chef, Skills Assessment & Visa Options

Last Updated on March 24, 2025 by Ozlinks Education

OSCA 161631 Senior Chef

OSCA Skill Level: 2

A senior chef with OSCA code 161631 is a promising career in Australia. This is due to the growing demand for experienced chefs in Australia. Many overseas people are interested in working and pursuing the opportunity to settle permanently in Australia because of the country’s low population, low pollution, clean air, beautiful natural landscapes, breathtaking views, and high living standards.

Note: The new OSCA 161631 Senior Chef occupation corresponds to the ANZSCO 351311, Chef.

Senior Chefs

A senior chefs manage and oversee the operation of kitchens in dining and other food service establishments.

Note: Occupation OSCA 321131 Chef is excluded from this unit group.

Main tasks

  • Develops and monitors kitchen budgets, considering labour, ingredient and equipment costs
  • Designs and plans menus based on seasonal trends, customer preferences and costs
  • Oversees the recruitment, development and training of Chefs and other kitchen staff
  • Assigns tasks and responsibilities to Chefs and Cooks
  • Oversees the preparation and presentation of dishes
  • Uses and teaches advanced culinary skills and techniques required to prepare menu pieces
  • Inspects ingredients and dishes to ensure quality standards are met
  • Enforces strict adherence to health and safety regulations in the kitchen

OSCA Skill Level 2

The OSCA Skill Level 2 requires you to have at least one of the following qualifications in a relevant field. Your qualification is compatible with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

  • Diploma, or
  • Advanced Diploma, or
  • Associate degree, or
  • at least three years of relevant experience

Specialisations

  • Executive Chef
  • Head Chef
  • Sous Chef

Skills Assessment Requirements

OSCA Skill Level: 2 | Assessing Authority: TRA

A skills assessment determines if you have the necessary skills and experience to work in Australia at the right level for your job under the OSCA 161631 Senior Chef. Your evidence must corroborate your work experience in your field. This evidence may include references from your employers, detailed job descriptions, and any relevant qualifications. Successfully demonstrating your capabilities is essential for obtaining a positive skills assessment outcome.

Note: *Upon completion of the skills assessment, you will be awarded the Certificate IV in Kitchen Management.

Skills Assessment Pathway

There are two skills assessment pathways either Pathway 1 or Pathway 2 depends on whether you have or don’t have an accepted Australian qualification.

Pathway 1: You don't have an Australian qualification

As part of the skill assessment application process, you must have:

  • 5 years’ employment experience with no formal training OR
  • 3 years’ employment experience with relevant formal training. 
  • At least 12 months working full time relevant within the last 3 years.

Pathway 2 - You do have an Australian qualification

As part of the skill assessment application process, you must have:

  • An Australian qualification including a Statement of Results.
  • at least 3 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) at the skill level required.
  • At least 12 months working full time within the last 3 years.

Skill Assessment Outcome

If you successfully completed skill assessment with positive outcome you will receive the following:

  • an Australian Certificate III or IV qualification and Statement of Results*.
  • a successful skills assessment result letter for your visa application.

If your trade skills assessment is unsuccessful, you will receive:

  • an unsuccessful skills assessment result letter
  • a Statement of Results and Statement of Attainment.
Skills Assessment Support RPL Qualifications

Documents Requirement

The following is a summary of the documentation list that you need in order to submit your application for the skill assessment.

Personal Documents

  • Passport bio page
  • Passport photo
  • Proof of identity, including a national ID or driver’s license
  • Current CV/Resume

Qualifications

  • final qualification/s or apprenticeship certificate/s or award/s
  • a full academic transcript or other documents that include the start and end date of your training and details of the program of study.
  • apprenticeship documents such as the contract of apprenticeship, journal or any other relevant document from your employer, governing body or training institution relating to your apprenticeship (if applicable).

Employments Evidence Documents

You are required to demonstrate 3 years of full-time (as 38 hours per week) or equivalent part-time paid employment. This employment must be directly relevant to your nominated occupation and can be completed before, during or after your comparable qualification.

  • Statement of services letter
  • Payslips
  • Personal tax return
  • Superannuation evidence
  • Employment contract

Skill Assessment Application Fees

The following table shows the fees that the assessment authority charges for the skill assessment based on the assessment pathway you select.

Pathway 1 Application Fees (AUD)

Stage 1 - Documentary Evidence Assessment

 $1,120

Stage 2 - Technical Interview

$2,000

Pathway 2 Application Fees (AUD)

Stage 1 - Documentary Evidence Assessment

$1,120

Stage 2 - Technical Interview

$900

The General Skilled Migration program is a points-based visa that enables eligible overseas skilled workers to migrate to Australia without the need for an employer to sponsor their visa. In order to qualify for general skilled migration visas, you must possess a skill in a profession that is in high demand in Australia.

This visa system is points-based and assesses applicants on a variety of criteria, such as their academic background, work experience, English language proficiency, and age. The program ensures that migrants can effectively integrate into the Australian workforce and society by prioritising those with skills in demand in addition to addressing labour shortages.

Successful applicants can stay and work in Australia indefinitely on a permanent visa. The General Skilled Migration program is divided into three visa subclasses, which include:

  • Visa 189 Skilled Independent 
  • Visa 190 Skilled Nominated 
  • Visa 491 Skilled Work Regional
Skilled Migration Visas

Skill Assessment Support

We provide skill assessment support, and our document-checking expertise ensures that your applications meet the requirements. This strategy will assist us in preparing your application for the best possible outcome.

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osca 161631 visa options skills assessment
osca 161631 visa options skills assessment

Check Your Eligibility

Contact us to find out if you qualify for this qualification.

Professional Advice

We simplify the Australian immigration application process and provide precise, specialised assistance based on your specific needs. We determine the optimal immigration road for you, and if the law or your circumstances change unexpectedly, we provide other paths to assist you in achieving your migration goals.

Our dedicated team is committed to staying updated on the latest immigration policies, ensuring that you have the most accurate information at your fingertips. With our support, you can navigate the complexities of the system with confidence and clarity.

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Disclaimer: 

Information under ANZSCO Occupations (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) section is published in accordance with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence guideline. ANZSCO Version 1.3 updated on 25 March 2021 and original source can be accessed on Australian Bureau of Statistics website.

This section does not intend to provide immigration assistance pursuant to section 276 of Migration Act (Cth) 1994 as described in the Migration laws. It is based on public guidelines available at Department of Home Affairs’ Website. It is your responsibility to verify accuracy and status of provided information with your Registered Migration Agent (RMA) who is bound by the MARA code of conduct before submitting any visa applications.