Last Updated on March 13, 2026 by Ozlinks Education
The most exciting and diverse workplace in Australia awaits your culinary skills and passion for cooking. Working as a chef in Australia offers unparalleled financial security and personal fulfilment.
Working as a chef in Australia under the skills in demand subclass 482 visa, specifically for the occupation ANZSCO 351311, provides a pathway to permanent residency for many migrants. As a chef in the hospitality industry, you will refine your distinctive culinary skills while acquiring valuable life and work experience in one of the world’s most developed nations.
Skill assessment requirements for a chef in Australia?
Chef skill assessments in Australia (ANZSCO 351311) require candidates to possess either a relevant qualification, such as a Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery or a Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, along with a minimum of three years of full-time relevant work experience.
Alternatively, candidates without a formal qualification must provide evidence of at least five years of experience in the field without formal training.
Skills assessments for chefs in Australia are typically conducted by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) through a two-stage application process. This process assesses whether your qualifications and experience meet Australian industry standards. It usually consists of a documentary review of your work and training evidence, followed by a technical interview with an assessor.
The following outlines the required documents for a skills assessment for a chef, explained in detail.
Skill assessment requirements
Depending on whether you hold an Australian qualification or a comparable qualification, you should select either Pathway 1 or Pathway 2 for the skills assessment process. As part of your application, it is essential to provide evidence of your work experience.
This evidence must demonstrate that you possess at least the minimum required work experience to qualify as a chef.
Below are the requirements for the options available in the skills assessment pathway under the migration programs:
- The Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) Skills Assessment
- Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Skills Assessment
Pathway 1: Skills Assessment Requirement
If you are eligible for a chef skills assessment under Pathway 1, and you don’t have an Australian qualification. As part of the application process, you must have:
- At least 5 years of full-time or equivalent part-time work experience as a chef with no formal training
- At least 3 years of full-time or equivalent part-time work experience as a chef with relevant formal training
- Your proof must show that you worked as a chef for at least a year in the last three years and that it can be verified.
Pathway 2: Skills Assessment Requirement
If you are eligible for a chef skills assessment under Pathway 2, and you do have an Australian qualification. As part of the application process, you must have:
- An Australian qualification of Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery, or
- An Australian qualification of Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, or
- At least 3 years of full-time or equivalent part-time work experience as a chef at the required level of skill
- Your proof must show that you worked as a chef for at least a year in the last three years and that it can be verified.
What is the skill assessment process?
The skills assessment of a chef is conducted in two stages, as below:
Skill Assessment Stage 1:
Stage 1 of Pathway 1 is the application process: you will need to provide proof of at least five years of work experience as a chef.
Stage 1 of Pathway 2 is the application process: you will need to provide proof of at least three years of work experience as a chef plus a relevant Australian Certificate IV in commercial cookery.
You are required to provide documentation and evidence in the decision-ready forms, which can be verified. This evidence must show that you have the skills and experience needed for Chef occupation ANZSCO 351311. If proof of work at a part-time job can be counted pro-rata towards the number of full-time hours needed.
Skill Assessment Stage 2:
Stage 2 of the skills assessment procedure consists of an in-depth technical interview. The technical interview will be conducted in English and will last around 2 hours, translators will not be permitted.
What will I get after the assessment?
If you successfully pass Stage 2, you’ll get the following:
- an Australian Certificate IV qualification and a Statement of Results
- a migration outcome letter if the assessment is to support your visa application.
If you are unsuccessful in Stage 2, you will receive:
- a Statement of Attainment that lists the units of competency you successfully achieved
- a Statement of Results.
Skill Assessment Application Fees
The following table outlines the fees that the assessment authority charges for completing the skill assessment program in accordance with it
|
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 |
What is Migration Skills Assessment?
The Migration Skills Assessment, known as the MSA, is an assessment that can be taken by individuals who are applying to the Department of Home Affairs for a skilled migration visa as part of their visa application. The goal of skills assessment is to make sure that a successful applicant has the level of skills needed for their chosen occupation. The skills assessments also give the government, and the person a guarantee that their training and experience are useful and right for the Australian job market.
A skills assessment authority is an organisation that will assess whether your skills meet the standards it sets for working in a relevant ANZSCO occupation. The result of the Migration Skills Assessment will tell you if you have the level of experience and skills to work in your chosen ANZSCO occupation in Australia. Only a positive result from the MSA can be used when applying for a skills visa for migration through the Department of Home Affairs.
Do I need a skill assessment to work as a chef?
If you want to work as a chef in Australia, you must first pass a skill assessment. This is one of the primary requirements for applying for a subclass 482 visa, subclass 491, subclass 494, subclass 190, subclass 189, and subclass 186 direct entry.
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is an organisation within the Australian government’s Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. TRA is the relevant skills assessing authority for ANZSCO 351311, Chef, according to the Department of Home Affairs website.
Points Test CalculatorWhy do I need skill assessment assistance?
Each assessing authority has its own set of rules, procedures, and time constraints. The criteria are supported by an assessing authority and will apply to your chosen ANZSCO occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
The assessing authority will assess your chosen occupation based on professional standards. Ozlinks Education is an agency that assists international students and migrants in understanding the skill assessment requirements.
We’ll be able to locate the appropriate assessing authority and advise you on what they require based on the ANZSCO occupation you’ve chosen. We are document checking experts, so you can be confident that you have completed all the requirements for the skills assessment application criteria and have the best chance of receiving a positive result.
We can assist you with the skill assessments for migration, for the ANZSCO: 351311 Chef occupation, as well as the ANZSCO: 351411 Cook occupation. Please contact us for more information.
Disclaimer:
The above information is cited from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
Despite every effort to provide complete and accurate information about the ANZSCO 351311: Chef occupation, Ozlinks Education makes no warranties or promises about the accuracy of the information in the Skills Assessment sections. Even though every effort is made to keep all information up to date, some recent changes may not yet be reflected in this section. We accept no responsibility or liability for any errors or missing information in the “Skills Assessment” sections. Please read our full Disclaimer
Hi, presently i am working in australia as cook. but I want to do skill assessment as a chef. I have 12 years fulltime overseas experience. am i eligible for chef skill assessment. its can affect for my present visa. i am now under of sc 482 visa.
thanks
shaiful
Hi Shaiful
How long have you been working as a cook?
You can submit your enquiries visa the contact form for a free 15 minutes consultation.
https://ozlinks.au/contact-us/
Thanks
Skill Assessment for chef
Hello, Phyo.
Do you require assistance with the skill assessment for the chef application?
I’ve been a fully qualified chef for nearly 10 years, from gastro to michelin star levels, even working for over a year in Aus as a chef on a working holiday visa several years ago, I’m now the owner/director of my own successful catering company and I still have to pay $3120 to prove I can cook?
Hi Matt
Are you a UK citizen? If you are holding a UK passport and want to apply for visa 482, Then you don’t need to do a skill assessment.
Hi , is skill assesment required for spanish passport holder for chef 482 australia?
No formal qualification but 2 year work experience (6 month in australia, 18 month in norway)
Hi Rajin,
If you hold a Spanish passport, you are not required to complete the skills assessment for the chef occupation.
If you need a Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, we can help you to convert your work experience to a formal Certificate IV in Kitchen Management through the RPL program.
Get in touch with us.
Hi, does a chef in Child care center qualify for the skill assessment?
Hi Pema
A childcare center would be a suitable environment for a cook, but whether you are considered for the occupation of chef or cook will depend on your years of experience and job title during your employment. Please check with your case manager. Need help to submit your skill assessment? Contact Us.
Hi
Does Finishing Cert 3 in Commercial cookery + Diploma of hospitality pass as a chef or just a cook?
Finishing Cert 3 in Commercial cookery + Diploma of hospitality as a COOK.
For Chef you need to have a minimum:
• Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery, or
• Certificate IV in Kitchen Management
What is your purpose? For skill assessment?