UK Chefs Moving to Australia: The 2026 Visa Pathway

Which visa can a UK chef actually use?

Chef (ANZSCO 351311) is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the list used for the points-tested Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (491) visas. It's also on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), the list used for the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (482) and the Direct Entry stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (186).

Most working chefs end up on the employer-sponsored route in practice, since an Australian hospitality employer offering a role is usually more accessible than a competitive points-tested pathway, but both remain genuinely open once you hold a positive skills assessment.

TRA skills assessment for chefs — what it actually checks

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is the designated assessing authority for Chef. TRA assesses whether your qualifications and work experience are comparable to the Australian trade standard for the occupation — broadly, the skills, knowledge and menu-level responsibility of an Australian-trained chef, not just time spent in a kitchen.

Two main pathways exist. The Offshore Skills Assessment (OSA) is for applicants applying from outside Australia on the strength of overseas qualifications and documented work history — payslips, detailed employer references describing your actual duties, and evidence of the establishments you've worked in. The Job Ready Program (JRP) is for applicants already in Australia on a visa with work rights.

Do UK culinary qualifications meet the TRA standard?

TRA doesn't publish a blanket answer for every UK culinary qualification, and no article can honestly give you one either — assessment is against your specific documented training and experience. What consistently helps: a Level 2 or Level 3 City & Guilds, VRQ or equivalent professional cookery award, a completed apprenticeship, or a hospitality management diploma, combined with detailed reference letters on employer letterhead describing specific duties — menu costing, kitchen supervision, specific cuisines and techniques — rather than just a job title.

A common weak point is reference letters that say 'worked as chef' without describing what that actually involved. TRA assesses substance, so vague letters slow assessments down. Gather this documentation early, while former employers are still easy to reach.

English testing and the UK passport exemption

The English requirement depends on which visa you're using, not on TRA itself. For most visa purposes, a UK passport is accepted as evidence of Functional and Competent English without sitting a test, subject to the specific criteria in the relevant legislative instrument — check the current criteria for your specific visa. If you're pursuing a points-tested visa and want to claim points for a higher band, you'll still generally need to sit an approved test, since the passport exemption applies to the Competent standard rather than higher bands.

For the 482 visa, requirements vary by nomination stream — confirm the current threshold and any exemption at the time you apply.

What does a chef visa cost from the UK?

Budget for several distinct cost lines rather than a single number. The TRA skills assessment fee runs into several hundred Australian dollars depending on the pathway. Visa application charges vary by subclass and are indexed — check the current figure for your specific pathway. A health examination and a UK police clearance certificate (an ACRO Police Certificate) add further cost, along with document verification for your qualification certificates.

Get a written cost breakdown before committing to any pathway.

Finding an Australian sponsor as a chef

Australian hospitality employers — hotel groups, restaurant chains, and independent kitchens facing genuine local staffing shortages — actively sponsor overseas chefs, particularly outside the largest capital cities where competition for staff is tighter. A sponsoring employer must be an approved sponsor, nominate your position at or above the applicable income threshold, and demonstrate the role is genuine.

For the Core Skills stream of the 482 visa, the nominated salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold, which is $79,423 per year from 1 July 2026 — check the current figure before relying on it, since it's indexed annually.

What happens after you arrive

UK-trained chefs generally adapt quickly to Australian kitchen practice, though some concrete differences apply: stricter documented food-safety systems (most states require a Food Safety Supervisor certificate for commercial kitchens), award-rate penalty pay for weekend, public holiday and late-night shifts, and generally flatter workplace hierarchies with a stronger emphasis on rostered hours and workplace-health-and-safety compliance.

Head chef, executive chef, and eventually kitchen ownership are all realistic trajectories for chefs who build several years of Australian experience, and the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is the common route from temporary sponsorship to permanent residence.

What ANZSCO code applies to chefs migrating to Australia?

Chef is ANZSCO 351311. It's on both the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List and the Core Skills Occupation List, opening the 189, 190, 491, 482 and 186 visas.

Who assesses a UK chef's skills for an Australian visa?

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is the designated assessing authority for Chef. UK-based applicants typically use the Offshore Skills Assessment pathway.

Does a City & Guilds or VRQ qualification meet the Australian chef standard?

TRA assesses your specific documented qualifications and work experience against the Australian trade standard — it doesn't pre-approve institutions or awards. A recognised Level 2/3 professional cookery qualification plus detailed, duty-specific employer references generally supports a stronger application than the qualification name alone.

Do UK chefs need to sit an English test for an Australian visa?

For most visa purposes, a UK passport is accepted as evidence of Functional and Competent English without a test, subject to the specific legislative criteria for that visa. A test is still generally needed to claim points for a higher English band on a points-tested visa.

What salary does an employer need to pay to sponsor a chef on a 482 visa?

For the Core Skills stream, the nominated salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold, which is $79,423 per year from 1 July 2026. This figure is indexed annually — confirm the current threshold before an employer finalises a nomination.

Can a chef become a permanent resident after arriving on a 482 visa?

A common pathway is the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) via the sponsoring employer once eligibility requirements are met, or a state-nominated points-tested visa. Which pathway fits your circumstances is worth discussing with a MARA-registered migration agent.