How to get sponsored as a cook in Australia

Occupation list status and visas

• Occupation: Cook, ANZSCO 351411.
• Lists: Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
• Employer-sponsored visas in our list data: 482, 494 and 186.
• Industry: Hospitality.
• Caveat: for the 482 Core Skills stream and the 186 Direct Entry stream the occupation excludes positions in mass production in a factory setting and positions in a limited service restaurant, such as fast food or takeaway, fast casual restaurants, limited service cafes and limited service pizza outlets. A position inside a caveat cannot be nominated under this occupation (WIDEN's copy of the Home Affairs list, read 6 November 2026).

The 482 Specialist Skills stream (salary at least A$146,576) is not available, because it excludes ANZSCO major groups 3, 7 and 8 and this occupation is in major group 3. The job you are offered must match the Cook duties; a different role cannot be nominated under this code.

Skills assessment, registration and English

The assessing authority is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). For a 482, a skills assessment is needed only where the Department's instrument lists the occupation for your passport country; for the 494 and 186 the rules differ, so check before you pay for one.

English: you must meet the visa's English requirement, which differs between the 482, 494 and 186 and by passport. A registered migration agent can confirm which test score you need.

Pay

A sponsored cook must be paid at least A$79,423 (2026–27) and no less than an Australian cook doing the same job. SponsorTalent's occupation data puts the market range at roughly A$55,000 to A$75,000. Accept only a written offer that meets the threshold.

Who you are up against, and where

87 cooks have profiles on SponsorTalent seeking sponsorship, 27 of them in Australia now. Employers compare profiles, so a complete one (assessment status, English result, licence or registration, and the locations you will accept) is what gets you shortlisted.

The employers who usually hire cooks: restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs, hotels, catering companies, aged care and hospital kitchens, regional venues. Where the shortage sits, according to our occupation data: persistent shortage alongside chefs — especially in regional and remote hospitality where local staff are hard to retain.

Step by step

1. Check that your work matches Cook (ANZSCO 351411) and gather proof of your qualification and experience.
2. Find out whether you need a skills assessment and sit an English test if your passport does not exempt you.
3. Create a free profile so employers searching cook candidates can find you, and apply to sponsored cook jobs.
4. Approach employers directly from the approved sponsor list.
5. Once an employer offers to sponsor you, the employer lodges the sponsorship and nomination and you lodge the visa. For the legal steps in your case, book a registered migration agent at WIDEN. Do not resign or travel until the visa is granted.

Frequently asked questions

Can a cook be sponsored in Australia?

Yes. Cook, ANZSCO 351411, is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). In SponsorTalent's list data it is eligible for the 482, 494 and 186 employer-sponsored visas. An employer must sponsor and nominate you.

Who assesses cooks for migration?

The assessing authority is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). For a 482, a skills assessment is needed only where the Department's instrument lists the occupation for your passport country.

What salary must a sponsored cook be paid?

At least A$79,423 for 2026–27, and no less than the market rate for the same job.

How do employers find cooks on SponsorTalent?

Employers search candidate profiles at /find/cook. A free profile with your assessment status, English result and experience makes you findable; applying to listed jobs is also free.