How to hire a cook with visa sponsorship

The candidates available now

Live counts from candidate profiles on SponsorTalent. Search and filter them at /find/cook; profiles show visa status, location and experience before you unlock contact details.

Where they want to work

Can your business sponsor a cook?

Cook, ANZSCO 351411, is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). Eligible employer visas in our list data: 482, 494 and 186. The occupation you nominate must match the duties of the job: the ANZSCO title is Cook.

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.

Sponsoring from regional Australia opens the 494 as well; see regional sponsorship and DAMA for employers.

What you must pay

The nominated position must pay at least A$79,423 (2026–27 Core Skills Income Threshold for the 482 and 186, and the TSMIT for the 494), and no less than an Australian cook in the same role and location is paid. SponsorTalent's occupation data puts the market range for cooks at roughly A$55,000 to A$75,000, depending on experience and location. Check a specific offer with the sponsorship salary check.

Checks before you make an offer

The assessing authority is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). A skills assessment is not needed for every 482: it applies where the Department's instrument lists the occupation for the worker's passport country. Profiles on SponsorTalent show whether a candidate already holds an assessment.

Cook was the sixth most-granted occupation for primary 482 visas in the 2025-26 program year to 31 December 2025, with about 710 grants (Home Affairs rounds to the nearest 10). A cook is a different occupation from a chef: the ANZSCO skill level and the duties differ, so nominate the one that matches the kitchen role. For hiring chefs, see how to hire a chef.

Source: Home Affairs: temporary resident (skilled) report, 31 December 2025 (table 1.18)

Who sponsors cooks

Restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs, hotels, catering companies, aged care and hospital kitchens, regional venues are the usual employers of cooks.

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.

The steps

1. Find the candidate. Search cook candidates and unlock the profiles that fit, or post the role so candidates apply to you.
2. Sponsorship. Your business needs Standard Business Sponsorship (or a labour agreement or DAMA) before it can nominate. WIDEN explains the requirements in how to become an approved sponsor.
3. Nomination. You nominate the position as Cook at a salary that meets the threshold and the market rate. Costs are in WIDEN's cost to sponsor a worker and our sponsorship cost calculator.
4. Visa. The worker lodges the visa after the nomination. For the legal steps for your case, use a registered migration agent: book WIDEN Migration Experts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sponsor a cook on a 482 visa?

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. Your business needs Standard Business Sponsorship (or a labour agreement) before you nominate.

What is the minimum salary for a sponsored cook?

At least A$79,423 for 2026–27, and no less than the market rate an Australian cook would be paid for the same job.

How many cooks are looking for sponsorship on SponsorTalent?

The live count is on this page and on the Cook candidate search at /find/cook. Profiles are anonymous until you unlock one.

Who handles the sponsorship and nomination?

Your business lodges them, usually through a registered migration agent. WIDEN Migration Experts (MARN 1576536) can prepare the sponsorship, nomination and visa; SponsorTalent itself is a marketplace for finding candidates.