Sponsor Hospitality Workers in Australia

Hospitality Workforce Challenges

The Australian hospitality industry has experienced severe labour shortages, particularly since the pandemic. Restaurants, hotels, cafes, and catering businesses across the country are struggling to find and retain skilled workers. High turnover, unsociable hours, and competition from other sectors make it difficult to fill roles from the domestic labour market alone.

Employer sponsorship provides a reliable pathway for hospitality businesses to bring in experienced chefs, cooks, and managers from overseas, helping to maintain service quality and business viability.

Commonly Sponsored Hospitality Occupations

Visa Types for Hospitality Workers

482 Skills in Demand — Core Skills stream (Chef and Cook)

Chef is one of the most commonly sponsored occupations in Australia, and Cook is also on the Core Skills Occupation List. The Core Skills stream provides a visa of up to four years, with a pathway to permanent residency through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream after two years of full-time work for approved sponsors. The Specialist Skills stream is not available for chefs or cooks because it excludes trades occupations.

494 Visa — Regional

Hospitality businesses in regional areas can sponsor workers on the 494 visa, which provides up to five years and a pathway to permanent residency through the 191 visa. This is particularly useful for regional restaurants, resorts, and hotels.

Salary Requirements

Hospitality workers on the 482 or 186 must be offered at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT, A$79,423 from 1 July 2026) and the annual market salary rate. This can be a challenge for some hospitality businesses, as the threshold has increased significantly in recent years. The salary must be for the base rate excluding overtime, tips, and non-monetary benefits.

• Chef: at least A$79,423 (must meet the CSIT and the market rate)
• Cook: at least A$79,423 (the CSIT applies regardless of award rates)
• Cafe/Restaurant Manager: at least A$79,423; market rates are often higher

Salary ranges are indicative market figures, not visa thresholds. The CSIT is A$79,423 from 1 July 2026 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) is A$146,576; both are indexed each year, so confirm the current figures on the Department of Home Affairs website before nominating.

TRA Skills Assessment

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is the assessing authority for chefs, cooks, bakers, and pastry cooks. The TRA assessment process for overseas workers typically involves:

• Verification of trade qualifications equivalent to an Australian Certificate III or IV
• Evidence of at least three years of post-qualification employment in the trade
• Detailed employment references describing duties performed
• For onshore applicants, a practical workplace assessment may be required (Job Ready Program)

TRA assessments can take two to four months to process. The offshore skills assessment pathway is used for workers applying from outside Australia, while the Job Ready Program applies to graduates of Australian trade courses.

Challenges in Hospitality Sponsorship

• Meeting the CSIT: The A$79,423 threshold is above what many hospitality businesses traditionally pay, requiring salary restructuring
• Genuine position scrutiny: The Department closely examines hospitality nominations due to historical compliance concerns in the sector
• Business viability: Smaller hospitality businesses may face additional scrutiny regarding their financial capacity to sustain the sponsored position
• Labour market testing: Demonstrating genuine efforts to recruit locally is essential, particularly in metropolitan areas