Chef – ANZSCO 351311 in 2026 is one of the most popular and sought occupation after graduation of Trade Courses in Australia. This profession under the ANZSCO code 351311 is a skilled profession which is considered as the golden opportunity for international students and skilled migrant attempting to enter the turf of Australia. With the current shortage of skilled and highly talented culinary talent in the Australian hospitality sector, the profession of Chef has become a preferred option for migration pathways.
With 13 years of experience in visa services, BJay Education & Visa Services has provided expert help to numerous clients around the globe and has meticulously drafted this guide on Chef – ANZSCO 351311 to help you along the way. This guide has been prepared with the latest data as of March 2026 provided by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). In this guide, you will be provided with everything that you need to know about Chef – ANZSCO 351311 which includes the steps, costs and Permanent Residency (PR) pathways with this occupation.
Chef – ANZSCO 351311
If you are wondering “what ANZSCO 351311 means?” It is basically a code given by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ANZSCO) and the DHA to define the role of a Chef in the Australian occupation list and simplify the migration process. As of 2026, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) considers the role of a chef under ANZSCO 351311 as a Skill Level 2 Occupation. The role of a Chef is under the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) making this profession as one of the most sought professions as it provides various benefits and is a pathway to PR in Australia.
Core Duties of a Chef:
Under the ANZSCO code 351311, there are some core duties that are required to be fulfilled by a Chef in the current migration scene of Australia.
- Menu Engineering: Under this role, you will be required to plan menus that are suitable for the workplace while making sure that profitability is also maintained.
- Kitchen Management: As a Chef, you need to monitor and manage the quality of the dishes in the workplace.
- Regulatory Compliance: You need to make sure that important factors like hygiene, food safety is maintained according to Australian standards and not compromised in any point (from preparation to serving).
- Technical Backbone: As a Chef, you need to be the technical backbone of the workplace and make sure that you are able to demonstrate and train advanced cooking skills that help junior staff and apprentices in the workplace.
Requirements for Chef - ANZSCO 351311
With the increasing demand for the well-sought profession, the requirements for it have also become increasingly stringent than before. As a Chef emphasizes on the blend of high-level of culinary skills and management of kitchen, you are required to meet the following requirements to be an eligible candidate.
Educational & Skill Level Requirements
The role of Chef – ANZSCO 351311 has been classified as a Skill Level 2 role under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Under this role, you are required to meet the following requirements:
- Minimum Educational Qualification: You are required to hold and AQF associate degree, Advance Diploma or Diploma in relevant course.
- Standard Pathway: The most sought pathway in this role is that applicants complete a 2-year package that consists of Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, a Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, and a Diploma of Hospitality Management.
Skills Assessment
As the Chef role is a visa program that has pathways to PR in Australia, you are required to have a positive skills assessment that has been taken by the Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) which is an essential prerequisite for most PR and skilled visa programs under the visa programs provided by the Australian government.
To receive a skills assessment, there are various pathways that can be sought:
- Job Ready Program (JRP): This is a standard assessment that is sought by international students who have graduated in Australia. This assessment requires you to have 1,725 hours of paid employment over the minimum of 12 months.
- Migration Skills Assessment (MSA): The MSA assessment is sought by offshore applicants who are applying for certain visa programs. Under this assessment, you are typically required to show a relevant qualification and provide evidence of 3 years of full-time experience after graduating.
- Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP): If you are someone who is applying for the certain roles like Chef and are from specific countries like India, Philippines, South Africa then you need to attend this assessment program. This is a standard assessment program that includes a documentary review and a technical interview.
Professional Requirements
As a Chef in the current migration scene of Australia, you are required to have experience like:
- Experience in menu planning and Costing.
- Able to maintain the quality of the dishes.
- Required to lead the team and provide training.
- You need to make sure that hygiene and WHS (Workplace Health and Safety) regulations are satisfied.
- You need to have at least 12 months of relevant experience within the last 3 years
Visa-Specific Thresholds.
As the profession of Chef requires you to be in a visa program, you are required to satisfy the requirements of specific visa programs. As the program can be sought under various visa programs like subclass 189/190/491 and subclass 482, the requirements for them are different from one another.
| Requirement | 189 / 190 / 491 (Points-Tested) | 482 Skills in Demand (Sponsorship) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Must be under 45 years. | No age limit (though age 45+ affects PR transition). |
| English Proficiency Tests | Competent (IELTS 6.0 / PTE 50 or equivalent scores). | Functional (IELTS 5.0 / PTE 36 or equivalent scores). |
| Points | Minimum 65 points (Competitive: 85-95). | N/A (Based on employer nomination). |
| Salary | N/A | Must meet TSMIT: $79,499 AUD (2026 rate). |
Difference Between Chef and Cook
In the current migration scene of Australia, people often think that both the roles “Chef” and “Cook” are same. In the culinary context and the nature of work, they may be similar and work side-by-side but in the migration scene of Australia, they are poles apart.
| Feature | Chef | Cook |
|---|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 351311 | 351411 |
| ANZSCO Skill Level | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Primary Focus | Management, planning, and oversight. | Food preparation and station cooking. |
| Typical Qualification | Diploma of Hospitality + Cert IV. | Certificate III in Commercial Cookery. |
| Key Responsibilities | Menu costing, staff training, ordering supplies, and quality control. | Following recipes, seasoning, cleaning, and cooking specific dishes. |
| PR Pathway (MLTSSL) | On the MLTSSL (Best for 189/190/491 visas). | Often limited to STSOL or Regional lists. |
| Average Salary (2026) | AUD $78,000 – AUD $110,000+ | AUD $60,000 – AUD $75,000 |
Career Prospects with Chef
As the current migration scene of Australia has seen a surged in the demand for skilled migrants in Australia, the role of Chef has a high potential in the current Australian market. As per different sources the national shortage for Chef has seen about 4.2% growth in the hospitality market if Australia.
The estimated salary as per the experience and role are as follows:
| Experience | Role | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2 Years | Commis Chef | AUD $62,000 – AUD $71,000 |
| 2 – 5 Years | Chef de Partie | AUD $78,000 – AUD $89,000 |
| 5 – 8 Years | Sous Chef | AUD $92,000 – AUD $110,000 |
| 8 – 12 Years | Head Chef | AUD $115,000 – AUD $155,000 |
| 12+ Years | Executive Chef | AUD $160,000 – AUD $210,000+ |
Step-by-Step process to PR with Chef
Step 1: The Educational Foundation
The first step in applying for a PR visa Australia as a Chef – ANZSCO 351311 is to complete a CRICOS certified course. This stage generally takes about 2 years to complete and to complete this phase, you need to make sure that relevant qualifications are met as well as you have completed the 360 hours of vocational placement. Hence, this will then trigger the skills assessment phase of the process.
Step 2: Graduate Visa & PSA
After you have successfully completed your education in a relevant course, the next step is that you need to apply for the subclass 485 visa which is used for postgraduate work. You must apply for the Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) in order to submit your 485 visa application.
Step 3: Job Ready Program (JRP)
After you have applied for the PSA and lodged your graduate visa, the next step is the Job Ready Program (JRP). This step is considered as the most critical stage in the PR process. In this step, you need to prove that you are someone who can work as a “Chef” as per the Australian standards. Under the JRP, you need to satisfy the following stages:
- Job Ready Employment (JRE): In this step of JRP, you are required to register your workplace and complete the required 1,725 hours of paid work experience over the duration of at least 12 months.
- Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA): After you have completed the JRE step in the JRP, the next step is the JRWA. In this step, an assessor approved by the TRA visits your workplace and observes your skills in the real-world kitchen and interviews you on different aspects like menu planning, costing, and staff supervision.
- Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA): Once you have completed your JRWA, the final step in the JRP is the JRFA. In this stage, your total hours and assessments are verified and make sure that you are an eligible candidate that is at par with the Australian standards. You are required to have completed the requirement of 1,725 hours and passed the JRWA to complete this phase.
Step 4: The PR Application
The role of Chef has two different pathways that can be utilized in order to receive PR in Australia. With your full skills assessment, you are eligible for either point-tested visa programs for PR or Sponsorship visa programs.
Option A: General Skilled Migration (Points-Based)
If you are someone who has decided to apply for PR with points-based visa program, then you have 2 different visa options i.e. Subclass 190 and subclass 491. In order to apply for these visa programs, you need to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) as the role of Chef – ANZSCO 351311 lies under the CSOL list. To make sure that your PR application is not compromised aim for more than 85 points (including state nomination points).
Option B: Employer Nomination
In case you want to apply for the Employer nominated visa like subclass 186 then you are required to be on 482 skills in demand visa which can be then transitioned into a 186 visa after 2 years of work experience. In order to get a PR, you need to meet the requirement that your salary meets the TSMIT which is AUD $79,499 + Superannuation and you are required to be under the age of 45 years when you apply for the 186-visa program.
482 pathway with Chef
As the role of Chef – ANZSCO 351311 Is under the CSOL list, you can access the Core skills stream and apply for PR in Australia with 482 visa.
Requirements for Chef under the 482 visa
If you want to apply for the 482 visa under the role of Chef then you need to make sure that the requirements listed below have seen satisfied:
Requirement Details for ANZSCO 351311:
| Work Experience | Minimum 1 year of full-time post-qualification experience as a Chef within the last 5 years. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Salary (TSMIT) | Must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT). Currently $76,515 (rising to $79,499 on July 1, 2026). |
| Skills Assessment | Mandatory for certain passport holders (e.g., India, Nepal, Philippines) via TRA or VETASSESS. |
| English Proficiency | IELTS 5.0 (minimum 5.0 in each band) or PTE 36 (minimum 36 in each component). |
| Qualification | Typically a Certificate IV in Kitchen Management or a Diploma of Hospitality Management. |
| Employer Status | The business must be an Approved Standard Business Sponsor with a genuine vacancy. |
| Labour Market Testing | The role must be advertised locally for at least 28 days before the nomination is lodged. |
FAQs
ANZSCO 351311 is the code that is given by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) for the role of Chef in Australia. This role is a Skill Level 2 occupation given by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), which basically means that this course requires you to have higher technical and managerial skills than a standard cook.
Yes. In the year 2026, the role of Chef is considered as one of the most sought occupations under the trade courses and is highly preferred to apply for PR in Australia. This role is currently available on both CSOL and MLTSSL lists which makes it a role that is eligible for a wide range of PR visas like Subclass 189, 190, and 186.
Yes. The role of a Chef is eligible for various skilled worker visa like the 482 skills in demand visa and other GSM visa programs. If you want are someone who wants to apply for a skilled worker visa under the ANZSCO 351311, then you are generally required to have a positive skills assessment from the TRA, a relevant qualification and are required to satisfy the age, English and health/character requirements for those visa programs.
Generally, the terms “Chef” and “Cook” are used together due to the nature of work. But in the migration system of Australia, these two roles are different from one another, and both of these roles have their own distinct responsibilities as well as they have their own ANZSCO code. A chef – ANZSCO 351311 is a skill level 2 occupation that has more focus on management and planning as compared to Cook – ANZSCO 351411 which is a Skill level 3 occupation which basically focused on the preparation of foods.
As the 2026 migration scene of Australia requires you to be precise and have a clear understanding of everything, you require more that just your raw culinary talent to be a Chef in Australia. Hence, to help you along the way you need a strategic partner that has a clear understanding of the migration scenes of Australia.
Why BJay?
Proven Expertise: With 13 years of experience in Visa services in Australia, we here at BJay Education & Visa Services have been providing tailored services to help you navigate through the complex migration scenes of Australia.
Expertise Team: Led by Mr. Jay Oli (MARN: 1570827), we have an exceptional team that is there to solve any queries and help you with your application. The team is well trained to provide the services that you may require assistance with.
Global Presence & Local Support: With offices present in multiple locations throughout Nepal (Putalisadak and Birtamode) and a head office in Sydney, BJay provides you with seamless support you may require whether you are in your home country or already in the turf of Australia.
End-to-End Career Support: We here at BJay provide you with the service that ranges from the starting of your career as a Chef in Australia to your final Permanent Residency (PR) Grant making sure no obstacles cause your application to be rejected.
Dreaming of a future as a Chef in Australia? Join BJay for free Nonobligatory personalized counselling!
