Specialist Skills limit
Specialist Skills is limited to ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6, which excludes the trades group chefs and cooks sit in.
Source: Home Affairs: Skills in Demand visa, Specialist Skills stream (retrieved 4 October 2026)
For workers planning to work in Australia
Chefs and cooks from overseas: finding sponsored kitchen work in Australia
Chefs and cooks are in the trades occupation group, so a sponsored job usually depends on the Core Skills stream rather than Specialist Skills. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 the Core Skills threshold is AUD 79,423. Check your exact occupation and its conditions on the Home Affairs Core Skills Occupation List.
By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 4 October 2026.
Official data
Key facts from official sources
Core Skills route
Needs the occupation to be on the Core Skills Occupation List and the nominated salary to meet the Core Skills Income Threshold.
Source: Home Affairs: Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream (retrieved 4 October 2026)
Core Skills threshold
AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Source: Home Affairs: Salary requirements to nominate a worker (retrieved 4 October 2026)
Job seeker guide
What you need to know
Which stream could apply to a cook or chef?
Home Affairs limits Specialist Skills to ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. Chefs and cooks sit in Major Group 3, technicians and trades workers, so that stream is not available however high the salary. The Core Skills stream is for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List, with the nominated salary meeting the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate. Some list entries have conditions, so read the entry for your exact occupation and compare it with the kind of kitchen you want to work in.
What employers look at
Kitchen employers ask about years in a comparable kitchen, sections and cuisines, qualifications, food safety knowledge and your willingness to work rostered weekend and evening shifts. Sponsored employers also need the duties in the position to match the occupation. If your experience is in a different style of kitchen from the one on offer, say so clearly. Having a reference from a previous head chef or kitchen manager, with dates and duties, helps a shortlist.
Pay you should expect to see
A sponsored salary must clear the income threshold and the market rate. Minimum pay for most kitchen roles is also set by a Fair Work modern award, and our salary guides reproduce the hospitality award minimums with the clause and the date they were read. The Fair Work Ombudsman is the authority on pay. An offer that is below award minimum is a problem whatever your visa, so check it before you sign.
Already in Australia?
If you already live in Australia with work rights, many kitchen employers can move faster because there is no overseas step. Check your visa conditions in VEVO and tell us what they are. The already-in-Australia guides explain work rights for 482, graduate, student and working holiday visas.
Live jobs
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These counts are live from the CrossNation job board. A listing is not a job offer, and it does not mean the employer sponsors visas. Ask about sponsorship before you rely on a role.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is my chef occupation on the Core Skills list?
Check the Core Skills Occupation List on the Home Affairs website for your exact occupation and its conditions, or ask a registered migration agent.
Can I use Specialist Skills if my salary is high?
No. Specialist Skills is limited by occupation group, not by salary alone.
Do I need a qualification?
That depends on the employer and the occupation entry. Ask the employer and check the Home Affairs entry.
Can CrossNation find me a sponsoring employer?
We introduce candidates to employers who ask us to recruit. We cannot promise sponsorship, which is the employer's decision.
Where can I see award pay for kitchen roles?
CrossNation's salary guides reproduce Fair Work award minimums with the clause and date. The Fair Work Ombudsman is the authority.