Chef (ANZSCO code 351311) is one of the busiest occupations in Australia's skilled migration program, with roughly 43,700 Expressions of Interest waiting in SkillSelect. Chef is a trade occupation, so the assessment works differently from the professional occupations. Your assessing body is Trades Recognition Australia, and it runs several programs. Which one you use depends on where you trained, your passport country and the visa you're aiming at. This guide explains which program fits you, which visas 351311 opens, and what the Department of Home Affairs data says about invitations.

What counts as a Chef under ANZSCO 351311?

ANZSCO 351311 sits in unit group 3513, Chefs. A chef plans and organises the preparation and cooking of food in a kitchen, often with responsibility for menus, food costs and supervising kitchen staff. It's a step up from Cook (351411), which is a separate code, so make sure your duties and evidence match the chef role and not a general cook or kitchenhand position. Trades Recognition Australia and the Department both assess against the ANZSCO description, not your job title.

Who assesses Chefs?

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is the assessing authority for Chef across the skilled and employer-sponsored program. The occupation sits on the main occupation lists, so it opens both points-tested and employer-sponsored pathways:

Note: Chef carries occupation caveats for both the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Caveats set conditions on the kind of role and business that qualifies (for example, limits tied to the nature of the business and the position). They apply to the nomination, so check the caveats that apply to your specific nomination before you rely on either of these employer-sponsored pathways.

Which TRA program do you use?

This is the part specific to trade occupations like Chef, and it's where people go wrong. TRA doesn't run one assessment. It runs several, and which one you use depends on your occupation, your passport country, where you trained and the visa you're aiming at. For chefs, the relevant programs are:

Which one applies isn't a free choice. If your passport country is listed against Chef on TRA's OSAP table, you're required to use OSAP and can't use the MSA. If you trained in Australia as an international student, the Job Ready Program is the usual route, starting with a Provisional Skills Assessment. If you're applying for the Skills in Demand or Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa, you use the TSS assessment. Everyone else who meets the qualification and experience requirements uses the MSA. Under OSAP Pathway 1, a successful chef also receives an Australian qualification, since chef is a non-licensed occupation.

What do the TRA assessments cost?

Fees depend on the program, and each has its own schedule. Here are the current fees for the TRA programs a chef might use:

TRA notes fees can change, so confirm the current schedule when you apply. The Job Ready Program has its own fees and steps; check those with TRA directly.

Which visas can a Chef apply for, and how competitive is it?

Because 351311 is on the skilled and employer-sponsored lists, the options include the Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas, plus the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) on the employer side. For 482 Core Skills and 186 nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, the salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of $79,423, and the occupation caveats still apply.

On the numbers: as at April 2026 there were around 43,700 submitted EOIs for Chef. The invited EOIs on hand as at 30 June 2026 sat across all three points-tested streams, most through the state-nominated 190 and 491 routes, consistent with the pattern for high-demand occupations. Chef is a case where employer sponsorship and state nomination tend to move faster than the 189 points race.

FAQ

Who assesses Chef 351311 for migration?

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), as set out in LIN 19/051 and the related occupation instruments.

Which TRA program do I need as a chef?

It depends on your passport country and your visa. If your passport country is on the OSAP list for Chef (a long list including India, China, Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines, the UK and others), you use OSAP. If you're applying for a 482 visa, you use the TSS assessment. If you're a recent Australian graduate applying for a 485 visa, you need a Provisional Skills Assessment, and the Job Ready Program is the separate 12-month program you complete for a later permanent visa. The Migration Skills Assessment only applies in the narrow case where your passport country is not on the OSAP list and you're not applying for a 482 or 485.

How much is the TRA Migration Skills Assessment?

The MSA assessment fee is $720, with a review fee of $645. OSAP is charged per step and costs more. Confirm current fees with TRA.

Is Chef on the 482 occupation list?

Yes, on the Core Skills Occupation List, but occupation caveats apply that limit the kind of role and business that qualifies.

How many EOIs are waiting for Chef?

Around 43,700 submitted EOIs as at April 2026, per SkillSelect data.

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