Australia Chef Visa: 482 and 494 Rules for Indian Chefs

By Sumit Manwal, Founder, Hospitality Vacancy | Updated: 11 November 2026

In short: Most Indian chefs get an Australia chef visa through employer sponsorship on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills stream: one year of experience, a TRA skills assessment, English tests and pay of at least AUD 79,423 from 1 July 2026. Regional employers can use the subclass 494. Never pay for sponsorship.

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An Australia chef visa is the goal of many Indian chefs who have built experience in five-star kitchens in India or the Gulf. Australia has a long-running shortage of skilled cooks and chefs, and Chef is on the list of occupations employers can sponsor. But the rules changed in December 2024, when the Skills in Demand visa replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, and salary thresholds and fees rose again on 1 July 2026. Advice from even two years ago can now be wrong.

This guide explains the two main employer-sponsored routes for chefs, the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494), what each needs from you and your employer, the current costs, and how to avoid the fake sponsorship offers that target Indian kitchen staff.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Visa rules change often. Always check the Department of Home Affairs website before applying, and take advice only from a registered migration agent or lawyer.

Chef or cook? Get the occupation right first

Australia classifies kitchen roles separately. Chef (ANZSCO 351311) covers people who plan menus, supervise staff and run kitchen sections, typically at chef de partie level and above. Cook (ANZSCO 351411) covers people who prepare and cook food under supervision, which is closer to commis-level work. Both appear on the Core Skills Occupation List used for the 482 visa, but the experience, qualifications and salary expected are different.

The Chef occupation excludes positions in limited-service restaurants, such as fast-food outlets, and mass production in a factory setting. If an "employer" offers you a chef visa for a takeaway counter job, that is a warning sign. You can check occupation lists and caveats on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list.

Route 1: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), Core Skills stream

The Skills in Demand visa is a temporary visa of up to four years, tied to an approved Australian employer. Most chefs use its Core Skills stream. The process has three stages: the business becomes an approved sponsor, it nominates you for the position, and you apply for the visa.

What the employer must do

Labour market testing: generally advertise the job in Australia at least twice, each ad running for at least four weeks, within the four months before nominating.
Pay at least the threshold and market rate: from 1 July 2026 the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 a year, and pay must also match what an Australian chef would earn in the same role and location.
Pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy: AUD 1,200 per visa year for businesses with turnover under AUD 10 million, or AUD 1,800 per year for larger businesses. The employer must pay this; it cannot be passed on to you.

What you must show

At least one year of relevant full-time experience (or the part-time equivalent) in the last five years.
English: a minimum test score set by Home Affairs. For IELTS tests taken from 13 September 2025, this is generally at least 5.0 in each component, with equivalents for PTE and other approved tests.
Skills assessment: under the Home Affairs instrument on mandatory skills assessment for the 482 visa (IMMI 18/039), Indian passport holders nominated as Chef or Cook generally need a skills assessment from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), undertaken within the three years before the visa application. Start it early, as it involves a document review and a technical assessment.
Health, character and health insurance requirements.

After two years with your sponsor in the Core Skills stream, you may become eligible for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).

Route 2: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494)

The subclass 494 visa is for employers in designated regional areas, which include many tourist regions where hotels and resorts struggle to find chefs. It is a five-year provisional visa with a path to permanent residence through the subclass 191 visa after three years. It asks more of you than the 482:

you must generally be under 45 when you apply;
you need Competent English, roughly IELTS 6.0 in each component;
you need a positive skills assessment for Chef;
you need at least three years of relevant full-time experience;
the employer must pay at least AUD 79,423 (the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold from 1 July 2026) and the market rate, and usually needs advice from a Regional Certifying Body.

482 vs 494 at a glance

Point	482 Core Skills	494 Regional
Visa length	Up to 4 years	5 years
Where you work	Anywhere in Australia	Designated regional areas only
Age limit	No general age limit for the visa	Generally under 45
Experience	At least 1 year	At least 3 years
English	Around IELTS 5.0 per component (tests from 13 Sep 2025)	Competent English (around IELTS 6.0 per component)
Salary floor from 1 July 2026	AUD 79,423 and market rate	AUD 79,423 and market rate
Visa application charge (main applicant, from 1 July 2026)	AUD 4,015	AUD 6,140
Path to permanent residence	Subclass 186 after 2 years	Subclass 191 after 3 years

Visa charges are indexed every July and family members pay extra, so confirm current amounts on the Home Affairs visa pricing estimator before you budget.

Australia chef visa: step-by-step plan for Indian chefs

Collect evidence of your experience. Reference letters on hotel letterhead showing your title, dates, hours and duties, plus payslips, contracts and, for Gulf jobs, your labour contract.
Get your qualifications in order: hotel management diploma or degree, culinary certificates and transcripts.
Take an approved English test and aim above the minimum; a higher score helps for the 494 and later for permanent residence.
Find a genuine employer. Apply directly to Australian hotels, resort groups and restaurant companies. Our sister blog's guide to hotel jobs in Australia for Indian candidates lists practical steps.
Start the TRA skills assessment once your employer confirms they will nominate you.
Employer nominates; you apply in ImmiAccount after the nomination is lodged.
Plan your travel. Australia is not an ECR country, so the eMigrate emigration clearance needed for Gulf jobs does not apply, but carry your documents and buy suitable cover. Our international travel insurance checklist helps.

Red flags: fake chef visa offers

Anyone asking you to pay for sponsorship. Australian law makes it an offence to ask for or receive a benefit in return for visa sponsorship or employment. Paying the visa application charge to Home Affairs is normal; paying an employer or middleman for the job is not.
"Visa guaranteed" promises. Only Home Affairs decides visas.
Offers below the income threshold, or cash wages that do not match the contract.
Unregistered advisers. Check that any migration agent is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), or use an Australian lawyer.
Fast-food or factory roles described as "chef" jobs.

Our guide to applying for a sponsored hotel job abroad safely covers more warning signs. If you are comparing destinations, see the UK Skilled Worker visa for hotel jobs and the Canada LMIA work permit guide.

FAQ

Which visa is best for chefs going to Australia?

Most chefs use the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream with an employer sponsor. Experienced chefs under 45 with competent English and a regional employer can also consider the subclass 494.

What is the minimum salary for a chef on a 482 visa?

From 1 July 2026, at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 a year, and no less than the market rate an Australian chef would receive in the same role and location.

Do Indian chefs need a skills assessment for Australia?

Generally yes. Home Affairs requires Indian passport holders nominated as Chef or Cook for a 482 visa to have a TRA skills assessment unless an exemption applies, and the 494 always needs a positive skills assessment. Check the current rule before applying.

Can a commis chef apply for the Australia chef visa?

Commis-level roles usually match Cook (ANZSCO 351411) rather than Chef. Cook is also on the Core Skills Occupation List, so the right employer can still sponsor you under the correct occupation.

Can I bring my family on a 482 or 494 visa?

Yes, a partner and dependent children can usually be included, but each pays a visa charge and must meet health and character requirements.

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About the Author

Sumit Manwal, Founder, Hospitality Vacancy

Sumit Manwal is the founder of Hospitality Vacancy (since 2017), a free hotel and hospitality jobs portal for India, the Gulf and Europe, and has 20+ years of experience in hospitality. He received the "Excellence in Hospitality Sector of Uttarakhand" award, presented by Shri Dhan Singh Rawat ji (January 2023), and the Dainik Jagran inext Uttarakhand Ratan Samman for Excellence in Hospitality & Education, presented by Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari ji (2023). Through the website, hotels post vacancies and hospitality professionals and students register free and apply for jobs in India and abroad.

📧 Contact: manwal@hospitalityvacancy.com | 🔗 LinkedIn

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