Which authority handles the skills assessment for Chef (351311)?

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) assesses Chef (351311) applicants. Check the current fees, forms and evidence rules with TRA before you lodge.

What does a Chef (351311) do in Australia?

In Australia, people in this occupation plan menus, lead kitchen teams and organise the preparation and cooking of food in restaurants, hotels and catering operations. Typical tasks are to plan menus, develop dishes and calculate food costs and portion sizes and to lead, train and roster kitchen brigades including cooks, commis and kitchen hands.

What separates a Chef (351311) from a Cook (351411)?

A Chef plans menus, costs dishes and supervises kitchen staff, while a Cook mainly prepares and cooks food to someone else's menu. Your references should show the planning, ordering and team leadership that sets chef roles apart.

Which skilled lists include Chef (351311)?

Based on our current data, Chef (351311) is on MLTSSL, CSOL. List status changes, so we confirm it again before you apply.

What documents should a Chef (351311) prepare?

Plan to provide a reference from the head chef or owner listing your kitchen position, menus you planned, rosters you managed and payslips for the full period. Your references should confirm that you prepare, cook and plate dishes to set standards during service.

EMC Australia / Occupations / ANZSCO 351311

Chef 351311

Yes. Chef (351311) can be used for an Australian visa. It is on the MLTSSL and CSOL. TRA is the assessing authority. The stored subclasses are 189, 190, 491, 482, 186, 494, 485 and 407.

Chef (351311): Plan and organise the preparation and cooking of food in dining and catering establishments.

Chef (351311) covers people who plan menus, lead kitchen teams and organise the preparation and cooking of food in restaurants, hotels and catering operations. You will typically find this work in restaurants, hotels, clubs, resorts, catering companies and institutional kitchens. EMC Australia helps you map experience in menu planning and costing, plus kitchen team leadership, to the Chefs unit group (3513) before you apply. See how this occupation can connect to points-tested skilled visas, state nomination and employer sponsorship — including a TRA skills assessment.

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ANZSCO

351311

Assessing authority

TRA

Occupation lists

MLTSSL · CSOL

Industry

Hospitality & trades

Can this occupation migrate?

Potentially — if the list, the assessment and the rest of the profile fit.

Chef can be relevant to skilled and employer-sponsored pathways. Your actual options depend on age, English, qualifications, work history, the skills assessment, points, state nomination, and whether an employer can sponsor the position. A place on a list is not a grant.

Potential visa pathways

Start with the pathway type, not only the subclass.

Points-tested

For skilled applicants who may qualify on occupation, skills assessment, points and invitation.

Employer-sponsored

For applicants with an Australian employer willing and able to sponsor an eligible position.

Other pathways

These are the other subclasses stored for this occupation.

State nomination

Lists change. We check this year’s program.

Whether Chef is open for 190 or 491 depends on the state, the stream, and the month. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory each run their own program. Occupation-specific status is checked against the current list — not a screenshot from last year.

EOI and state nomination

NSWclosed
VICclosed
QLDclosedFar North Queensland
SAunavailable
WAnot announcedKimberley, Goldfields, South West, Pilbara
TASopen
ACTnot announced
NTclosedNorthern Territory DAMA

Skills assessment

Skills assessment for Chef

The assessment tests whether your qualification and work match this nominated occupation. TRA is the usual authority. Confirm it on the current Home Affairs list before you apply. A suitable outcome is generally required before a points-tested EOI.

How skills assessments work

Points and other factors

The occupation is only the starting point.

Age

Points sit in set age bands. Confirm the current test before you claim a number.

English

Competent English is the usual baseline. Proficient or superior English can add points.

Skilled employment

Work in the nominated or closely related occupation can add points. Dates have to survive a skills assessment.

Qualifications

Recognised qualifications can add points. The assessing authority decides comparability.

Australian study and partner

Australian study, specialist education, partner skills or community language may add points.

Nomination

State nomination (190) or regional nomination (491) can add points. 189 has neither.

Points calculator

Occupation match

Is Chef the right code?

Nominate the work you actually do, not the job title on a card. Confirm the official ANZSCO description before you pay for an assessment.

Plan menus, develop dishes and calculate food costs and portion sizes
Lead, train and roster kitchen brigades including cooks, commis and kitchen hands
Prepare, cook and plate dishes to set standards during service
Order produce and dry goods, manage suppliers and control stock and wastage
Monitor food safety, HACCP records, hygiene and kitchen work health and safety
Oversee kitchen equipment, cleaning schedules and pass quality checks

Questions

Before you start an assessment

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) assesses Chef (351311) applicants. Check the current fees, forms and evidence rules with TRA before you lodge.

Related occupations

Roles often confused with this one.

These are similar job titles. The visa list and skills assessment still depend on the code that matches the work you do.

Not sure which pathway fits.

Tell us the occupation, the assessment if you have one, and where you are willing to live. We will say whether 189, 190, 491 or an employer visa is worth the next fee.