Looking to move your career as a chef to Australia? Here's an overview of the different types of visas available so you can make it happen!  

If you have experience as a chef and are looking and are looking for your next adventure, Australia should be right at the top of your hit list.   But what visa options do you have available to you?  The shortage of chefs and hospitality staff in Australia means that the Australian government has added chefs to the priority skill migration list.  

If you are coming to Australia with experience in hospitality, the main point you would want to consider is whether you will be looking for employer sponsorship or not 

No Employer Sponsorship Required

189 Visa - Skilled Independent visa

• You can live and work anywhere
• You don’t need a sponsor
• You must be invited to apply
• You must be under 45 to apply
• You can stay permanently
• You will need a skills assessment
• You are invited to apply for the visa if you satisfy a points test
• You can include family on that visa
• You can enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme

Find out about the 189 Visa here

190 Visa – Skilled Nominated visa

The 190 visa is almost identical to the 189 visa, except with the 190 visa the applicant is “nominated” by a state or territory.

Find out more about the 190 Visa here

491 Visa – Skilled Work Regional

• You can stay in Australia for 5 years 
• You must live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia
• You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
• You can include family
• You can apply for permanent residency after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.

Find out more about the 491 Visa here

Employer Sponsorship Visas Required

186 - Visa Employer Nomination Scheme 

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• Work and study in Australia
• Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
• You can include family
• Apply for Australian citizenship

Find out more about the 186 Visa here

494 Visa - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

• This is an employer-sponsored visa.  You can only live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia
• You must have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation
• You can include family
• You can apply for permanent residence after 3 years once the visa is granted
• Meet minimum standards of the English language.

Find out more about the 494 Visa here 

482 Visa - Temporary Skill Shortage - Short-Term Stream and Medium-Term Stream

• This visa would allow you to work in Australia for 2 – 5 years for the Short-Term Stream, or 4-5 years for the Medium-Term Stream (depending on your current passport)
• You can study, and you can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want  
• The current staff shortages in Australia have opened the options for fine dining establishments to sponsor other hospitality staff outside of Chefs, such as Sommeliers, Maître D’s, and Trade Waiters  
• You will need at least 2 years of relevant work experience

Find out more about 482 Visa here. 

The Working Holiday and Work and Holiday Visas are only eligible to certain passport holders.  Have a look at our post on the working holiday visa here to find out more details of your eligibility, and the conditions of those visas, but they could be perfect if you are planning a short-term trip with a focus on travel and work, and you do not have any family members that you would like to bring with you.

In conclusion, Australia has a vast array of visas available for those wishing to come and work. Some of the options have been listed above; however, you are encouraged to research them further by visiting the www.homeaffairs.gov.au website to confirm if you meet the eligibility criteria and which visa would best suit your needs. Submitting your updated CV to Locimo could be the next step on your journey of coming down-under to work in Australia’s booming hospitality industry.   Once your CV is approved and you are a part of the Locimo network, you can apply for roles at Australia’s best restaurants.  Submit your CV now!