Diploma in Cookery And Hospitality Management in Australia

Career Opportunities After Graduation

Graduates go on to roles including Chef/Cook, culinary entrepreneur, food stylist, culinary educator, food and beverage hospitality manager, menu developer, research and development chef, culinary consultant, catering manager, food critic/blogger, and culinary media or tourism roles.

Verified Visa Pathways for Chefs and Cooks (as at 1 July 2026)

Migration settings for hospitality change often, so here's what's current on the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) as of 1 July 2026. Note that "Chef" and "Cook" are treated as separate occupations under Australia's ANZSCO classification, and this distinction directly affects your visa eligibility:

• Chef — ANZSCO 351311 (Skill Level 2): kitchen leadership, menu planning, and staff supervision.
• Cook — ANZSCO 351411 (Skill Level 3): food preparation and cooking under an established menu, generally without supervisory duties.

Both occupations appear on the Department's Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which underpins employer-sponsored pathways. Skills assessments for both roles are generally carried out by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), though the exact assessing body can depend on your qualification and work history — always confirm with the assessing authority listed for your specific occupation.

Subclass 485 — Temporary Graduate Visa For eligible graduates of a CRICOS-registered course. Since reforms took effect on 1 July 2024, applicants must be under 35 years of age (previously 50) at the time of application, and must apply within 6 months of course completion. Diploma and trade-qualification graduates generally apply through the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, which grants 18 months' stay.

Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand (SID) Visa Replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage visa from 7 December 2024. Chefs and cooks are typically sponsored under the Core Skills stream, which requires:

• The role to be on the CSOL (Chef and Cook both qualify)
• At least 1 year of relevant work experience within the last 5 years (reduced from 2 years under the reforms)
• Functional English ability (generally IELTS 5.0 overall or equivalent)
• There's no upper age limit for the 482 visa

This visa can lead to permanent residency via the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, Temporary Residence Transition stream, now reachable after 2 years of full-time work with an approved sponsor (reduced from 3 years).

Subclass 190 / 491 / 494 — State and Regional Pathways Because Chef and Cook generally sit outside the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the independent Subclass 189 visa is typically not available to these occupations. Instead, most chefs and cooks pursue:

• Subclass 190 (state/territory nomination) or Subclass 491 (regional nomination or eligible family sponsorship) — points-tested visas requiring a minimum of 65 points and, for the 491, a 15-point regional bonus. Points-tested visa applicants are generally expected to be under 45 at the time of invitation.
• Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) — employer-sponsored, no points test, leading to permanent residency via Subclass 191 after 3 years in a designated regional area.

Occupation list placement, income thresholds, and state nomination priorities are reviewed regularly, so always cross-check your specific circumstances against the current Home Affairs pages and your state government's nomination criteria before lodging an application — ideally with a registered migration agent.