For Employers · Published 2026-10-05 · Updated 2026-10-05
How to Sponsor a Cook on a 482 Visa (Employer Guide)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
To sponsor a cook on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, your business must become an approved Standard Business Sponsor, then nominate the cook position at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (about $79,423 from 1 July 2026) and the market salary rate. Cook (ANZSCO 351411) is on the Core Skills Occupation List, so it can be nominated under the Core Skills stream, but Home Affairs caveats apply to the occupation, and the role has to genuinely match the cook duties. For restaurants, hotels, clubs, aged care and catering businesses, it is the main lawful way to bring in a qualified cook from overseas, with a pathway to permanent residence through the subclass 186 visa.
This guide covers the cook-specific angles. For the full employer process, see our pillar guide on how to sponsor an overseas worker on a 482 visa, and for head-chef roles see how to sponsor a chef.
Cook or Chef? Get the ANZSCO code right
Cook (ANZSCO 351411) prepares, seasons and cooks food in a dining or catering establishment. Chef (ANZSCO 351311) plans menus, manages the kitchen and supervises staff. They are separate occupations (both carry the same two caveats, below), and the nomination must reflect what the person will actually do day to day. A “chef” job title on a role that is mostly line cooking is a common reason nominations are questioned; so is nominating a genuine kitchen manager as a cook.
The caveats: which kitchens can sponsor a cook
Cook is on the Core Skills Occupation List with two caveats (the legislation calls them “applicable circumstances”). The occupation cannot be used if:
- “The position is involved in mass production in a factory setting.”
- “The position is in a limited service restaurant.”
The legislation defines a limited service restaurant to include:
- a fast food or takeaway food service;
- a fast casual restaurant;
- a drinking establishment that offers only a limited food service;
- a limited service cafe, including a coffee shop or mall cafe;
- a limited service pizza restaurant.
The same two caveats apply to Cook for the 186 Direct Entry stream. In practice, a full-service restaurant, hotel or club kitchen can usually nominate a cook; a takeaway shop, a fast-casual chain, a pub with a basic bar menu or a food factory generally cannot. A role that falls inside an exclusion cannot be approved however strong the candidate is, so check your venue against this list before you advertise.
What does it cost to sponsor a cook?
Employer-side costs (indexed and subject to change):
- Standard Business Sponsorship: around $420, usually valid for around five years, with unlimited nominations under it.
- Nomination: around $330 per position.
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: $1,200 per year of the visa if your annual turnover is under $10 million, or $1,800 per year otherwise, paid upfront at nomination. It can never be recovered from the worker.
On salary, you must pay at least the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate for a cook in your location, whichever is higher. This is the main risk with cooks: the award minimum for a qualified cook (Restaurant Industry Award, Cook grade 3: $1,119.10 a week) and the Jobs and Skills Australia median for cooks ($1,432 a week) are both below the threshold, so the role must genuinely pay at least A$79,423. Use our 482 sponsorship cost calculator for your total.
Do I have to advertise the job in Australia first?
Usually, yes. Labour Market Testing applies to most Core Skills nominations: advertise the role in Australia, generally for at least four weeks, in the prescribed way and within the required window before lodging the nomination. Ads that leave out the salary range or run for too short a period are a routine cause of refusal in hospitality.
What does the cook need to qualify?
Under the Core Skills stream, the cook must have at least one year of relevant work experience in the occupation or a related field, meet English requirements, and pass health and character checks. A skills assessment through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is mandatory for a 482 cook who holds a passport from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe, unless an exemption applies (for example, they already hold a 457 or 482 as a cook, or gained their qualification in Australia). Where it is mandatory it must be commenced before the visa is lodged, so plan it in early: it can set the whole timeline. Full applicant criteria are on our subclass 482 visa page.
Keeping the cook long term
After at least two years of eligible sponsored employment on the 482, you can generally nominate the cook for the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme under the Temporary Residence Transition stream, which is permanent residence. Cook is also listed for the 186 Direct Entry stream (caveats apply) and the regional subclass 494 visa, which can suit businesses in regional Australia.
Is this general advice?
This is general information, not personal migration advice. Thresholds, fees and caveats change, and the right pathway depends on your business and the candidate. Before you advertise or lodge anything, speak with a registered migration agent (LifeinAus, MARN 1795282).
Sources & last checked: verified 5 October 2026 against the Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (compilation in force from 7 November 2025: Cook, ANZSCO 351411, Core Skills Occupation List, applicable circumstances 3 and 4), the Migration (Specification of Occupations and Relevant Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Instrument 2024 (compilation in force from 28 March 2026: Cook, assessing authority TRA, same circumstances), IMMI 18/039 (mandatory skills assessment passports), the Fair Work Restaurant Industry Award 2020, Jobs and Skills Australia and the Department of Home Affairs Skills in Demand Core Skills stream criteria.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sponsor a cook on a 482 visa?
Yes. Cook (ANZSCO 351411) is on the Core Skills Occupation List, so an approved Standard Business Sponsor can nominate a cook under the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills stream, provided the salary meets the Core Skills Income Threshold (about $79,423 from 1 July 2026) and the market rate, and the position is not excluded by the Home Affairs caveats for the occupation.
What is the difference between a Chef and a Cook visa?
They are different occupations. Chef (ANZSCO 351311) covers menu planning, kitchen management and supervising staff; Cook (ANZSCO 351411) covers preparing, seasoning and cooking food. The nomination must match the duties actually performed, not the job title.
Does a cook need a skills assessment?
It is mandatory for 482 cooks holding a passport from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe, unless an exemption applies, and is done through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). The cook must also have at least one year of relevant work experience, meet English requirements and pass health and character checks.
Can a sponsored cook get permanent residence?
Usually yes. After at least two years of eligible sponsored employment on the 482, the employer can generally nominate the cook for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream. Cook is also listed for the 186 Direct Entry stream and the regional 494 visa.
Other occupations you can sponsor
Employer guides for the roles we're asked about most: list status, caveats, skills assessment, salary and costs for each.
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