Permanent Residency Options for Cooks

22 Jan Permanent Residency Options for Cooks

An extremely popular job role for those hoping to come and stay permanently in Australia, here are the following options for someone who is a Cook by profession.

First, we will define the role of a Cook and the potential visas that can be applied for, subject to meeting other visa requirements.

After completing a Diploma (must be CRICOS approved), the cook has various options:

• Apply for a Subclass 407 Training Visa

The Subclass 407 Visa is a temporary visa that is granted to Cooks who wish to undergo occupation training, provided they have recent suitable experience and are seeking to undertake structured training to improve their skills as a Cook.  This visa is ideal for Cooks who cannot meet the requirements of other employer-sponsored visas, though still wish to gain experience with the employer.

• Apply for an Employer-Sponsored Visa

For cooks seeking to be sponsored by an employer, it is important to note that the employer must meet certain caveats which are: The position cannot be involved in mass production in a factory setting, and the position must not be in a limited-service restaurant; which includes fast food or takeaway food services, fast-casual restaurants, drinking establishments that offer only limited food service, limited service cafes including, but not limited to, coffee shops or mall cafes, and limited-service pizza restaurants.

The role of the Cook must also be well defined according to the ANZSCO. The main difference between the occupation of Cooks and Chefs is made based on the specific tasks of the nominated position and corresponding skill level, and the work environment. Essentially, Cook’s primary role is cooking while Chefs also manage the kitchen aside from specialised cooking tasks.

As defined by the ANZSCO Code, the duties of a Cook are the following:

• examining foodstuffs to ensure quality
• regulating temperatures of ovens, grills, and other cooking equipment
• preparing and cooking food
• seasoning food during cooking
• portioning food, placing it on plates, and adding gravies, sauces, and garnishes
• storing food in temperature-controlled facilities
• preparing food to meet special dietary requirements
• may plan menus and estimate food requirements
• may train other kitchen staff and apprentices

Other requirements for a 482 Employed Sponsored Visa for Cooks include:

• English – At least 5.0 in IELTS
• Experience – At least 2 years of work experience as a Cook
• Salary – At least $53,900 and meet the market salary rate
• Skills Assessment – For applicants who hold passports issued by Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, or Zimbabwe; and those who are not exempt applicants for the occupation. (Source)

Other requirements for a 494 Regional Employer Sponsored Visa for Cooks include:

• Age – Must be under 45 years old
• Experience – At least 3 years of work experience as a Cook
• Positive Skills Assessment
• Competent English
• Meet health and character Requirements

Apply for a General Skilled Migration

Cooks with relevant skills and experience may consider applying for a skilled migration pathway under Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 Visas. These visas are point-tested, and the minimum to apply is 65 points. For visas with territory/state nominations, the criteria for eligibility may differ, so it’s best to consult with a Registered Migration Agent for the latest information.

Skills Assessment for Cooks

The profession of ‘Cook’ falls under Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), which is a skills assessment agency for people with trade skills gained overseas or in Australia that require skills assessment for migration.

Depending on the level of experience and qualifications, Cooks may be eligible for the TRA Job Ready Program (JRP) or the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA)

The Job Ready Program (JRP) shows you have the skills and experience needed to work as a Cook in Australia. It is previously a 4-step program that involves Provisional Skills Assessment, Job Ready Employer, Job Ready Workplace Assessment, Job Ready Final Assessment, it is, now just a 3-step program (from 1 July 2022), where TRA will accept JRP applications by selecting the JRP Program Registration and Eligibility option.

For applicants who require a skills assessment, to be eligible the Cook must:

• Have a qualification related to the nominated position as a Cook
• Have at least 3 years work experience, either full-time or part-time equivalent after the qualification was issued
• Must provide salary payment evidence to prove employment

If you are a Cook who requires more information regarding pathways to permanent residency in Australia or wanted assistance regarding visas and assessments, please get in touch with Worldly Migration’s Registered Migration Agent, Evan Bishop (MARN 1679414) and we’ll be glad to help.