Australian PR Points for Cooks, ANZSCO 351411
If you're looking to migrate to Australia as a Cook (ANZSCO 351411), you're eyeing a profession that frequently pops up in the country's General Skilled Migration programme-especially out in the regions. Because the Cook occupation currently sits on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), your pathway is narrowed down to state nomination (the 190 visa) or regional sponsorship (the 491 visa). While that cuts out the independent 189 option, Australia's thriving regional hospitality scene means there's still a healthy demand for your skills. Let's break down how your points stack up across the available visas.
TRA assesses Cooks against two distinct specialisation pathways — Commercial Cookery and Asian Cookery — and which one applies depends on your actual cuisine background and qualification, not just your job title. Western Australia specifically invited Cooks through its General Stream in a March 2026 round, a reminder that hospitality demand can spike in individual states well outside the usual Tasmania/South Australia pattern, so it pays to monitor more than one state's portal rather than assuming only the traditionally hospitality-friendly states are worth watching.
Subclass 189: Skilled Independent
Cook: Not eligible
Because ANZSCO 351411 is squarely on the STSOL, the subclass 189 simply isn't an option under current legislation. You'll need to focus your efforts entirely on the 190 and 491 pathways.
Not availableSubclass 190: State Nominated
With +5 state nomination points
Securing state nomination grants you an extra 5 points. The Department of Home Affairs does not publish occupation-specific cutoffs for state-nominated visas, so competitiveness depends entirely on your state's current programme and criteria.
→ how the state-nominated 190 pathway worksSubclass 491: Regional
With +15 regional bonus points
Regional sponsorship is a massive boost, offering +15 points. With regional hospitality crying out for staff, the 491 often proves to be a highly strategic route for cooks looking to establish themselves.
→ what regional status actually means for the 491Your Cook Score Across the Visa Pathways
| Subclass 189 | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
|---|
| Nomination bonus | N/A | +5 | +15 |
| Indicative range | N/A | ~80 pts | ~65 pts |
| Occupation list | N/A | STSOL | STSOL |
| Primary assessing body | N/A | TRA | TRA |
Note: The Department of Home Affairs does not publish a confirmed, occupation-specific cutoff for Cooks in any given round. The ~80 and ~65 figures above reflect a general historical pattern for this trade category, not a guaranteed or officially sourced number — you should still research your intended state's migration portal for current, round-specific insights into competitiveness.
→ Keep an eye on our invitation round tracker for general updatesGetting Your Skills Assessed
Before you can even think about lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI), you'll need a positive skills assessment in your back pocket.
Cook (ANZSCO 351411) is assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
| Assessing body | Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) |
| Official portal | tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au |
| Processing time | Approximately 120 days for MSA |
| Approximate fee | AUD $795 (MSA) |
| Assessment type | Skills assessment (MSA or OSAP) |
| Qualification required | Typically an AQF Certificate III or IV in Commercial Cookery |
When applying for a skills assessment through TRA, it's crucial to ensure your application is "decision-ready". Depending on your situation, you'll likely go through either the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) programme or the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP), the latter of which is conducted by TRA-approved Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and typically costs substantially more than the standard MSA fee once the technical interview (and, for some applicants, a practical component) is factored in. Keep in mind that general kitchen hand or basic food prep work often won't count-you need to demonstrate skilled, professional cookery experience.
Commercial Cookery vs Asian Cookery
TRA assesses Cooks against two separate specialisation streams. If your training and work history is in general Western-style commercial kitchens, you'll typically go through the Commercial Cookery pathway; if your background is specifically in Chinese, Thai, Indian, or other Asian cuisine trades, the Asian Cookery pathway is usually the closer fit. Applying under the wrong stream is a common, avoidable cause of a negative outcome, so match your evidence to the cuisine you actually trained and worked in.
⚠ Warning: Your skills assessment must remain valid at the exact time you receive your Invitation to Apply, not just when you submit your EOI. Assessments typically last for 3 years, so if yours is nearing expiry, get onto renewing it before your EOI lapses.
State Nomination for Cooks
Since the 189 isn't an option, state nomination is your bread and butter. Remember, it adds +5 points for the 190 and +15 points for the 491.
| State | 190 Available? | 491 Available? | Notes |
|---|
| NSW | Check current programme | Check current programme | NSW's 2025-26 program narrowed sharply to around 65 occupations total across both 190 and 491, organised around four priority sectors (Care Economy, Construction, Digital and Cyber, and Renewables/Agriculture). Cook is not one of NSW's named priority sectors, so confirm directly on the NSW skilled visas portal before assuming eligibility. |
| VIC | Check current programme | Check current programme | Victoria's 2025-26 program (3,400 places) closed to new Registrations of Interest on 28 April 2026, and its December 2025 invitation rounds were dominated by nurses, teachers, and construction trades rather than hospitality. The 2026-27 program had not yet opened as of this update — watch for its announcement before submitting an ROI. |
| QLD | Check current programme | Check current programme | We could not confirm Queensland's current occupation-specific status for Cook. Often requires ongoing local employment. Check the Queensland skilled migration portal directly. |
| SA | Check current programme | Check current programme | South Australia's 2025-26 program allocated roughly 2,250 nomination places (split between 190 and 491), and hospitality/chef roles have historically featured with typical local salaries around AUD $70,000–$95,000. You'll generally need at least 3 years of skilled employment in the last 5 years to be competitive — confirm the current list on migration.sa.gov.au. |
| WA | Yes | Yes | WA specifically invited Cooks through its General Stream in a March 2026 round, and hospitality and tourism is one of WA's five named priority sectors for 2025-26 (3,400 total places). Being WASMOL-listed doesn't guarantee an invite, so check migration.wa.gov.au for the current round. |
| TAS | Check current programme | Check current programme | Tasmania's 2025-26 Tasmanian Skilled Employment program was fully delivered with no remaining places as of 3 July 2026, so current applicants should watch for the 2026-27 program to open. When active, most pathways require roughly 9 months of local employment (6 months for health, teaching, or critical roles) at 20+ hours/week. |
| ACT | Check current programme | Check current programme | The Canberra Matrix points system will apply. |
| NT | Check current programme | Check current programme | Strictly conditional on residency and work commitments. |
Note: State occupation lists and nomination requirements are updated periodically and without much fanfare. You must verify the current status directly at each state's official migration portal before applying.
Regional hospitality remains a major driver for the Australian economy. While states like Tasmania and South Australia have historically provided strong pathways, don't overlook states where demand spikes less predictably — WA's March 2026 invitation of Cooks through its General Stream is a good example of a state outside the usual hospitality strongholds coming through with a real opportunity. If you're willing to head outside the major cities, the 491 visa is often the smartest strategic play.
How to Improve Your Score
Looking to boost your competitiveness? Here are a few solid strategies to bump up your points tally.
1. Superior English
Pushing your English score from Proficient to Superior gives you a hefty 10-point bump. It's often the fastest way to leapfrog other applicants in the queue.
→ Increase your points score2. Regional Sponsorship (491)
Embracing regional Australia not only opens up a ton of hospitality jobs, but it also lands you 15 extra points on your application.
→ Regional sponsorship in detail3. Australian Work Experience
Clocking up additional years working as a Cook in Australia can add 5 points and massively strengthen your case when approaching states for nomination.
→ Points improvement guide| Strategy | Points Gained | Time Required | Reform Risk |
|---|
| Superior English (if currently at Proficient) | +10 | 2-6 months | Low |
| State nomination (190) | +5 | 2-12 weeks | Low |
| Regional sponsorship (491) | +15 | 2-12 weeks | Low |
| Australian work exp (1 more year) | +5 | 1 year | Low |
| NAATI CCL (if bilingual) | +5 | 3-6 months | Medium |
How the 2026 Reforms Could Affect You
⚠ Keep in mind: The 2026 points test reform is currently just proposed-it hasn't been legislated yet. The current Schedule 6D system remains fully in effect.
We're expecting hospitality in regional areas to maintain strong demand even after any upcoming reforms. Because of this, the 491 pathway is likely to remain the most robust route for cooks. Ultimately, if you're a genuine trade professional with solid employment evidence working in regional Australia, your prospects should remain quite promising.
→ Learn more about the proposed 2026 points test reform