Guide · South Africa
How to work as a Chef in Australia from South Africa
What you need to know about registration or skills assessment, English, the police certificate from South Africa and the employer sponsorship list, taken from official Australian sources. Each section links its source and the date it was checked.
General information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent (MARA) for advice on your situation.
Overview
In Australia this role is listed as Chef (ANZSCO 351311), which also covers job titles such as Chef de Partie, Sous Chef, Head Chef.
TRA assesses trade skills gained overseas for chef work. Depending on your country and situation, the assessment usually involves a documentary evidence review, and may include a technical interview and a practical assessment with an approved registered training organisation.
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) generally asks for:
- Proof of identity
- Evidence of your trade qualification (if you have one)
- Evidence of paid employment in the trade (payslips, references, contracts)
- Photos or videos of your work for some programs
Sources
- Trades Recognition Australia(opens in a new tab)check date not recorded
- Trades Recognition Australia(opens in a new tab)checked 18 October 2026
Registration and skills assessment
More than one route can apply to Chef candidates from South Africa. Which one applies depends on your situation, and a registered migration agent can confirm which applies to you.
TRA employer-sponsored program (Temporary Skills Shortage Skills Assessment Program)
Trades Recognition Australia
For people an Australian employer is sponsoring for a temporary skilled role, who work as a Chef and hold a passport from a country on TRA's list for this program. Done by a TRA-approved RTO; outcome in about 9 weeks after complete evidence.
- South Africa passports are on TRA's employer-sponsored program list for this occupation.
Applies if:
- an Australian employer is sponsoring you for a temporary skilled role
- Skills assessment
Stage 1: documentary evidence
Trades Recognition Australia (via an approved RTO)
Choose a TRA-approved RTO with the RTO Finder; they check your eligibility and tell you what evidence to provide (proof of employment in your occupation, and a current passport).
- Fee listed by the authority:
- AUD 1,120 (check current figure)
- Practical
Stage 2: technical interview
Trades Recognition Australia (via an approved RTO)
A technical interview with an RTO assessor about your trade. Pathway 1 (no relevant Australian qualification) may also need a practical assessment.
- Fee listed by the authority:
- AUD 2,000 (Pathway 1) or AUD 900 (Pathway 2) (check current figure)
- PracticalIf it applies to you
Practical assessment (if required)
Trades Recognition Australia (via an approved RTO)
Some applicants also complete a practical assessment at an approved venue; you may need to travel to an assessment centre in Australia or overseas.
- Fee listed by the authority:
- AUD 2,200 (Pathway 1) (check current figure)
- TicketIf it applies to you
Food Safety Supervisor certificate (often asked for)
RTO or food regulator-recognised organisation
Category one and two food businesses must appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisor (certificate from an RTO or an organisation recognised by the food regulator, obtained in the past 5 years). Employers often look for it in chefs.
Source
- Trades Recognition Australia(opens in a new tab)checked 18 October 2026
TRA Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP)
Trades Recognition Australia
For skilled-migration applicants (not the employer-sponsored or graduate programs) who work as a Chef and hold a passport from a country on TRA's OSAP list. Stage 1 documents, stage 2 technical interview (and a practical if required) at a TRA-approved RTO; outcome in about 15 weeks after complete evidence.
- South Africa passports are on TRA's Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) list for this occupation.
Applies if:
- you are not being sponsored by an employer
- Skills assessment
Stage 1: documentary evidence
Trades Recognition Australia (via an approved RTO)
Choose a TRA-approved RTO with the RTO Finder; they check your eligibility and tell you what evidence to provide (proof of employment in your occupation, and a current passport).
- Fee listed by the authority:
- AUD 1,120 (check current figure)
- Practical
Stage 2: technical interview
Trades Recognition Australia (via an approved RTO)
A technical interview with an RTO assessor about your trade. Pathway 1 (no relevant Australian qualification) may also need a practical assessment.
- Fee listed by the authority:
- AUD 2,000 (Pathway 1) or AUD 900 (Pathway 2) (check current figure)
- PracticalIf it applies to you
Practical assessment (if required)
Trades Recognition Australia (via an approved RTO)
Some applicants also complete a practical assessment at an approved venue; you may need to travel to an assessment centre in Australia or overseas.
- Fee listed by the authority:
- AUD 2,200 (Pathway 1) (check current figure)
- TicketIf it applies to you
Food Safety Supervisor certificate (often asked for)
RTO or food regulator-recognised organisation
Category one and two food businesses must appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisor (certificate from an RTO or an organisation recognised by the food regulator, obtained in the past 5 years). Employers often look for it in chefs.
Source
- Trades Recognition Australia(opens in a new tab)checked 18 October 2026
English
English test result (IELTS General or PTE). IELTS General or PTE (if your visa or employer requires it).
| Test | Each part |
|---|---|
| IELTS General Training | 5 |
| PTE Academic | 36 |
This is what employers usually ask for, from GoingAbroad’s occupation profile. It isn’t an official standard: check what the employer and the assessing authority ask for.
Police certificate from South Africa
For South Africa, the Home Affairs police check page names the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
- Issued by
- South African Police Service (SAPS) Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR & CSM)
- Applying from outside South Africa
- Yes, you can apply from outside the country.Apply at the nearest South African Embassy, or send the application with your fingerprints directly to SAPS CR & CSM.
- Processing time
- About 15 working days from when all documents reach CR & CSM, not counting postal time. SAPS reports a current backlog that has extended waiting times.
- How long it’s accepted
- Home Affairs treats police certificates as valid for 12 months from the issue date. A certificate covers from age 16 (or the whole time you were in the country) up to the issue date.
- Fingerprints go on form SAPS 91(a) or the official fingerprint form of the country you live in.
- A fee is payable.
Issuer’s website: saps.gov.za(opens in a new tab)
Sources
- Home Affairs: police check for South Africa(opens in a new tab)checked 19 October 2026
- saps.gov.za(opens in a new tab)checked 19 October 2026
- Home Affairs: character requirements(opens in a new tab)checked 19 October 2026
Employer sponsorship list
Chef (ANZSCO 351311) is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), so Australian employers can sponsor overseas workers for this occupation when the job meets the other published settings.
The list sets conditions for this occupation that the employer should check:
- The position is involved in mass production in a factory setting.
- The position is in a limited service restaurant.
The guaranteed salary must also meet the Core Skills income threshold: AUD 79,423 a year from 1 July 2026 (check current figure).
Whether a particular job can be sponsored depends on the employer and the job. General information based on the official list as of 18 October 2026 (LIN 24/089 (F2024L01620), compilation No. 3 (F2025C01064), compiled 7 November 2025). Not visa advice: a registered migration agent can advise.
Source
- Federal Register of Legislation: LIN 24/089(opens in a new tab)checked 18 October 2026
Typical timeline
Only the times an official source states. Your own timeline depends on your documents and the authority’s workload.
Police certificate from South Africa
About 15 working days from when all documents reach CR & CSM, not counting postal time. SAPS reports a current backlog that has extended waiting times.
Source
- saps.gov.za(opens in a new tab)checked 19 October 2026
How GoingAbroad helps
- Free vetting. Create your profile, get help to strengthen your CV and do one AI interview. Vetting costs nothing.
- We submit ready candidates. When you’re ready, GoingAbroad submits your profile to Australian employers hiring Chef roles. Employers make every hiring decision.
- Clear about what we are. GoingAbroad is a hiring platform, not a migration agent. We never charge a placement fee and never promise a job or a visa outcome.
General information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent (MARA) for advice on your situation.
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