Lately, a lot of people have been asking me:“My time is running out, is it still possible to take the chef migration pathway?” “How should I choose between Cook and Chef?” “I’ve met the study requirement, but I don’t have enough experience. What should I do now?”
If right now you:
- Don’t have a skills assessment
- Don’t have enough work experience
- Don’t have an employer to sponsor you
- Have a student visa, 485, or visitor visa that is about to expire
- Are not yet ready to apply directly for a 482 or PR
Then you really need to read this carefully.
Because for people planning to migrate through Cook or Chef, the 407 Training Visa is very likely the key for you to turn the game around.Why do so many people get stuck at “not enough experience” on the chef migration pathway?Both Cook and Chef are on Australia’s Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which means:
You can go via 482；You can go via 186；You can go via 190/491；You may even be able to go via 189.
But whether you can migrate or not does not depend on your qualification. It depends on whether you can pass the TRA skills assessment.And the most common stumbling block in the assessment is: 👉 Not having at least one year of full-time relevant work experience.
A lot of people, after finishing their course:
- Don’t have mature enough skills
- Can’t find an employer
- Can’t move into a supervisory-level position
- Miss the timing to apply for a 482的机会
- Don’t have enough visa time left to keep waiting and building experience
The result is: You’ve got the qualification. You’ve chosen the right direction. But you can’t lodge the assessment = everything is on hold.This is exactly when the 407 Training Visa comes into play.So what exactly is the 407?407 = Training Visa (Occupational Training Visa)It’s not a student visa. It’s not an employer-sponsored work visa.It is:A visa specifically designed as a “legal transition period” for people who don’t yet have enough experience.
It allows you to:
- Work in a real kitchen environment
- Receive support through a training plan
- Accumulate genuine experience that can be used for skills assessment
- And at the same time, legally remain in Australia
And at the same time, legally remain in Australia
Who is the 407 most suitable for?？
| Situation | Suitable for 407?？ |
| Not enough time, visa expiring soon | Absolutely – must consider it |
| Less than 12 months of work experience | Ideal |
| Want to become a Chef but currently only at Cook level | Can extend time to accumulate experience |
| Just graduated and not familiar with real kitchen operations | Ideal |
| Not confident with English | Ideal |
So, the 407 is not a “second-best” option. It’s actually a smart way to control your pace.The 407 is your golden transition period, but it’s often the step that people overlook.
It helps you to:
Continue staying in Australia legally
Gain industry-recognised experience
Upgrade your skills to Chef level
Smoothly enter the 482 / 186 / PR pathways
