Skills in Demand (482)
Sponsor chefs, cooks and hospitality managers for up to four years to stabilise your team.
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Hospitality Employers
Employer-Sponsored Migration for Hospitality & Tourism
Solve chronic chef and cook shortages with skilled overseas hospitality staff. We help restaurants, hotels and venues sponsor the chefs, managers and specialists they need.
482 & 186sponsorship pathways tailored to hospitality
The Workforce Challenge
The Hospitality Staffing Crisis
Chefs and cooks remain among Australia’s most persistent shortages — acute in regional and tourism areas. Sponsorship provides stability where local recruitment falls short.
Common Challenges
- Chronic chef & cook shortages
Skilled kitchen roles are consistently hard to fill, especially outside major cities.
- Regional & seasonal demand
Tourism venues face location- and season-specific pressures that local hiring can’t meet.
- High turnover
Constant churn makes retaining experienced, senior staff a real challenge.
- Meeting nomination rules
Roles must be genuine, skilled positions that satisfy salary and occupation requirements.
How We Help
- Right-fit visa strategy
We identify whether 482, a DAMA or a Labour Agreement best suits your venue and location.
- DAMA concessions
In participating regions, we access salary and experience concessions designed for hospitality.
- Genuine-role preparation
We prepare nominations that clearly evidence a skilled, ongoing position.
- Retention pathways
We plan permanent options to keep the chefs and managers who anchor your team.
Occupations We Sponsor
Skilled Hospitality Roles We Help Fill
A selection of occupations we commonly help hospitality employers sponsor. Eligibility depends on the occupation, visa program and current legislation — we’ll confirm the right pathway for each role.
- Chefs
- Cooks
- Pastry Cooks
- Bakers
- Café / Restaurant Managers
- Hotel / Motel Managers
- Sommeliers
- Kitchen / Food & Beverage Supervisors
- Conference & Event Managers
- Bar / Gaming Supervisors
Don’t see the role you need? Many occupations can be sponsored through a Labour Agreement or DAMA even when they’re not on a standard list — ask us.
Occupation availability and visa eligibility depend on the applicable occupation lists, location, salary, candidate qualifications and experience, and whether a standard sponsorship, regional or labour agreement pathway is available.
Visa Pathways
Sponsorship Options for Hospitality Employers
We advise on and manage the visa program best suited to your roles, timeframes and long-term workforce plans.
DAMA (Regional)
Regional venues can access designated area concessions for hospitality roles. May provide a pathway to permanent residence, subject to the employer and visa holder meeting the applicable requirements at that time.
Employer Nomination Scheme (186)
Retain your senior chefs and managers permanently through the ENS program.
How It Works
From Recruitment to Visa — Managed End to End
1. Strategy call & workforce assessment
We review the roles you need to fill, assess occupation eligibility and recommend the most effective sponsorship pathway for your business.
2. Become an approved sponsor
We prepare and lodge your Standard Business Sponsorship (or negotiate a Labour Agreement / DAMA), establishing your business as an approved sponsor.
3. Nominate & lodge the visa
We manage labour market testing, salary benchmarking, the nomination and the worker’s visa application — ensuring every requirement is met.
4. Approval, obligations & permanent residence
We manage the application through to a decision, help you understand and manage your sponsorship obligations, and plan ahead for key workers. May provide a pathway to permanent residence, subject to the employer and visa holder meeting the applicable requirements at that time.
Free Preliminary Enquiry
Free Preliminary Employer Assessment
Tell us about your workforce needs. Our team will undertake an initial screening and advise whether sponsorship may be worth exploring and which professional service would be appropriate.
Responsible Migration Agent
Fiona Carre – Director
Registered Migration Agent – MARN 0638808
Stratton Migration Australia Pty Ltd
Stratton Migration Australia is led by Fiona Carre, Registered Migration Agent – MARN 0638808, and supported by an experienced migration team.
- An initial screening of your circumstances, at no cost
- A clear answer on whether we can assist
- The consultation or assessment service that fits, with fees confirmed before booking
Enquiring about your own visa? Submit an individual enquiry instead