Pathways to pr: Cafe or restaurant manager-141111
Description
Café or Restaurant Managers organise and control the operations of cafés, restaurants, or related dining establishments. Their role is to ensure high standards of service and compliance with food regulations while delivering a seamless customer experience.
Skill Level: ANZSCO Skill Level 2 (generally requires an AQF Diploma or higher).
Qualification Required
To work as a Café or Restaurant Manager in Australia, you typically need a qualification such as:
An AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma, or Associate Degree in a highly relevant field (e.g., Hospitality Management).
In some cases, substantial relevant work experience (usually 3+ years) may substitute for formal qualifications.
Work settings must be formal dining/catering (fast food and takeaway roles are not accepted).
Tasks (including but not limited to)
Planning menus with chefs and organising catering or special functions
Monitoring purchases, pricing, stock records, and controlling budgets
Ensuring compliance with health and hygiene regulations
Managing reservations, customer service, and guest satisfaction
Recruiting, training, and supervising kitchen and waiting staff
Coordinating with suppliers and business partners
Main Visa Options
Employer Sponsorship
482 – Skills in Demand Visa (Specialist Skills Stream)
Core Skills Stream is NOT available for this occupation
Specialist Skills Stream eligibility applies (with employer sponsorship)
Visa Type: Temporary, up to 4 years
Route to PR: Possible transition to the 186 visa via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream after working with the employer for 2 years
Salary Requirement: Must be earning minimum $141,210 per year
Labour Agreement Stream (DAMA)
Some employers may sponsor Café or Restaurant Managers under a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), particularly in regions with proven shortages.
Key DAMA Concessions for Café or Restaurant Managers:
Age limit up to 55 (vs 45 for standard PR visas)
PR Pathway available in every region listed
English language flexibility in some areas (e.g., NT, SA, WA South West)
TSMIT (salary) or qualification/skills concessions common
Occupations grouped (e.g., Group 1, Type L, Category 1), which may influence required documentation
186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
Direct Entry Stream: Not available
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream: Eligible if sponsored under 482 Specialist Skills or Labour Agreement and employed for 2 years
Outcome: Grants Permanent Residency
494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
Eligible for Café/Restaurant Managers with regional sponsorship
Visa Type: Temporary visa (up to 5 years)
Route to PR: Apply for the 191 visa after 3 years of regional work and meeting income requirements
Skills Assessment: Required
407 – Training Visa (Enhanced Skills Stream)
This visa is for individuals undertaking structured, supervised workplace training to enhance skills in their occupation.
Eligibility Requirements:
Must be nominated by an Australian organisation approved as a Temporary Activities Sponsor
Training must:
Enhance skills in the nominated occupation
Be structured, supervised, and documented with a clear training plan
Must have at least 12 months of experience (full-time equivalent) in the occupation within the last 24 months
This visa can be a stepping stone toward employer sponsorship or a future skilled visa.
Skilled Independent Visas
189 – Skilled Independent Visa
Not available for this occupation (not on the MLTSSL)
190 – Skilled Nominated Visa
This visa is for points-tested skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
Minimum Points: 65 (including the 5 points from state nomination)
Skills Assessment: Mandatory
Visa Type: Permanent
Residency Condition: Must live and work in the nominating state for a set period (usually 2 years)
How it works:
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect
If nominated by a state/territory, you will receive an invitation to apply
491 – Skilled Work Regional Visa
This visa is for points-tested skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in a designated regional area.
Minimum Points: 65 (including 15 points from nomination or family sponsorship)
Skills Assessment: Mandatory
Visa Type: Temporary (up to 5 years)
Route to PR: Apply for the 191 visa after 3 years and meeting income/work requirements
Skills Assessment Authority – VETASSESS
A positive skills assessment from VETASSESS is required for some employer-sponsored visas and all independent skilled visas.
Assessment Requirements:
Qualifications: Minimum of AQF Diploma in Hospitality Management or closely related field
Employment: Paid, full-time work (minimum 20 hrs/week) in an appropriate setting (not fast food/takeaway)
Experience Pathways:
1–2 years of post-qualification employment depending on qualification relevance
OR 3+ years of relevant employment (including 1 year in last 5 years) if no qualification
Documentation May Include:
References
Position descriptions
Organisational charts
Shortage of Café or Restaurant Managers in Australia
There is no national shortage of Café or Restaurant Managers (per Jobs and Skills Australia)
However, regional shortages do exist — particularly in parts of Queensland
This makes regional visas (494/491) more accessible pathways
Conclusion
The Café or Restaurant Manager occupation offers multiple pathways to Permanent Residency in Australia — especially through employer sponsorship and points-tested skilled migration.
Visa eligibility depends on numerous factors including salary, location, experience, skills assessments, and nomination criteria.
As migration laws and occupation lists are frequently updated, it's essential to seek professional advice tailored to your background.
We recommend booking a consultation for a full and accurate review of your individual case.
