Aussies have exploded after discovering that chefs are the top occupation for temporary “skilled” immigrants, closely followed by cooks, and café or restaurant managers.
According to Department of Home Affairs data, chefs made up 9.3% of primary applicants who were granted Skills in Demand Visas in the year to June 30, 2025, and 9.5% of those accepted in the six months to December 31.
The full-year top 15 nominated occupation list also included resident medical officer, motor mechanic, software engineer, ICT business analyst, aged care nurse, mechanical engineering technician, marketing specialist, diesel motor mechanic, personal care assistant, accountant, and welder.
In the 2024-25 financial year there were 130,570 applications granted – 68,200 primary and 62,370 secondary, while between July 1 and December 31 there were another 34,360 primary and 34,300 secondary applications granted.
India was the top citizenship country with 18.1% of all applicants, followed by the Philippines with 14.9%, the UK with 10.4%, and Nepal with 5.4%.
Australia’s 2025 “skilled migrant” intake by most common skill.
About 10,000 places granted to people working as cooks, chefs or restaurant managers.
180% increase for chefs, 130% increase for cooks, 80% increase for restaurant managers.
Then, once accepted, they are allowed… pic.twitter.com/wUXwMBzR3u
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) September 22, 2026
Independent journalist Drew Pavlou highlighted the data on social media on Wednesday, and pointed out there were massive increases in the number of chefs, cooks, and café and restaurant managers during the 2024-25 financial year.
“About 10,000 places granted to people working as cooks, chefs or restaurant managers. 180% increase for chefs, 130% increase for cooks, 80% increase for restaurant managers,” he wrote.
“Then, once accepted, they are allowed to bring family and dependents. These are not Michelin starred chefs. These are people doing TAFE courses in food production as a back door way to get citizenship.”
The revelations sparked anger from other Australians, with many saying it appeared immigrants were taking advantage of a visa program which was intended to fill so-called skills shortages.
“Thank you for drawing attention to this widespread con. Generations of sacrifice and heritage have basically been reduced to completing a VET certificate and paying a fee,” said one Aussie.
“Because we imported so many skilled delivery couriers, we need to import more cooks so the couriers are kept busy enough to pay the migration agency fees,” joked another.
“Where are all the construction workers they constantly boast about?” asked a third.
“I met a motor mechanic from Afghanistan who boasted that he and his friends own lots of mechanic shops around Perth, and they charge more to White people so they can give steep discounts to their coethnics,” another said.
There are about 3 million temporary visa holders in Australia, a number which One Nation has promised to reduce by 750,000 if elected.
Header image: Sri Lankan chef Jude Wijesinghe who stabbed a Bhutanese co-worker to death at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra (Facebook).
