South Australia has just updated its skilled occupation list, and Chef has been removed from the 190 permanent residency pathway. (Meaning: You can no longer obtain PR directly via SA 190 as a Chef.)Why Was “Chef Migration” Always So Popular?Because it offered a rare combination of:
A PR pathway without requiring high academic qualifications
Experience matters more than degrees
Strong labour demand in hospitality
Clear career and migration progression for hard-working people
Compared with IT, Nursing, and Engineering, the entry barrier for Chefs was much more manageable, and the English requirement was not as high. Many cooks, restaurant owners, and hospitality workers from overseas successfully migrated through this route.Previously, the common pathway looked like:Work experience → Skills assessment → SA state nomination → 190 PRBut now, with Chef removed from SA 190, the only option left in South Australia is:491 Skilled Work Regional Visa (Meaning: you can still migrate, but through a two-step pathway—temporary → PR, not direct PR)
Does This Mean Chefs Can No Longer Migrate?No. But the strategy must change.Here is what’s still possible:
| Pathway | Status | Details |
| 190 (South Australia) | ❌ Closed | Occupation removed |
| 491 (South Australia) | ✔ Available | Temporary first → PR later |
| 190 in other states | ⚠ Depends | NSW / TAS sometimes open |
| Student visa → Work → Migration | ✔ Stable | Suitable for those lacking English or qualifications |
Other Removed Popular Occupations (Partial List)The following occupations are removed from SA 190 (Working in SA pathway) — other pathways may remain unchanged:
Accountant /Chef /University Lecturer /Motor Mechanic /Marketing Specialist /Enrolled Nurse (EN) / Painter /Hotel/Motel Manager /Financial Broker (removed for “Working in SA” stream) /Restaurant Manager /Valuer (completely removed) /Property Manager (completely removed).