Industry Labour Agreement
Premium Dining Industry Labour Agreement
Restaurant (premium dining) Labour Agreement: Chef, Cook, Cafe or Restaurant Manager and Trade Waiter, IELTS 5.0 English, non-franchised restaurants only.
Administered By
Department of Home Affairs
Key Benefit
Four restaurant occupations on the subclass 482, 494 and 186 visas, with subclass 186 after two years for chefs and cooks and three years for waiters and managers
Eligible occupations
Home Affairs lists four occupations. Trade Waiter has no ANZSCO code and is nominated under 070499; it takes in the five ANZSCO waiter specialisations (Drink Waiter, Formal Service Waiter, Silver Service Waiter, Sommelier and Wine Steward) and duties under the Restaurant Industry Award 2020.
Occupations Covered
Chef (ANZSCO 351311), Cook (351411), Cafe or Restaurant Manager (141111), Trade Waiter (not in ANZSCO; nominated under code 070499, including Sommelier and Maitre D roles)
The request process
Before the request, the restaurant must fit the Department's definition of a premium dining restaurant: highly experienced staff, a wine list, revenue of at least AUD2 million a year, non-franchised, and a need for specialised front-of-house and back-of-house staff such as sommeliers, wok chefs or sushi chefs. The request then proceeds on the template terms in ImmiAccount.
What the Premium Dining Industry Labour Agreement provides
The Restaurant (premium dining) Industry Labour Agreement lets a premium dining restaurant sponsor a Chef (ANZSCO 351311), Cook (ANZSCO 351411), Cafe or Restaurant Manager (ANZSCO 141111) or Trade Waiter (not in ANZSCO, nominated under code 070499) for up to four years or permanent residence. The visas are the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) and the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186), the last after a two year transition for chefs and cooks or three years for trade waiters and managers.
The employer test is the distinctive feature. Home Affairs defines a premium dining restaurant as one that employs highly experienced staff, offers a wine list, has revenue of at least AUD2 million a year, is not franchised and needs specialised front-of-house staff (trade waiters, sommeliers, maitre d’s) and back-of-house staff (wok chefs, sushi chefs and other specialised cuisine chefs). Trade Waiters perform the ANZSCO Waiter tasks and duties under the Restaurant Industry Award 2020, and any of the five ANZSCO waiter specialisations is acceptable.
English for the subclass 482 visa is IELTS 5.0 overall or equivalent, while subclass 186 applicants meet the standard requirement. Chefs, cooks and managers meet the subclass 482 skill rules for their occupation; a Trade Waiter needs at least two years of relevant experience. Subclass 494 applicants need two years of relevant experience and subclass 186 applicants three years of full time relevant experience in Australia in the nominated occupation. Salary follows the standard requirements of each visa, and the premium dining template is published by Home Affairs. The Home Affairs page was read for these terms on 25 September 2026, and its definition of a premium dining restaurant is quoted above.
Visa Plan Lawyers and the Premium Dining Industry Labour Agreement
Visa Plan Lawyers assembles the revenue, wine list and staffing evidence that shows a restaurant meets the premium dining definition, and prepares the request, Trade Waiter and chef nominations and the subclass 482, 494 and 186 applications that follow.
Reviewed by Visa Plan Lawyers · Last updated: September 2026 · Agreement terms are set by the Department of Home Affairs and change without notice. General information only, not legal advice.