Canada Immigration for Chefs and Cooks: Practical Pathway

Canada immigration as a cook is a pathway of interest to many Vietnamese workers, because Canada’s restaurant and hospitality industry consistently faces labor shortages, and cooks are among the hardest positions to fill. If you have culinary skills, restaurant kitchen experience or a culinary qualification, this can be the foundation for building a skilled worker immigration profile. In this article, the My Second World team analyzes the NOCoccupation code, the TEERlevel, reference wages and the practical pathways specifically for cooks.

Before going into detail, you should understand that cooks in Canada are divided into two different occupational groups with different requirements and immigration opportunities. Determining exactly which group cook hay chef you belong to will determine the right pathway. This article is part of a series Canada immigration occupations that My Second World has compiled to make comparisons easier for you.

Which NOC code and TEER level do cooks fall under?

Canada uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 version to classify every job by level of training, education, experience and responsibility – abbreviated as TEER. For the culinary profession, there are two main codes you need to know clearly:

• Cooks – NOC 63200, TEER level 3: These are people who directly prepare and cook dishes in restaurants, hotels, cafeterias or food service establishments. TEER 3 usually requires a vocational college diploma of under two years or more than six months of on-the-job training.
• Chefs (head chef / specialist chef) – NOC 62200, TEER level 2: This group plans and runs kitchen operations, including Head Chef, Sous-Chef and Specialist Chef. TEER 2 usually requires a college diploma or vocational training of two years or more, or a position with a supervisory role.

Theo Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the difference between cook and chef lies in the level of training and supervisory responsibility: chefs require higher skill and typically manage a kitchen team, so they are classified at a higher TEER. The important point for a Canada immigration profile as a cook is that both NOC 63200 and 62200 fall under TEER 0–3, meaning they meet the occupation-type eligibility requirement to apply through Express Entry programs.

Why does identifying the correct NOC code matter?

The NOC code determines which programs you are eligible for, which category-based selection group you can participate in, and how you need to demonstrate your experience. If the wrong occupation code is declared, the application can be refused because the experience does not match the job description. Therefore, the My Second World team always cross-checks your actual work log (dishes prepared, role, whether you supervised others) against the main duties described in the NOC before finalizing the occupation code.

Cook salaries in Canada according to Job Bank

Income is a factor of great interest when considering Canada immigration as a cook. Below is official reference data from the Canadian government’s Job Bank portal, updated on 19/11/2025. Please note this is labour market wage data, not a guaranteed income, and it varies by province as well as experience.

Theo Job Bank Canada, cooks have a national median wage of about $18.00/hour, while chefs reach a median of $23.00/hour. In provinces with a higher cost of living such as Ontario or British Columbia, the top wage for chefs can reach $34–$36/hour. This gap shows that advancing from cook to chef not only increases income but also widens the door to immigration, since chefs fall under TEER 2 with more priority programs available.

Pathways to Canada immigration as a cook

There is no single dedicated “cook visa” in Canada. Instead, you will go through skilled worker immigration programs, and the culinary profession can suit several different pathways depending on your circumstances. Below are the most practical routes.

1. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

This is usually the most feasible pathway for culinary workers. Many provinces have nomination streams for semi-skilled workers in the restaurant and hospitality industry, especially when you already have an actual job in that province. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows each province to select workers based on local labour needs, and the food service industry is often on the priority list in provinces facing labour shortages. When nominated by a province through the Express Entry-linked stream, you receive up to 600 additional CRS points, which almost guarantees an invitation.

2. Job offer kèm LMIA

A valid job offer from a Canadian employer, along with a LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment), is the foundation for many cook applications. An LMIA proves that no Canadian is available to do that job, so the employer is permitted to hire a foreign worker. A job offer with an LMIA helps you obtain a work permit to go to Canada, accumulate local experience, and later use that experience to apply for immigration. You can learn more in the article job offer for Canadian immigration to understand how a job offer is recognized in an application.

3. Express Entry – Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

If you have worked legally as a cook in Canada (via a work permit) for at least one year, the Canadian Experience Class category is a strong option. CEC requires at least one year of paid work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 within the past three years – both cook (TEER 3) and chef (TEER 2) are eligible. This is why many Vietnamese cooks choose the “work first, immigrate later” pathway: come to Canada with a job offer plus LMIA, work for a full year, then transfer to CEC.

4. Express Entry – Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

For cooks who do not yet have Canadian experience but have skills and experience abroad, the Federal Skilled Worker category may be suitable. FSW is assessed using a points system covering age, education, English/French proficiency, experience and several other factors. However, for the culinary profession, the CRS score is often hard to compete on without a job offer or provincial nomination, so FSW is usually combined with PNP to increase chances.

An important note: the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) category is for skilled trades, but under current regulations, FST only applies to the main occupation groups 72, 73, 82, 83, 92, 93. The culinary profession (groups 62 and 63) is not included in this list. Therefore, cooks do not apply through FST but go through CEC, FSW or PNP. This is a point many people confuse, and the My Second World team often has to clarify it upfront so you don’t choose the wrong program. You can further compare this with Canada immigration in the trades to see the difference.

A practical pathway for Vietnamese cooks

Based on real profiles, the My Second World team suggests a step-by-step roadmap so you can clearly picture the journey of Canada immigration as a cook.

1. Determine the NOC code and TEER level: Cross-check your actual experience against NOC 63200 (cook) or 62200 (chef). If you are currently a cook but can demonstrate a supervisory role, consider elevating your profile to chef to benefit from TEER 2.
2. Take an English or French test: Every Express Entry program requires a language certificate. You need to take IELTS or CELPIP and reach the minimum level for your category. See details in the article English test for Canadian immigration.
3. Get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if needed: If you use a Vietnamese qualification for points, you need to complete an ECA to prove equivalency with the Canadian system.
4. Find a job offer + LMIA or a provincial nomination: This is the step that creates the biggest score advantage. A valid job offer or a PNP nomination can determine whether you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
5. Create an Express Entry profile and wait for an ITA: Submit your profile to the system, receive your CRS score, and wait for a draw matching your score.
6. Submit your permanent residence application and medical exam: After receiving an ITA, complete your application with full documents, a police certificate and a medical exam as required.

The above roadmap can take from one to several years depending on your starting point. Someone already working in Canada through CEC is usually faster than someone applying from abroad through FSW. As a result, many cooks choose to go to Canada to work first on a work permit, earning income while accumulating local experience to switch to an immigration category later.

Market demand and opportunities for the culinary profession

Canada’s restaurant and hospitality industry has recovered strongly since the pandemic and continues to face labour shortages in kitchen positions. This shortage has made many employers willing to apply for LMIAs to hire foreign workers, while also encouraging provinces to place the culinary profession on their priority nomination lists. For Vietnamese cooks – valued for their diligence, skill, and ability to master both Asian and Western dishes – this is a considerable competitive advantage.

However, you need to be realistic about the CRS score. If you only have domestic experience, no job offer and no provincial nomination, the score for the culinary profession is unlikely to be sufficient for an invitation in general draws. The wisest strategy is therefore to combine approaches: improve your English while also seeking a job offer or a PNP route. To understand the overall cost of the whole journey, you can refer to the article cost of immigrating to Canada.

Summary

Canada immigration as a cook is a feasible pathway but requires a clear roadmap. You should start by correctly identifying the NOC code – cook (63200, TEER 3) or chef (62200, TEER 2) – as this determines the entire strategy. With a Job Bank reference median wage of $18.00/hour for cooks and $23.00/hour for chefs, along with steady labour demand, the culinary profession still has significant room. The most practical route is usually a job offer with an LMIA or a provincial nomination (PNP), then transferring to Express Entry under CEC once you have Canadian experience.

Every cook’s profile has a different starting point, from experience and English to qualifications. The My Second World team is ready to accompany you in assessing your occupation code, building a strategy to increase your score, and choosing the most suitable program. Please contact us for detailed advice on a Canada immigration pathway as a cook tailored to your specific circumstances.