Chefs are in charge of creating menus, controlling food preparation processes, supervising cooking activities, and preparing dishes. They can work at restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and other health-care facilities, as well as central food commissaries, clubs, and other establishments.
There is a huge demand for chefs in Canada thanks to the multicultural environment in the country where the population is eager to try new cuisines. There are a variety of ethnic restaurants in the big cities of Canada that include Indian, Mexican, continental, Chinese etc. If you are a skilled and experienced chef, there is no dearth of opportunities for you to migrate to Canada.
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How can a chef migrate to Canada?
There are three ways by which a chef can move to Canada:
- Express Entry system
- Provincial nominee program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
The first step in the migration process is to calculate your eligibility for applying to these programs.
Express Entry: You must have a skill type 0 or a level A or B to be eligible for the Express Entry system. Chefs are categorized as level B, which implies you could be qualified to apply to any Express entry program.
You will have to build an online Express Entry profile, after which you will be entered into a draw pool which takes place every two weeks, from which the best scoring individuals will be chosen to obtain an ITA (Invitation to Apply) for permanent residence in Canada.
Applicants are chosen from the pool depending on their CRS. However, you must first be qualified for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The following are the eligibility and scoring criteria:
Age
Experience
Education
Language Skills
Arranged Employment
Adaptability
Federal Skilled Trades program: You can apply for migration under the Federal Skilled Trades program or FSTP. The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is designed for skilled workers in various occupations who can submit their profiles to the FSTP and incur a chance to get an invitation to apply or ITA for a visa. The selection is based on a lottery system, but the chances of selection are high because Canada has a labor shortage in different occupations.
The government of Canada releases a list of skilled trades that are facing a shortage of labor on a regular basis. Based on this list international workers and those on a temporary work permit can apply in the FSTP to see if they have a chance to be selected.
The list of skilled trades is based on Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) list. If you get your permanent resident visa through the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you will be eligible to live and work in Canada and can become a Canadian citizen after a few years.
Provincial nominee program: If you are a skilled or semi-skilled worker with a valid job offer that is in demand in a particular province or territory, the Provincial Nominee Program allows you to live and work in Canada. Each province/territory has its own PNP, which includes listings of in-demand occupations tailored to the specific needs of its labor market.
Chefs are in high demand in British Columbia and Ontario but not so much in Alberta. These provincial in-demand career listings are updated on a regular basis, so make sure you have the most up-to-date information before expressing interest in a certain region.
If the province believes your skills are a suitable fit for their needs, they will grant you a provincial nomination, which will provide you 600 of the total 1,200 points you need on your CRS, letting you to advance through the candidate pool.
How much can a chef earn in Canada?
The median wage for this profession is 17 dollars per hour and the maximum wages for this profession is in the Canadian province of Alberta where the median wage is 19 dollars per hour.
| Community/Area | Wages ($/hour) | ||
| Low | Median | High | |
| Canada | 13.30 | 17.98 | 25.96 |
| Alberta | 15.20 | 19.00 | 29.74 |
| British Columbia | 15.20 | 17.31 | 25.25 |
| Manitoba | 11.90 | 14.50 | 26.44 |
| New Brunswick | 11.75 | 16.00 | 24.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 12.50 | 16.00 | 25.64 |
| Northwest Territories | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nova Scotia | 12.95 | 16.12 | 26.44 |
| Nunavut | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ontario | 14.25 | 17.50 | 25.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | 14.00 | 17.50 | 24.45 |
| Quebec | 13.50 | 18.00 | 25.00 |
| Saskatchewan | 13.00 | 18.50 | 30.47 |
Skills required
- Skills in cooking, prepping, and serving
- Knowledge of how to operate and repair machinery
- Management abilities
- Analyzing and planning skills
- Ability to communicate
- Creative skills
3-year job prospect-The job prospect in the next three years for chefs is fair in most provinces of Canada.
10-year prospect- Job opportunities and job seekers are likely to be at the same level, and the labor supply-demand equilibrium is expected to persist until 2028.
Employment requirements
It is necessary to complete secondary school education.
Cook's trade certification, which is accessible in all provinces and territories, is necessary, as well as similar degrees, training, and experience.
Executive chefs should have management skills and several years of professional cooking experience.
Qualified chefs can obtain a Red Seal endorsement for cooks after passing the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Qualified chefs can apply for the Chef de Cuisine certification, which is administered by the Canadian Culinary Institute of the Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks (CFCC).
Job responsibilities
- Plan menus and ensure that the cuisine meets quality requirements.
- Recruit and hire employees.
- Consult with clients about weddings, banquets, and other special events.
- Plan and supervise food preparation and culinary activities in a variety of establishments.
- Estimating the amount of food needed and the cost of food and labor.
- Managing the tasks of expert chefs, chefs, cooks, and other kitchen personnel.
- Demonstrate new cooking techniques and equipment to the kitchen staff.
- Instruct cooks on how to prepare, cook, garnish, and serve food.
- Create new recipes.