How To Work In Canada As A Cook

February 02, 2021

If you are wondering if cooks or chefs are among the jobs that are in demand in Canada, then we are glad to let you know that cooks and chefs are in demand in Canada.

There are a lot of job opportunities in Canada presently and cooks and chefs are one of them and this is because they contribute to the growth of the economy directly or indirectly.

If you want to work in Canada as a cook or chef and you don’t know how to go about it, you are lucky seeing this article as we are going to show you how you can immigrate to Canada and work as a cook or chef.

This article will give you all the information you will need to know about moving to Canada and working as a cook.

The best time to immigrate to Canada is now as the government has an immigration target of over 432,000 immigrants to the country in 2022 and this is part of the 1.3 million immigrants that are expected to come to the country between 2022 to 2024 according to the Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024.

There are over 100 immigration programs through which aspiring immigrants can go through to immigrate to Canada but as a cook or chef, we will be looking at the most suitable immigration program for you to immigrate and work in Canada as a cook.

Are Cooks In Demand In Canada?

Like we said earlier, cooks are among the jobs that are in demand in Canada. There are a lot of job opportunities for chefs in Canada this is because there are a wide variety of cuisines to choose from including Middle Eastern, Peruvian, Indian, Filipino etc.

How Much Can A Cook Earn In Canada?

The salary you could earn as a cook or chef in Canada will depend on your level of experience. An entry-level cook may earn a solid $28,000 in a year while a more experience cook could earn about $31,000 in a year.

Which Cities Pay Cooks More

Just like your experience determines how much you would earn as a cook or chef, the city you stay and work in could also determine how much you would take home as salary.

There are a lot of cities in Canada that pay cooks or chef high salaries. Cooks in Clalgary and Edmonton are paid about 15% higher than the national average of $29,664 in a year and this means that as a cook or chef, you may easily earn $34,113 in a year.

As a cook in Regina, you would earn at least 10% more than the national average of $32,624 in a year while in Toronto; you could comfortably earn $32,032 in a year.

What Is The NOC Code For Cooks?

We will be listing some jobs that are classified under the NOC code 6322. They are:

  • Cook
  • Dietary cook
  • First cook
  • Apprentice cook
  • Hospital cook
  • Journeyperson cook
  • Line cook
  • Grill cook
  • Short order cook
  • Institutional cook
  • Licensed cook
  • Second cook

How To Immigrate To Canada As A Cook

Like we mentioned earlier that there are over 100 immigration programs in  Canada but as a chef, you will have to go through the most suitable immigration programs in Canada and they are:

  • The Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • The Express Entry British Columbia Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Trades Program

You may immigrate to Canada and get permanent residence in Canada in just six months. These programs are under the Express Entry Program and so you will have to meet the following requirements for you to be eligible for the program.

  • You must have a minimum of two-years work experience as a paid cook (full-time)
  • You must have present an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) if you educational qualification were obtained outside Canada
  • You must score a minimum of 5 in speaking and listening and 4 in writing and reading on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
  • You must be in good health and have no criminal record.

If you receive an Invitation to Apply after exceeding the CRS cut-off score, you will be given 60 days to submit your application.

Express Entry British Columbia Skilled Worker Program

This program is another great way you can immigrate to Canada as a cook or chef and it is for NOC level B occupations only. To go through this program, you must have at least two year of work experience and make sure you meet all the fundamental requirements for the program.

You must have at least CAD 23,659 in your account.

Can I Immigrate To Canada With My Spouse Or Common-Law Partner?

Yes you can immigrate to Canada with your spouse as you will need at least CAD29,087 to show that you will be able to support yourself and the person you will be coming with to Canada.

You will be asked to submit your bank statement during your application as proof.

Is A Language Test Required To Work As A Cook In Canada?

You will be required to pass an approved language exam to show that you have fluency in the official Canadian languages. You can take one of the two examinations which are the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) if you speak English and the TEF (Test d’ evaluation) if you speak French.

The language examinations are to assess your abilities to communicate, listen, write and read. The language test will be valid for two years.

How To Find A Job As A Cook In Canada

For you to easily find a job as a cook in Canada, you will have to apply for work in provinces where cooks are in high demand. There many provinces in Canada where cooks are in demand and these provinces also pay cook more. The provinces are:

  • British Columbia
  • Alberta
  • Ontario
  • Saskatchewan
  • Quebec

What Is An ECA?

The Educational Credential Assessment is used to show that your educational qualifications or credential that was gotten outside Canada is equivalent to the Canadian standard.

You can apply for this document on World Education Services (WES) which will finish your evaluation in 20 days.

Final Note

From all we have said so far, you can see that it is quite easy to immigrate and work in Canada as a cook. We have shown you the best immigration programs through which you can immigrate to Canada and mind you these immigration programs also offer permanent residence in Canada.

As a cook, you don’t have to bother about trade certification as it is optional in the provinces in Canada but you can apply for the Red Seal Endorsement which will permit you to relocate and work in other regions across the country.