Chef Jobs with UK Visa Sponsorship
Skilled chefs can be sponsored for UK work visas, but the requirements are more specific than many applicants expect — not all cooking roles qualify, and the distinction between chef and cook is critical.
Visa Sponsorship Overview
Visa Route
Skilled Worker
Salary Threshold
From £25,600/year
Immigration Salary List
No
Skill Level
RQF Level 3
SOC Code
5434
Chef Jobs from Visa Sponsors
Live listings from employers on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors.
Cook / Chef
Mount Charles · Dungannon, County Tyrone · £27,393 – £27,393
Chef/Cook
ESS · Cottesmore, Oakham · £31,428 – £31,428
Chef/Cook
ESS · Cattedown, Plymouth · £29,452 – £29,452
Chef/Cook
ESS · Longmoor, Liss · £32,780 – £32,780
Chef/Cook
ESS · Cottesmore, Oakham · £30,368 – £30,368
Chef Cook
Anchor Hanover Group · East Lavant, Chichester · £27,394 – £27,394
Chef/Cook
Activate Learning · Fairlands, Guildford · £28,000 – £28,000
Chef/Cook
Activate Learning · Fairlands, Guildford · £29,277 – £29,277
Chef Cook
Denstone College Ltd · Uttoxeter, Staffordshire · £30,914 – £30,914
Chef / Cook
HF Holidays · Alnwick, Northumberland
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What Visa Sponsorship Means for Chefs
Chef sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa is one of the more nuanced categories. The role falls under SOC code 5434 (Chef) with a going rate of approximately £25,600 per year. Crucially, this code covers skilled chefs — not fast food workers, takeaway cooks, or kitchen assistants. UKVI actively scrutinises chef visa applications to ensure the role genuinely requires culinary skill and creativity rather than routine food preparation.
The qualification threshold is specific: applicants should hold an NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery (or an equivalent international qualification) OR demonstrate at least five years of experience in a role of similar status. "Similar status" means working as a chef de partie or above in a restaurant, hotel, or catering establishment — not simply five years of any food-related work. The employer must be a restaurant, hotel, or similar establishment, not a fast food outlet.
Chef is NOT on the Immigration Salary List and does not qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa. This means the standard Skilled Worker visa fees apply (approximately £719 for up to three years), the Immigration Health Surcharge is payable (£1,035 per year), and there is no reduced salary threshold — the going rate of £25,600 must be met in full.
The restaurant and hospitality industry has a mixed track record with sponsor compliance. Some employers have lost their sponsor licences due to underpayment or misrepresentation of duties. Before accepting a sponsored chef position, check the employer's licence status on the Home Office register and ensure the offered salary genuinely meets the going rate. If the salary is suspiciously close to or below the threshold, this is a red flag.
Salary Overview
Based on 41 listings with salary data:
Low
£24,734
Median
£31,875
High
£58,701
The visa sponsorship going rate for this role is £25,600/year. Listings below this threshold cannot be sponsored.
Employers Who Sponsor Chefs
These employers appeared in current listings and are on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors.
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Salary thresholds, Immigration Salary List status, and visa rules are subject to change. Always check GOV.UK for the latest requirements. Job listings are provided by Adzuna and refreshed daily.