Many UK employers seek to hire chefs from all over the world. For foreign nationals (including EU nationals who were not already in the UK by 31 December 2020) looking to work in the UK, their greatest challenge is to be sponsored for a chef visa.
Our expert immigration solicitors help chefs meet the requirements for sponsorship to work in the UK food industry. Call us today on 0300 131 6767 or complete our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you.
Requirements for a UK skilled worker chef visa changed on the 22 July 2025. Prior to that date, the minimum skill level required for a skilled worker had decreased from RQF Level 6 to RQF Level 3, making most chefs eligible for sponsorship. On 22 July however, this minimum skill level was once again increased to RQF Level 6.
Regulated qualifications framework (RQF) are designed to indicate the complexity of a qualification, and is a way for the UK government to categorise different levels of skill. The effect of increasing the minimum skill level to RQF Level 6 is that it prevents the sponsorship of chefs as Skilled Workers where they do not already hold leave under this route.
RQF level 6 is the equivalent to an undergraduate degree.
From 22 July onwards, it is only possible to sponsor a Skilled Worker under the ‘Chef’ SOC code if the individual had already been granted leave as a Skilled Worker under the Rules in place prior to 22 July 2025, and has held leave in that route continuously since then. Note that this will include individuals to whom a Certificate of Sponsorship had been assigned prior to 22 July under the Chef SOC code, even if their actual Skilled Worker leave was granted after this date.
In order to qualify for a Chef visa, you must fulfil all of the following criteria:
These conditions are strict, and it can be difficult to ensure that you meet all of the requirements when making an application. For this reason, it is recommended that you work alongside expert immigration lawyers, such as the Latitude Law team, throughout the process to maximise your chances of succeeding in your visa application.
A Chef visa falls into the category of a ‘skilled worker visa’, and you will be required to satisfy the relevant points-based immigration system criteria.
You may also need to attend an appointment at a visa application centre and bring evidence that proves your identity, such as a passport or other travel document. During the application process, you will need to meet the following requirements:
In order to apply for a Chef visa, you must be issued with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by an approved Home Office-licensed sponsor. You will not be able to submit an online application for a Chef visa without the relevant CoS reference number, which will be stated on the CoS.
The CoS is an electronic record, rather than a physical document, and it will include information such as your contact details, job, salary, employment start date and a brief explanation of how you will meet the Chef visa eligibility requirements.
All eligible Chef roles must meet the relevant Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code criteria. This will be job code 5434 under the SOC 2020 occupation codes.
You will be required to satisfy the English language requirement by passing a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) test at Level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
You do not need to pass an approved English language test if you are from a majority English-speaking country as listed within the Immigration Rules.
The role will need to meet a minimum salary requirement of at least £41,700 per year, unless you were sponsored as a Chef in the UK prior to 4 April 2024 and have continuously held leave in the route since this date.
Unless you have been resident in the UK for at least 12 months before the date of application, you must show that you have personal savings of at least £1,270, which must have been held for at least 28 days before the date of your application.
However, if your sponsor is an ‘A-rated sponsor’, they can certify your maintenance up to the end of your first month of employment in the UK. If your sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS, you will not be required to provide any evidence of your finances.
Applying for a chef visa in the UK includes the following steps:
Sending a chef visa application is not always a straightforward process, as there are many documents you need to gather, and criteria you may miss without realising. Also, optimising your application makes it much more likely you will get accepted quickly, and failed applications can make reapplications less likely to be successful.
As a result, it’s a good idea to work with a specialist UK immigration Law Firm such as Latitude Law to simplify the process and increase your chance of success.
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Applicants are able to apply for a Skilled Worker Chef visa within three months before the day they intend to commence working for the sponsor. The date of application will be referenced in the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Responses to visa applications usually take eight weeks if you are present in the UK at the time of the application.
Latitude Law has significant experience in preparing successful Chef visa applications.
Thanks to our extensive knowledge of immigration rules, we are able to provide pragmatic advice and meet our client’s needs. We have connections with the Home Office and other immigration authorities, so we can advise you with confidence and ensure the entire immigration procedure runs smoothly and efficiently for you.
Call us today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Let our legal experts take the uncertainty out of your Chef visa application so you can start your successful immigration journey today.
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As the eligibility criteria for a UK chef visa are complex, any overseas chef should seek specialist advice from an immigration solicitor before proceeding with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that the conditions of your voluntary work are compliant with the very latest immigration rules. We can review your documents and support your application to give you the highest chances of success.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Face your future knowing you have the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
Applicants seeking an eligible job in the UK as a chef under a Skilled Worker visa are allowed to stay in the country for a maximum of five years. If you wish to extend the duration of your visa, you must apply to extend or update your work permit after its expiry or if there is a change in job or employer.
A Skilled Worker (Chef) can be joined by their spouse/partner and any dependent children under the age of 18, provided that they are able to meet the relationship and financial requirements.
Each dependant must have a certain amount of personal savings to support themselves while in the UK. These funds are required to prove that they can be maintained during their stay without requiring public funds. Your employer can certify maintenance for your family members to avoid having to show these funds, even if they are applying separately from you.
If you have secured further sponsorship, you will be able to extend your visa from within the UK. If you have been continually living in the UK as a Chef for five years, you will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain provided certain requirements are met.
Note that you can only be sponsored as a Chef if you have continuously held leave as a Skilled Worker granted under the Rules in place prior to 22 July 2025.
A UK restaurant or hospitality business may be eligible to make a sponsor license application. When granted, this licence allows your business to sponsor visa applications made by chefs and other skilled workers.
Before applying for a sponsor licence, the business must meet certain conditions. It should be registered in the UK and actively trading. It must have systems in place to manage sponsored workers, and have assigned specific roles related to these responsibilities. If the business has a history of immigration law violations in previous sponsorship activities, or has had a sponsor licence revoked, it may not be eligible to apply again.
If and when you receive your licence, you need to make sure any job offer meets the minimum skill and salary thresholds. The chef role must be classified under an eligible occupation code, and pay more than the minimum salary threshold (currently £41,700 per year). From there, you can issue a CoS to any eligible chef you wish to sponsor, which they can use to apply for a UK chef visa. As already discussed above, it is only possible to sponsor a Chef where the individual was granted leave as a Skilled Worker under the Rules in place prior to 22 July 2025, and has held leave in the route continuously since that date .
You must fulfil your monitoring reporting duties on an ongoing basis, as you may be subject to inspection or review by UK Visas and Immigration. Speak to the team at Latitude Law for advice on managing a sponsor licence, fulfilling your legal obligations, and maximising your chances of success when applying.
Are you looking to work in the UK? Getting a visa to work in the UK can be a complicated process, but our immigration lawyers are experts in processing visas across all employment categories. We can help you.
Some employment routes are governed by the Points-Based System (PBS). The rules can be complex and it is, therefore, vital that you consult a specialist immigration solicitor for legal advice and information before applying to work in the UK.
A Skilled Worker visa is available for skilled workers of all nationalities that have been offered a position from an eligible UK company who is a registered sponsor. This route can lead to settlement and applicants can be joined by dependent partners and children.
Whether you’re looking to apply for the first time or aiming to renew your partner visa, Latitude Law is well placed to help you secure the right to live with your family member in the UK.
