Chef Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship For Foreigners

We are your resource for finding chef jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship in 2025, so if you’re seeking one and are having trouble finding any, you’ve come to the correct spot. As everyone is aware, chef jobs Cooking and preparing meals for patrons at a restaurant, hotel, or other food service institution is the responsibility of a chef in the United Kingdom.

We’ve included comprehensive information about how to apply for chef jobs, who is eligible to apply, and the typical wage for chefs in the UK below. You can simply find employment in the UK after reading this page because we’ll give you the application URL.

Chefs are the heart of the UK’s vibrant hospitality industry, from Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels to bustling pubs and international kitchens. While experience isn’t always required, employers value dedication, creativity, and strong culinary skills.

To qualify for sponsorship, you’ll need a job offer from a licensed UK employer and meet the Skilled Worker visa requirements—including English proficiency and proof of savings.

In return, you’ll gain competitive pay averaging £24,000 per year, with senior chefs earning up to £49,000–£150,000 in top positions. Alongside financial rewards, working as a chef in the UK offers professional training, career growth, exposure to diverse cuisines, and the chance to be part of one of the world’s most dynamic culinary landscapes.

Though long hours and demanding schedules are part of the job, the benefits—professional development, cultural immersion, and the pathway to a stable career in the UK—make it a life-changing opportunity.

Details of Chef Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship

Key Points

• Country: United Kingdom (UK)
• Job type: Chef
• Experience Required: No
• Knowledge Required: No
• Age Limit: Minimum 22 Years
• Visa Sponsorship: Yes

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Benefits of Chef Jobs in UK

Working as a chef in the UK offers a compelling mix of professional development, competitive pay, and a rich cultural experience. However, it’s important to have a realistic understanding of the industry, particularly regarding work-life balance and salary expectations.

1. Professional Growth and Development

The UK’s culinary scene is one of the most diverse and dynamic in the world. As a chef, you’ll have ample opportunity to grow your skills.

• Diverse Cuisine: The UK is a melting pot of cultures, and this is reflected in its food. You’ll be able to work with a vast array of ingredients and cooking styles, from traditional British fare to global cuisines like Indian, Thai, and Italian, which are incredibly popular in the UK.
• Structured Training: The UK has a well-established system for professional culinary training, from formal diplomas and apprenticeships to on-the-job training in a variety of kitchen settings, including fine dining restaurants, hotels, and institutional catering.
• Career Progression: There are clear career paths for chefs, from Commis Chef to Chef de Partie, Sous Chef, and eventually, Head Chef or Executive Chef. With experience and skill, a top chef can achieve a very high salary.

2. Competitive Salary

While a competitive salary is a benefit, it’s important to understand the realities of a chef’s earnings in the UK.

• Average Salary: The average annual salary for a chef in the UK is around £25,300. This can vary significantly based on experience, location, and the type of establishment.
• Salary by Role:
  • Entry-level/Trainee Chefs:Earn around £17,800 per year.
  • Mid-career Chefs: With 4-9 years of experience, you can expect an average of around £24,600.
  • Experienced Chefs: With 10-20 years of experience, the average salary can rise to nearly £49,000.
  • Head Chefs and Executive Chefs: Can earn much more, with salaries ranging from £40,000 to over £150,000 for high-end or private roles.

3. Work-Life Balance

The “flexible scheduling” and “good work-life balance” mentioned can be misleading for the average chef in the UK. The reality of the industry is often demanding.

• Long Hours: The traditional chef’s schedule is not a 9-to-5 job. It often involves long hours, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and public holidays. It is not uncommon for chefs to work 40-45 hours per week, with some in high-pressure kitchens working even longer.
• Alternative Roles: While some roles, such as those in institutional settings like schools, universities, or corporate catering, may offer more regular hours and a better work-life balance, these are not representative of the broader hospitality sector.
• The 48-Hour Work Week: The UK’s Working Time Regulations limit the average working week to 48 hours. However, many chefs voluntarily opt out of this to work longer hours, a common practice in the industry.

4. Cultural Experience

Working as a chef in the UK provides an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and way of life.

• Multicultural Environment: You will work alongside a diverse range of people from across the globe, not just from the UK. This provides a unique chance to learn about different culinary traditions and professional practices.
• Culinary Innovation: The UK’s culinary scene is known for its creativity and willingness to fuse different global influences. This will allow you to learn new techniques and create innovative dishes that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
• Food Scene: You will be at the heart of the UK’s vibrant food scene, which includes everything from traditional pubs and street food to world-renowned, Michelin-starred restaurants.

Read Also: Bakery Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship

Requirements

To apply for a chef job in the UK with visa sponsorship, you must meet a very specific and strict set of requirements due to recent changes in UK immigration policy. The UK government has made it significantly more difficult to sponsor workers in many hospitality roles, including chefs.

Here are the requirements for a chef job in the UK with a Skilled Worker visa, based on the most recent information:

1. Job and Employer Requirements

• Licensed Sponsor: You must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer who holds a valid Sponsor Licence from the Home Office. Without a licensed sponsor, you cannot be issued a visa.
• Eligible Job Role: This is the most crucial and difficult requirement for chefs. As of July 22, 2025, many occupations, including chefs (under SOC code 5434), are no longer eligible for the standard Skilled Worker visa. This means that for new applications, it is now extremely difficult for a chef to be sponsored unless their role is a more senior or specialized position that meets a higher skill threshold.
• Genuine Vacancy: The Home Office must be satisfied that the job is a genuine vacancy and not created solely to enable you to get a visa.

2. Salary Requirements

• Minimum Salary:The salary you are offered must be the higher of two amounts:
  • The general salary threshold, which is currently £38,700 per year (and rising).
  • The “going rate” for your specific job role, as defined by the UK government.
• Meeting the Threshold: For a chef, the “going rate” for a sponsored role would likely be much higher than the average UK salary for a chef, as the job role must be at a higher skill level to be eligible for the visa.

3. Personal and Professional Qualifications

• Age: You must be 18 or over to apply.
• English Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate your knowledge of English by having a B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). You can prove this by:
  • Passing an approved English language test.
  • Being a national of a majority English-speaking country.
  • Having a degree-level qualification that was taught in English.
• Experience: While the visa rules don’t specify a certain number of years of experience, to meet the higher skill-level requirements for an eligible chef role, you would likely need several years of experience in a senior or specialized position (e.g., Head Chef or Pastry Chef). Roles like cooks or kitchen assistants are not eligible.
• Financial Requirements: You must have at least £1,270 in savings to support yourself in the UK, unless your employer confirms on your Certificate of Sponsorship that they will cover your maintenance costs for your first month.

4. Application Documents

When you apply, you will need to provide the following:

• A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number from your employer. This is an electronic record that confirms your sponsorship.
• A valid passport or other document that proves your identity and nationality.
• Proof that you meet the English language requirement.
• Proof that you have the required personal savings (unless your employer is sponsoring your maintenance).
• A tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if you are from a listed country.
• A criminal record certificate if you are working in certain roles.

Duties as Chef Jobs in UK

1. Management and Leadership

A visa-sponsored chef is expected to have a supervisory or management role. Their duties include:

• Kitchen Management: Taking a leading role in the day-to-day operations of the kitchen, including managing multiple stations (e.g., meat, fish, pastry, sauces).
• Staff Supervision: Supervising and mentoring junior chefs, commis chefs, and kitchen assistants. This includes delegating tasks, ensuring quality control, and providing training and development.
• Leadership and Team Building: Fostering a positive and productive work environment. This involves motivating the kitchen team, ensuring clear communication, and resolving conflicts.
• Managing in the Absence of the Head Chef: In roles like a Senior Chef de Partie or Sous Chef, you will be expected to run the kitchen in the absence of the Head Chef.

2. Culinary and Menu Development

Your role will be more creative and strategic than an entry-level chef.

• Menu and Product Development: Contributing to the development and design of new menus. This includes creating new dishes, researching current food trends, and experimenting with ingredients.
• Quality Control: Ensuring that all dishes are prepared and presented to the highest standard, consistent with the restaurant’s brand and specifications. You’ll be responsible for tasting and approving dishes before they are served.
• Recipe and Portion Management: Ensuring that all dishes are prepared according to specific recipes and that portion control is maintained to manage costs and ensure consistency.

3. Operational and Administrative Duties

A senior chef has a wider range of responsibilities beyond cooking.

• Inventory and Stock Management: Overseeing all food stocks, from ordering and inspecting deliveries to rotating stock to minimize waste and ensure freshness. You will likely be involved in monthly stock audits.
• Financial Control: Contributing to the control of daily food costs and working within a set budget.
• Health and Safety: You will be responsible for upholding and enforcing all food hygiene and health and safety regulations. This is a crucial duty that includes maintaining a clean and hygienic kitchen environment and ensuring all staff adhere to these standards.

Average Salary

The National Careers Service reports that the average chef in the UK makes about £24,000 ($33,000) annually. It fluctuates based on your expertise and culinary prowess.

Who Can Apply

Anyone can apply for a chef job in the UK; all you have to do is fulfill the employer’s standards, which vary depending on the company and include things like experience and skill sets.

Conclusion

Getting a chef job in the UK with a sponsored visa is a difficult but possibly transformative experience. Even though the UK’s thriving food industry offers a wealth of opportunities for career advancement and competitive pay, it’s important to be aware of the most recent immigration policy changes. Obtaining sponsorship is more challenging than in the past due to the new, more stringent conditions for the skilled worker visa, which include a significantly higher wage level and an emphasis on senior or specialized roles.

Frequently Asked Questions