UK Hospitality Jobs 2025: Visa Sponsorship Guide

The UK hospitality jobs visa sponsorship sector is booming yet faces a critical labor shortage making skilled foreign workers more inb demand than ever¹ For experienced Chefs Restaurant Manager Visa UK candidates and other catering professionals the Skilled Worker Visa UK Hospitality route offers a clear pathway to a rewarding career in the United Kingdom

This comprehensive guide updated for the significant immigration changes of 2025 provides the essential data roles and steps you need to secure a Certificate of Sponsorship CoS and start your UK journey We simplify the complex visa requirements and show you how to target the right UK Visa Sponsorship Employers List

1. The UK Hospitality Job Market in 2025

The UK food service industry is a massive engine of the economy but post Brexit labor changes have created a persistent staff shortage² This gap means businesses are increasingly relying on the Skilled Worker Visa route to fill senior and specialized roles³

Key Changes Affecting Sponsorship E A T Compliance

Effective from July 22 2025 the UK government has significantly adjusted the requirements for visa sponsorship⁴ Understanding these changes is crucial for success

General Salary Threshold: The minimum general salary has increased to £41 700 per year (or the going rate for the specific job whichever is higher⁵
New Entrant Salary: The minimum salary for New Entrants under 26 switching from a student visa etc is now £33400⁶
Skill Level Increase: The required skill level for a sponsorable job has increased from RQF Level 3 A level equivalent to RQF Level 6 degree level⁷

Crucial Insight: The skill level increase means certain roles that were previously sponsorable, such as many Chef roles and Bar Manager positions may no longer qualify for new Skilled Worker visa sponsorships unless they meet the RQF 6 skill level or are specifically listed on the Immigration Salary List ISL⁸ Always verify the latest Immigration Salary List formerly TSL and minimum salary thresholds on the official GOV UK website

2. In-Demand Catering & Restaurant Jobs With Sponsorship

While general roles are harder to sponsor high level specialized positions remain viable pathways The focus is on demonstrating Expertise and meeting the salary thresholds

A. Senior and Specialist Culinary Roles High Priority

The Skilled Chef Jobs UK category is still possible but success hinges on seniority and the specialized nature of the role e.g ethnic cuisine expertise

Job Role	Contextual Keyword	Salary Expectation	Key Requirement
Head Chef	Skilled Chef Jobs UK	£35,000 – £45,000+	Proven leadership management experience and a high level (RQF 6 qualification or equivalent experience
Sous Chef Jobs UK Sponsor	Chef de Partie UK	£30,000 – £35,000+	Specialised skill in specific cuisine e.g Indian Chef Visa Sponsorship, Pastry Chef UK
Tandoori Grill Chef UK	Specific Ethnic Cuisine	£34,000 – £36,000+	Proven mastery in traditional techniques often meeting the new entrant salary discount if applicable

B. Management Catering Roles

These roles are inherently higher-skilled and generally meet the RQF 6 requirement making them strong candidates for the visa route

Restaurant Manager Visa UK: Requires significant managerial experience 2+ years in a formal dining or high volume setting focusing on operations budget and staff leadership
Catering Manager Jobs: Often found within large corporations universities care homes or Hotel Manager Visa Sponsorship structures demanding expertise in large scale logistics and health and safety compliance
Nursery Chef Jobs UK Cook Jobs UK Sponsor: While often lower paid these roles in institutional settings may still qualify if the employing company has the necessary Sponsor Licence UK Restaurants and the salary meets the minimum threshold for that specific role check the occupation code

3. The Sponsorship Pathway: Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker Visa UK Hospitality route is the primary method for non UK residents. It operates on a points based system requiring a total of 70 points⁹

Key Visa Requirements Non Tradable Points

You must meet these three mandatory criteria

Job Offer from Approved Sponsor 20 points You must have a confirmed job offer from a company on the UK Visa Sponsorship Employers List This company must possess an active Sponsor Licence UK Restaurants.¹⁰
Appropriate Skill Level 20 points Your job must be at the RQF Level 6 skill level¹¹
English Language Requirement UK Visa 10 points You must prove you can speak read write and understand English to a B1 level Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Salary Requirements Tradable Points

You must also earn one of the following, which attracts the final 20 points

Salary Option	Minimum Annual Salary (from July 2025)	Condition
Standard Rate	£41700	Must be the highest of the general threshold or the job’s ‘going rate’.
New Entrant Rate	£33400	For applicants under 26, switching from a student visa, or certain other exceptions.
ISL Discount¹²	£33400¹³	If the job is on the Immigration Salary List ISL (formerly the TSL¹⁴

Actionable Tip: When searching for UK Hospitality Jobs Visa Sponsorship look for job adverts that explicitly mention the Skilled Worker Visa and the Certificate of Sponsorship CoS as this proves the employer is authorized

4. How to Find and Apply for Genuine Sponsored Roles

Finding the right job requires a targeted strategy moving beyond generic job boards

A. Target the Right Employers

The UK Visa Sponsorship Employers List is publicly available on the GOV.UK website¹⁵ Use this as your starting poin

Filter the List: Download the official Register of Licensed Sponsors Workers¹⁶ Filter it for categories like Accommodation and food service activities to identify companies in the Catering Jobs London Sponsor space
Direct Applications: Once you identify a suitable company check their careers page directly for Skilled Chef Jobs UK or Restaurant Manager vacancies A direct application often stands out more than one through a generic job board

B. Utilise Specialist Recruitment

Engaging with Hospitality Recruitment Agencies UK can significantly speed up your search¹⁷ Many specialist agencies have existing relationships with employers holding a Sponsor Licence and are actively seeking foreign talent to fill the national labor gap

C. Optimize Your CV E A T

Your CV must demonstrate that you meet the high skill level RQF 6

Highlight Experience: Do not just list duties list achievements. E.g Led a team of 10 kitchen staff or Managed P&L for a venue with £X annual turnover
Show Qualifications: Emphasize any formal qualifications diplomas or degrees to satisfy the higher RQF 6 requirement¹⁸
Language Proof: State that you meet the English Language Requirement UK Visa e.g have passed an approved test or have a degree taught in English

5. FAQs on UK Visa Sponsorship for Hospitality

Q1: Is the Kitchen Assistant or Front of House Staff Visa UK available route?

A: Generally no Roles like Kitchen Assistant Visa Sponsorship and most generic Front of House Staff Visa UK roles are considered below the new RQF 6 skill level making them ineligible for the Skilled Worker Visa route Focus your search on managerial or specialized Cook Jobs UK Sponsor positions

Q2: What is the Immigration Salary List ISL and does it help hospitality?

A: The Immigration Salary List ISL which replaced the TSL is a list of specific occupations where employers can pay a discounted general salary of £33400 instead of the standard £41 700¹⁹ As of late 2025 most general hospitality roles like Chef and Bar Manager have been removed from the ISL²⁰ You must check the latest list as only certain high-skill roles or roles specific to certain geographical areas may be included

Q3: How long does the visa application take?

A: Once your employer assigns the Certificate of Sponsorship CoS the visa application typically takes 3 weeks from outside the UK The process can be faster 5 working days) if you pay for priority service

Conclusion and Next Steps

The UK hospitality sector offers an unparalleled international career opportunity for highly skilled professionals. While the 2025 visa changes have raised the bar roles like Head Chef Sous Chef and Restaurant Manager with competitive salaries remain firmly on the sponsorship radar

To secure your future be precise in your search: target the UK Visa Sponsorship Employers List highlight your RQF 6 level experience and ensure your salary is compliant with the Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold