The Most Common Mistake
Restaurant owners frequently assume any chef qualifies. That's wrong. The role must meet RQF Level 3 or above. A commis chef or kitchen assistant hired from Thailand will be refused. You need a head chef, sous chef, or specialist cuisine chef with documented experience.
Which Chef Roles Qualify?
The Skilled Worker visa requires the role to be at RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) or above. The Home Office uses SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) codes to assess this.
Roles That Typically QUALIFY
- Head Chef — manages the kitchen, designs menus, leads brigade
- Sous Chef — second-in-command, deputises for head chef
- Chef de Partie — section leader with specialist skills (may qualify depending on responsibilities)
- Specialist Cuisine Chef — Thai cuisine specialist with verifiable expertise. This is your best route.
- Pastry Chef — at senior/head level
Roles That Do NOT Qualify
- Kitchen assistant / kitchen porter
- Commis chef (entry-level)
- Line cook (junior level)
- General cook without specialist skills
Key takeaway: If you're sponsoring a Thai chef, frame the role as a Specialist Cuisine Chef (Thai) with a job description that emphasises authentic Thai techniques, ingredient knowledge, and menu development. Generic "cook" descriptions will fail.
Salary Requirements — 2026 Rules
The chef's salary must clear two separate thresholds:
- The general threshold: £38,700 per year (as of April 2024, rising with inflation)
- The going rate for the occupation: set by SOC code — typically £30,960+ for chefs (SOC 5434), but check the latest GOV.UK going rates table
Whichever is higher applies. For most Thai restaurant sponsors, the general threshold of £38,700 is the binding constraint.
What Does NOT Count Toward Salary
- ❌ Tips and gratuities — even if pooled and distributed via payroll
- ❌ Service charges — the 12.5% automatically added to bills
- ❌ Overtime pay — only contracted basic gross salary counts
- ❌ Accommodation — free or subsidised housing provided by you
- ❌ Free meals — staff meals do not add to the threshold
This is the #1 pitfall. A chef earning £32,000 base + £8,000 in service charge distributions is earning £40,000 — but the Home Office only sees £32,000. Below threshold = refused.
The Sponsor Licence Process
Before you can hire a Thai chef, your restaurant must hold a valid Sponsor Licence from UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI).
Step by Step
- Apply online via the GOV.UK sponsorship portal — cost: £536 (small business) or £1,476 (medium/large)
- Submit evidence: Proof your business is genuine (lease, insurance, bank statements, VAT registration), evidence of a genuine vacancy, HR systems to track migrant workers
- UKVI compliance visit: Most first-time applicants get a site visit. They'll check you have the systems to monitor attendance, report absences, and keep records
- Decision: Typically 8 weeks. Once approved, your licence lasts 4 years
- Assign Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): £199 per worker + Immigration Skills Charge of £364/year for small businesses
Total Costs Breakdown
| Item | Cost (Small Business) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor licence application | £536 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | £199 |
| Immigration Skills Charge (per year) | £364 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (per year) | £1,035 |
| Visa application fee (3-year visa) | £719–£1,423 |
| Estimated total (first year, 3-year visa) | ~£5,000–£6,500 |
Costs are for a small/sponsor business. Larger businesses pay higher fees. Immigration Health Surcharge is paid upfront for the full visa duration. All figures from GOV.UK, June 2026. Verify before applying — immigration fees change.
Path to Settlement
A sponsored Thai chef can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 continuous years on the Skilled Worker visa, provided they continue meeting salary thresholds. After ILR + 1 year, they can apply for British citizenship.
Alternative: Workers already in the UK
Before going through sponsorship, check if you can hire Thai nationals already in the UK:
- Graduate visa holders — Thai students who studied at UK universities can work for 2 years post-graduation without sponsorship
- Dependent visa holders — spouses/partners of Skilled Workers can work without restriction
- Youth Mobility Scheme — not available to Thai nationals currently, but check for changes
Action Checklist
- Check if any existing staff or UK-based Thai nationals can fill the role (no sponsorship needed)
- Write a detailed job description emphasising specialist Thai cuisine skills
- Identify the correct SOC code (likely 5434 — Chefs)
- Calculate total salary — base pay only, must hit £38,700+
- Apply for sponsor licence — allow 8-12 weeks
- Once licensed, assign CoS and support the chef's visa application
- Set up HR tracking systems (attendance, contact details, absences)
- Budget £5,000-£6,500 for first-year costs