Eligibility Criteria
Chef roles and the 22 July 2025 rule change: chefs are SOC 5434, an RQF Level 3 occupation. New Skilled Worker applications now require RQF Level 6 unless the occupation is on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List — chefs are on neither, so chefs can no longer be newly sponsored, whatever the salary. Only chefs whose first certificate of sponsorship predates 22 July 2025 can extend or switch sponsor. Cooks (SOC 5435) were never eligible.
Salary thresholds from 22 July 2025 (Immigration Rules HC 997): general £41,700 (up from £38,700); new entrant £33,400; transitional £31,300 for extensions before 1 December 2026. Verify at gov.uk — Skilled Worker visa: your job.
Assessment Results
1. Select the application type from the dropdown.
2. Enter the proposed annual salary.
3. Click "Calculate Sponsorship Costs" — this tool estimates costs only and does not decide eligibility.
Note: rules changed on 22 July 2025 (Immigration Rules HC 997). Always verify with official sources before acting — see the links on this page.