Hiring and Managing Japanese Chefs in the United Kingdom: Visa, Salary and Retention (2026)

This guide answers the questions restaurant owners in the UK ask us most often before hiring a Japanese chef from Japan. Salary ranges reflect the positions Washoku Agent has handled; visa facts come from official government pages, checked on 2026-10-08.

How much do Japanese chefs earn in the UK?

Based on the positions Washoku Agent has handled in the UK, advertised annual packages for Japanese chefs typically fall between JPY 5 and 10 million when converted, with senior head-chef and omakase roles reaching around JPY 11 million. These are offers at the time of advertising; the final package depends on city, concept and seniority.

Which roles and restaurant types hire Japanese chefs in the UK?

The demand we see in the UK is concentrated in a few role types and concepts. Head-chef and sous-chef positions dominate, and sushi and omakase concepts are the most common employers, followed by kaiseki and modern Japanese dining.

Do Japanese chefs need to speak English, and is housing provided?

Nearly all of our listings accepted beginner-level English. Employers in the UK generally prioritise cooking technique and experience; kitchen English develops on the job. A minority of our listings included housing or a housing allowance; where it is not included, employers typically help the chef find accommodation before arrival.

Which visa lets a restaurant in the UK sponsor a Japanese chef?

Which visa lets a UK restaurant sponsor a Japanese chef?

The Skilled Worker visa. The restaurant holds a sponsor licence and issues a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role. Whether a specific chef role can be sponsored depends on its occupation code and the Home Office lists in force at the time (the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List), which are revised periodically. We confirm the position for each role before introductions begin.

What does a UK sponsor need?

A sponsor licence (GBP 611 for small organisations, GBP 1,682 for medium and large), a Certificate of Sponsorship (GBP 525), and the Immigration Skills Charge (GBP 480 per year for small sponsors, GBP 1,320 for others). The general salary threshold is GBP 41,700 per year or the occupation’s going rate if higher; the going rate for chefs is GBP 33,400.

What does the chef pay and how long does it take?

The Skilled Worker application fee is GBP 819 for up to three years or GBP 1,618 for more than three years, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of GBP 1,035 per year. Applications from outside the UK are usually decided within three weeks. Settlement (indefinite leave to remain) currently requires five years and costs GBP 3,226; the government is consulting on extending the qualifying period.

Are there routes that do not need a sponsor?

The Youth Mobility Scheme is open to Japanese nationals aged 18 to 30. It allows up to 24 months of living and working in the UK in most jobs, with no employer sponsorship. It suits younger chefs; the restaurant hires them as it would a local employee.

What does this mean for a Japanese restaurant in the UK?

Washoku Agent introduces Japanese chefs who already hold the right to work in the UK as well as candidates in Japan. Tell us the role, salary and start date, and we check the current visa position for that role before you commit to a hire.

Where do restaurants in the UK find Japanese chefs?

London has the deepest Japanese-restaurant market in Europe, but no Japan-specialist chef agency. Owners combine the Japanese-community classifieds, the hospitality job boards and, since 2024, a Japanese cookery college in west London.

Washoku Agent sits alongside these channels as the specialist route: we hold a registered pool of Japanese chefs, screen for technique and willingness to relocate, interpret interviews and manage the paperwork. Most owners in the UK run one or two local channels in parallel and use us for the chef they cannot find locally.

Hire from Japan or from the local market in the UK?

The UK has a route that needs no sponsor at all: the Youth Mobility Scheme. Japan has 6,000 places a year, applicants aged 18 to 30 apply directly without a ballot, and the visa allows up to 24 months of work in most jobs. For chefs outside that age band, the sponsored route applies and its eligibility for chef roles depends on the Home Office lists in force at the time.

Common hiring challenges in the UK, and how to keep the chef

What owners and chefs say in public, in their own words:

How do restaurants in the UK hire a Japanese chef through Washoku Agent?

Frequently asked questions