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 2026-10-12.

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 the highest advertised packages 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. The most common roles are head chef positions, and the most common concepts are kaiseki, Japanese cuisine and high-end sushi.

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.

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

Can a UK restaurant still sponsor a Japanese chef in 2026?

Not through the Skilled Worker route for a new hire. Since 22 July 2025, occupations classed as medium-skilled, including chefs (occupation code 5434), can only be sponsored if they appear on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, and chefs are on neither. Only chefs who already held a Certificate of Sponsorship before that date can extend. We re-confirmed this with UK immigration solicitors in October 2026.

Are there routes that do not need a sponsor?

Yes, and it is one of only two routes available today. The Youth Mobility Scheme is the UK’s working-holiday visa for Japanese nationals aged 18 to 30, with 6,000 places a year and no ballot. It allows up to 24 months of living and working in the UK in most jobs, with no employer sponsorship and no limit on time with one employer. It cannot be extended. The other route is a chef who already holds the right to work in the UK.

What would a UK sponsor need if the rules reopen?

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.

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

Hire from the two pools that exist: Youth Mobility Scheme holders (and chefs in Japan aged 18 to 30 who plan a Youth Mobility stay), and chefs who already hold UK work rights, including settled chefs and those sponsored before 22 July 2025. Washoku Agent introduces chefs from both pools. For an experienced head chef from Japan outside those pools, our current advice is to plan around other markets or wait for a rule change; we will update this page when the lists are revised.

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. You can run local channels in parallel and use us for the chef you cannot find locally.

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

Only two routes exist today for a Japanese chef in a UK kitchen: the Youth Mobility Scheme, which is the UK’s working-holiday visa for Japanese nationals (6,000 places a year, ages 18 to 30, no ballot, up to 24 months of work in most jobs, no sponsor), and chefs who already hold the right to work in the UK. There is currently no sponsored route for a new chef hire: chef roles are not on the shortage lists, so the Skilled Worker visa only serves chefs who were sponsored before 22 July 2025.

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

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

Not ready to hire full-time? Start with a project: a Japanese chef can develop a menu or train your team for a few weeks. See how a project works.

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

Frequently asked questions