The UK’s Skilled Worker Visa: What you need to know as an employer in the hospitality sector

Many hospitality jobs that require a significant level of expertise—such as jobs in the culinary arts, hotel management, or event planning—are in high demand across the UK today. In fact, demand for hospitality workers in the United Kingdom has gone up by 46% compared to pre-pandemic levels, with many employers struggling to fill roles. This has led to a growing interest in welcoming international workers through the Skilled Worker Visa.

The landscape of skilled migration remains complex in the UK, with many business leaders facing significant challenges navigating the bureaucracy and burden of relocating new employees. To help simplify this somewhat intricate process, here’s a guide to the Skilled Worker Visa and how applying for it works for employers in the hospitality industry.

The Skilled Worker Visa: What it is and who it’s for

The Skilled Worker Visa, which has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa, allows foreign nationals with specific skills and experience to work in the United Kingdom for up to five years. The term “skilled worker” is extremely broad and ambiguous, so it’s understandable if you’re unsure which roles qualify under this category.

Which hospitality positions qualify for the UK Skilled Worker Visa?

Some hospitality-related job titles that qualify for the UK Skilled Worker Visa include:

• Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors (including titles like caravan park owner, hotel manager, landlady);
• Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors (café owner, fish & chip shopkeeper, catering operations manager, restaurant manager, take-away food shop manager);
• Publicans and managers of licensed premises (landlady, licensee, wine bar manager, publican);
• Leisure and sports managers (amusement arcade owner, leisure centre manager, social club manager, theatre manager);
• Travel agency managers and proprietors (tourist information manager, travel agency owner, travel manager);
• Conference and exhibition managers and organisers (conference coordinator, event organiser, events manager, exhibition organiser, hospitality manager).

If you’re looking to fill any of these roles, there’s a strong likelihood you can do so through the Skilled Worker Visa route.

Your Sponsor Licence: What it is and how to get one

As the sponsoring employer, you’ll need a valid Sponsor License to be able to hire workers on the basis of the Skilled Worker Visa. To get your Sponsor License, you have to prove you are a legitimate business, nominate an individual to be your key contact with the Home Office, and provide some details of your HR systems and processes. The application process is conducted online and typically takes less than half an hour.

• Check if your business is eligible for a Sponsor Licence: To qualify, you must not have criminal convictions for immigration offences or other crimes such as fraud or money laundering. Additionally, you cannot apply if you’ve had a sponsor licence revoked in the last 12 months. You’ll need to show that you have systems in place to monitor sponsored employees and personnel to manage sponsorship within your business.
• Check if your job is suitable for sponsorship: Each role has a four-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. To determine if the job you’re offering is eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa, identify the correct SOC code for the role using the ONS occupation coding tool. Ensure the job description matches the position being filled. Cross-reference the SOC code with the list of eligible jobs for the Skilled Worker route. The Home Office can refuse visa applications filed with incorrect SOC codes, so accuracy is crucial to avoid delays.
• Choose the type of licence you want to apply for.
• Decide who will manage sponsorship within your business.
• Apply online and pay the fee.

After applying for your Sponsor Licence

Once you’ve applied, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may conduct a visit to ensure everything is in order. If your application is successful, you will receive a licence rating and be able to issue certificates of sponsorship. The licence is valid for four years, but it may be revoked if you do not meet your responsibilities as a sponsor.

With a Sponsor Licence, you’ll gain access to a wider talent pool, enhancing your opportunities for growth. You can then sponsor a skilled worker, provided they already have a job offer from you and meet the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker Visa. The job offer must be at or above the minimum skill level of RQF Level 3 (equivalent to A-Level). Additionally, you must ensure that the skilled worker is paid the minimum salary for the job role, which is currently set at £26,200 per year, although some exemptions apply for certain roles and sectors.

Once the worker applies for a visa, they’ll be required to provide documentation to support their application, including proof of their qualifications, work experience, and finances. It’s your responsibility as the sponsor to keep records of their employment and report any changes to the Home Office. 

More than ever, you can differentiate your talent onboarding experience and optimise the time your HR team spends on immigration paperwork with the Jobbatical Mobility Platform & Immigration experts. Jobbatical can help reduce the time to relocate by 50% and consistently cut the cost per relocation by 70% compared with traditional law firms and relocation providers on the market.