The Inhospitality Industry

UK cuts off access to key hospitality roles like chefs, bakers, restaurant bar and pub managers, hotel and accommodation managers.

As an immigration lawyer with over a decade immersed in the UK's food and catering sector, I have witnessed firsthand the vibrant tapestry of talent that keeps our restaurants, pubs, cafés, and hotels alive. From the skilled chefs crafting exquisite dishes in bustling kitchens to the dedicated managers who ensure every guest leaves with a smile, the industry thrives on a global workforce. But as of 22 July 2025, the Government's Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997) will unleash a devastating blow, stripping away the lifeline of Skilled Worker visas for approximately 111 essential roles classified at RQF Levels 3 to 5. This is not reform; it is a death knell for an industry already battered by post-Brexit woes, inflation, and staffing crises.

The changes elevate the minimum skill threshold for new Skilled Worker visa applicants from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (bachelor's degree equivalent). In one fell swoop, foundational positions that form the backbone of hospitality will be ineligible for overseas sponsorship. We are talking about chefs, bakers, bar managers, pub managers, café managers, restaurant managers, takeaway managers, catering managers, and hotel and accommodation managers: roles that have long relied on international talent to fill chronic domestic shortages. These are not "low-skilled" jobs; they require expertise, creativity, and endurance, yet the government deem them unworthy of visa support, prioritising only graduate-level occupations.

This policy reeks of a government profoundly out of touch with the nation's realities. When chicken tikka masala reigns as the UK's favourite dish, it is absurd to target the very overseas chefs who make this possible. Not even Nigel Farage, the arch-proponent of immigration control, has called for a ban on foreign chefs! The Government are targeting the wrong people entirely, misunderstanding the public's concerns about immigration. Voters worry about pressure on public services and housing, not about the skilled workers enriching our high streets and restaurants. By conflating these issues, Ministers are damaging the country irreparably, fostering economic isolation at a time when we need global connections more than ever.

There are transitional measures that offer a sliver of hope for existing workers, though they fall far short of addressing the crisis. Chefs and other hospitality professionals already holding Skilled Worker visas granted before 22 July 2025 can continue to be sponsored, allowing them to extend their visas, change employers within the same occupation code (such as SOC 5434 for chefs), or even take supplementary employment in RQF Level 3-5 roles. This means a chef sponsored under the old rules can switch to another restaurant or pub without losing their status, provided they maintain continuous permission and meet updated salary thresholds. These provisions aim to prevent an immediate exodus, supporting workforce continuity for those already here until they potentially qualify for settlement after five years.

However, these transitions are strictly limited to pre-existing visa holders; no new overseas chefs can be sponsored moving forward. The government has introduced an interim Immigration Salary List (ISL) and a new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) as supposed safety nets for select RQF 3-5 roles, but hospitality is glaringly absent from both. The ISL, which runs until at least 22 July 2028, allows extensions and in-country switches with reduced salary thresholds, but only under strict conditions such as a minimum three months' prior legal work with the sponsor. The TSL, valid only until 31 December 2026, covers a narrow set of occupations facing acute shortages, such as IT support technicians, welding trades, and laboratory technicians, permitting new sponsorships with 70-90% salary discounts and no visa fee exemptions, but crucially barring dependants except in exceptional cases like UK-born children.

There is, perhaps, a faint chance to add chefs to these lists in the future. The government has indicated that both the ISL and TSL are interim and subject to review, with input from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and regional partnerships to assess evidence of ongoing shortages. Employers in hospitality could lobby for inclusion by submitting data on vacancy rates, recruitment difficulties, and economic impact—something UKHospitality is already pushing for. But here lies the rub: the restrictions on these lists are unreasonably burdensome and ill-suited to the sector's needs. The TSL's temporary nature (expiring in just 18 months) offers no long-term stability, while the ban on dependants for new applicants deters family-oriented workers who form the core of hospitality's international talent pool. Salary thresholds, even discounted, remain prohibitively high for many small businesses, and sponsors may have to navigate evidential hurdles to prove a "genuine shortage," including demonstrating failed domestic recruitment efforts. Moreover, the lists prioritise niche technical roles over the widespread, persistent gaps in hospitality, ignoring the MAC's own reports of 20-30% vacancies in chefs and managers. This selective approach feels punitive, not practical, and underscores the government's detachment from an industry crying out for relief.

The hospitality sector, employing over 3 million people and contributing £93 billion to the UK economy annually, is on the brink of collapse. Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, warned as far back as May that without adjustments, "pubs, bars, and hotels will need to curb their hours" due to insurmountable staffing gaps. Her words ring truer now than ever. In a recent reaction to the reforms, Nicholls emphasised, "This will exacerbate the existing workforce crisis, forcing many venues to reduce opening times or close entirely, hitting local communities and the economy hard."

Industry insiders are sounding the alarm with unprecedented urgency. Tom Kerridge, renowned chef and restaurateur, described the changes as "a disaster for British hospitality," stating in a press interview, "We have always depended on international chefs to bring innovation and fill roles Brits are not lining up for. Without them, menus will shrink, quality will drop, and businesses will fold." Similarly, the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) released a statement decrying the move: "Bar and pub managers are the heart of our high streets. Removing visa access will lead to widespread closures, with thousands of jobs lost," said BII chief executive Steve Alton.

A report from the Migration Advisory Committee already highlighted that hospitality faces a 20-30% vacancy rate in roles like chefs and managers: gaps that domestic training programmes cannot fill overnight. With these changes, experts predict a 15% drop in workforce availability, leading to reduced hours, higher prices, and an estimated £10 billion annual hit to the sector. Small businesses, the lifeblood of our communities, will suffer most.

The hospitality industry must act now. Lobby your MPs, join UKHospitality's campaigns, and demand transitional relief or a hospitality-specific shortage list that recognises these vital roles. Reach out to Lawyery.co for news and advice if these issues affect you.