In order to work or attend courses in the UK, you will have to fulfil certain visa requirements. With the right preparation, this should not be a problem. This section will explore who needs a visa and which visas are available. Finally, I’ll give you some useful tips on how to successfully relocate to the UK.
The UK is one of the biggest culinary hotspots in the world. Many of the best hotels and restaurants in the world can be found in the United Kingdom. This means that; working as a chef in the UK is an extremely wise career choice, with a plethora of exceptional options available at many different levels.
The following countries are members of the EEA (European Economic Area), requiring no additional visas to work in the UK:
•Austria
•Belgium
•Czech Republic
•Cyprus
•Denmark
•Estonia
•Finland
•France
•Germany
•Greece
•Hungary
•Ireland
•Italy
•Latvia
•Lithuania
•Luxembourg
•Malta
•Netherlands
•Poland
•Portugal
•Slovakia
•Slovenia
•Spain
•Sweden
•Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland
Visa requirements
First of all you will need to pass the requirements to move into the United Kingdom. Obtaining a visa can be a long process, depending on which country you are travelling from.
In the case of work permits
You will also need to have secured a job before you arrive in the UK. It is employers who apply for work permits; not employees or recruitment agencies. Your employer has to prove that you are the right person for the job. However, you must continue working for that employer in order to stay in the UK.
In order to gain the visa that you require, you will need to complete a points system. The main choices of visa for anyone outside of the EEA are as follows:
Ancestry Visa
To apply for an ancestry visa, applicants must be from a commonwealth country and aged at least 17, with a grandparent who was born in the UK.
Entitlements of the Visa:
•Able to seek employment in any field in the UK – up to 5 years;
•Access to public schools and the National Health Service;
•Dependants may also be able to work or study without any restrictions;
•After 5 years, applicants may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
THE 53 COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES
Africa
•Botswana
•Cameroon
•Ghana
•Kenya
•Lesotho
•Malawi
•Mauritius
•Mozambique
•Namibia
•Nigeria
•Rwanda
•Seychelles
•Sierra Leone
•South Africa
•Swaziland
•Uganda
•United Republic of Tanzania
•Zambia
Asia
•Bangladesh
•Brunei Darussalam
•India
•Malaysia
•Maldives
•Pakistan
•Singapore
•Sri Lanka
Caribbean and Americas
•Antigua and Barbuda
•Bahamas, The
•Barbados
•Belize
•Canada
•Dominica
•Grenada
•Guyana
•Jamaica
•Saint Lucia
•St Kitts and Nevis
•St Vincent and The Grenadines
•Trinidad and Tobago
Europe
•Cyprus
•Malta
•United Kingdom
Pacific
•Australia
•Fiji
•Kiribati
•Nauru
•New Zealand
•Papua New Guinea
•Samoa
•Solomon Islands
•Tonga
•Tuvalu
•Vanuatu
TIER 2 (General) visas
When positions cannot be filled by a UK or EEA national, leading to gaps in the workforce, companies are permitted to use a general visa in order to fill labour shortages. This means that foreign nationals are able to apply for skilled positions, using the general visa if successful.
Requirements for the visa:
•A skilled worker must not displace a suitable settled worker;
•Must have a suitable job offer and a certificate of sponsorship;
•Must be eligible for a minimum threshold of 70 points relating to:
-Sponsorship.
-Prospective earnings.
-English language.
-Available maintenance (Funds).
Entitlements of the visa:
•Issued for an initial 3 years and 1 month;
•Free access to public schools and National Health Service;
•Dependants may also be able to work or study with no restrictions;
•After being held successfully for 5 years, the applicant may be entitled to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
TIER 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa
The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa has been created in order to give 18-30 year olds the chance to experience life in the UK. The visa has a time frame of 2 years, and is also open for UK nationals (in the same age group) to use in participating countries.
Requirements for this visa
•Applicants must be aged (18-30) years;
•Must be able to meet the potential maintenance costs of living in the UK.
Applicants must be nationals of the following countries:
•Australia;
•Canada;
•Japan;
•Monaco;
•New Zealand;
•Republic of Korea;
•Taiwan.
Entitlements of this visa:
•Entitled to work in the UK for 2 years;
•Applicant can leave and come back to the UK at any time during their stay;
•It is possible to study full-time on a Tier 5 (youth Mobility scheme) visa.
The Student Visa category allows overseas students to study within the UK at a broad range of levels, from primary school and secondary school to postgraduate and vocational. Anyone wishing to study in the UK must obtain a student visa before starting his or her course.
Categories of student visa include:
•Tier 4 (General). This is for adults who want to undertake their post-16 education within the UK educational institutions;
•Tier 4 (Child). This is for children aged between 4 and 17 years old, on a long course of study.
The Tier 4 Student visa is based on a points system for applicants seeking to study at:
•Universities;
•Colleges;
•And other educational institutions within the UK.
International companies who are looking to establish a company within the UK to promote a commercial presence, can send a senior employee as a senior employee representative. Applicants have to be recruited and employed outside of the UK by the overseas company that they will represent in the UK, and will need to be able to meet the English Language Requirement.
Entitlements of the Visa:
•Allowed to represent the company initially for 3 years;
•Will be allowed to extend visa for a further 2 years;
•Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after the 5 year period;
•Free access to public schools and the National Health Service;
•Dependants may also be able to work or study with no restrictions.
A comprehensive list of websites with up to date requirements for UK visas:
Gov.uk
Visa simple
Who needs a work permit?
IELTS – to study courses
Accommodation
As detailed in an earlier chapter of this book, it is possible to find chef jobs within the UK that will have staff accommodation already available. This will be available at a reduced rate, and takes away all of the hassle of finding somewhere to live when you have gained a job within the UK. Check with the establishments when applying for jobs to see if they offer this service.
Useful Websites for accommodation within the UK-
To rent accommodation from a letting agent you will need:
•A deposit – usually 6 weeks rent;
•Proof of ID – A passport can be used;
•A bank statement that proves your earnings;
•A letter from your future employer if not currently in employment.
When looking for a room in the UK, it is recommended that you use a professional letting agent, which can be found on the websites listed below.
Spare Room
Easyroommate
Gumtree
House Pals
Room Buddies
House Share
If you have not found suitable accommodation before you are due to arrive in the UK, it is possible to stay in very good quality hostels. These are mainly situated within cities, and will offer rooms at a per-night rate. Usually you will only need your passport to book into a hostel. You can book these rooms well in advance.
Useful Website:
Paying Tax
Most employers will be paying tax through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system, so your employer will deduct monies on tax payable from your weekly/monthly payment.
National Insurance
Every worker in the UK between the age of 16 and the retirement age has to pay National Insurance (NI). This will also be deducted from your pay, tax and national insurance. NI will account for 25% of deductions from your pay until you reach the higher-level tax bands.
How To Get a National Insurance Number
You can apply for a NI number, but bear in mind that this can be a lengthy process. You will need:
•An interview, requiring identification such as a passport;
•A letter from your employer confirming that you have a job;
•Pay slips (if available).
You will then receive an account number, which is to be used when dealing with HM Revenue and Customs.
Opening a bank account
It can be a little bit tricky to open a bank account within the UK, so you need to be fully prepared for this when you arrive. The easiest way to do this is to ask your current bank to set up an account for you, with an affiliated bank within the UK.
Requirements to open a bank account:
•Proof of address;
•A reference letter from your home bank or British employer.
Remember that you may need to have been a resident within the UK for six months before you can apply for an overdraft or credit card.
The costs of living in the UK will vary depending on the area that you are situated in, with London generally being the most expensive. Below I’ve drawn up a table comparing the average rented accommodation costs of 4 UK cities.