How to Get Hospitality Jobs in the Uk With Visa Sponsorship?

The Hospitality work visa for the UK, as a part of the Skilled Worker visa route, allows hospitality establishments like hotels and restaurants to bring in foreign employees for both temporary and long-term positions. 

Notably, only specific roles in the hospitality sector qualify for the UK Hospitality work visa, and potential sponsors (employers) must fulfil the necessary sponsor license criteria. In this article, we'll discuss the hospitality jobs in UK with visa sponsorship prerequisites for interested international employees, the application process for the Hospitality worker visa, and also explore available alternative routes.

Exploring Hospitality Careers in the UK

The hospitality roles entail the creation of an amiable environment where guests can feel welcomed and comfortable. The field of hospitality management in UK presents immense and varied employment chances whether one works as a receptionist in a restaurant or hotel or in any industry-related entity. Here are some few hotel jobs in London for Indian:

● Bartender

● Waiter/Waitress

● Kitchen helper

● Housekeeper

● Food tester

● Room Service 

● Event planner

There many job vacancies in various cafes, restaurants, resorts and hotels within the United kingdom. Also involved within the administration activities are various hospitality personnel such as staff at the front and the caterer supervisor.

It is important to take into account the hotel jobs in London with visa sponsorship if one aims at gaining employment in the hotel industry in London specifically. The UK has several types of visa sponsorship available for people from certain nations, which makes it easier to locate a vacancy that matches your skills and expertise without worrying about obtaining visas as well.

Criteria for Obtaining Visa for Jobs in Hospitality

The prerequisites for securing sponsorship job roles in UK vary depending on the category of the visa. The commonly used B1 & B2 visas for visitors serve as the mainstay for securing hospitality jobs in UK.

To obtain a B1 guest visa, you will need a proper passport and evidence of an invitation from a legal employer in the UK. Alternatively, for a B2 visiting visa, an authentic passport, proof of stay, and verification of income that is required.

Therefore, if you intend to get sponsorship, ensure you possess the following qualifications:

● An authentic passport

● Evidence of your stay

● Income Proof

● Letter of Invitation from your employer in the UK

● A clean criminal record

Securing work in the hospitality sector in UK with a proper visa can sometimes be challenging. However, there are various strategies to overcome this hurdle. Consider the following suggestions:

● Inquire with the employer about any available sponsorship programs that might assist you in obtaining a visa. Businesses are willing to support their employees in finding work and acquiring visas if it benefits the organization.

● Initiate your search for job using specialized job websites and websites dedicated to hospitality roles. This approach grants you control over your job search and allows you to be selective about positions you apply for.

● Seek guidance from a lawyer, specialised in visas and immigration, regarding your options. They can provide you with valuable assistance throughout the undertaking and offer assistance on the most effective means of securing a visa tailored to your specific circumstances.

Requirements for UK Businesses to Sponsor Hospitality Workers

The first process a UK hospitality company wishing to employ international hospitality workers will have to undertake is getting a sponsor licence from the UK immigration authorities. The process of applying for a sponsor license is a success where certain specified requirements are met. It is crucial to understand the requirements set by the UKVI:

● To do so the business must be legally operating and trading openly in UK.

● An appropriate HR plan should be there to supervise the sponsorship process while playing a role of fulfiling the sponsor license duties.

● The business must have actual need of foreign labor in bona-fide jobs.

● Business should pay in line with the set standards of the programme.

● The business does not hold any records of past illegal immigration convictions within the last few years.

● The business should not represent any risk.

● “Trusted” key personnel will be an ideal sponsor.

Once you have your sponsor license, you can hire international workers for eligible positions and offer them CoS. The hospitality worker visa can be applied for by an overseas worker who holds this certificate.

Advantages of Obtaining Visa Sponsorship

Having a proper visa sponsorship comes with several benefits in UK, such as:

● Enhanced Earning Potential: When looking at earning potential, sponsored roles will always pay more than non-sponsored ones in the hospitality field. Most employers view sponsored workers as real members of the department, who possess specific skills that are considered necessary in the job. Usually, an employer pays well, depending on their level of experience and qualification.

● Expanded Job Prospects: Sponsoring visa expands work options in hospitality. Sponsorship provides wider access to employment opportunities as employers find you credible since they know that you have already been sponsored.

● Improved Prospects for Work Permits: Sponsoring a hospitality job also helps improve the chances of getting job work permits. Sponsored employees are considered precious resources for employers who provide more privileged permits in gaining working documents.

Eligibility Criteria for UK Hospitality Worker Visa Applicants

To be eligible for a UK Hospitality Worker visa, applicants need to fulfil the following prerequisites:

● Possess a hospitality job from the list of eligible roles.

● Satisfy the salary criteria for their specific role, meeting the higher of either £26,200 per year, £10.75 per hour, or the designated 'going rate' for the role.

● Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued by an authorized sponsor.

● Meet the stipulated English language proficiency requirements.

Hospitality Visa Eligible Roles

The UK hospitality visa encompasses various eligible roles and SoC codes:

● 1221: Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors

● 1223: Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors

● 1224: Publicans and managers of licensed premises

● 5434: Chefs

● 5436: Catering and bar managers

Guide for Applying for a UK Hospitality Worker Visa

To enable the recruitment of overseas workers for your UK-based hospitality business, the first step is to obtain a sponsor licence. Here's how you can successfully apply for a sponsor licence:

● Establish an efficient HR system to oversee your sponsored workers.

● Appoint your essential staff members, including the authorising officer, key contact, and level 1 & 2 users.

● Complete the online sponsor licence application form.

● Fulfil the payment of the sponsor licence application fee (either £536 for small businesses or £1,476 for large businesses).

● Submit any requested documents as required by the Home Office.

Following the submission of your application, the UKVI might schedule a pre-compliance visit to verify that you have met all the requirements and have everything in place to become a sponsor.

You can expect to receive a decision within 8 weeks of submission. If you require a quicker decision on your sponsor licence application, you may have the option to expedite the process by paying an additional fee of £500 for a decision within 10 working days.

Other Options for Worker Visas

There are various alternatives for companies to recruit global workforce for your hospitality company depending on the needs. These include the following options:

● Dependant visa: The spouses of people holding current visas, such as UK work permit holders and business visa holders can readily be involved in job seeking activities in any capacity, for any employer in UK.

● Graduate visa: Graduates with bachelors and above can seek temporary employment in the United Kingdom for two years.

● Youth mobility scheme visa: It ensures that young people taking part in this scheme get jobs without restriction of job roles and employers.

● Student visa: However, international full-time learners undertaking degrees usually can work a maximum of twenty hours while studying during term time.

Conclusion

In UK, there are a multitude of hospitality jobs in UK with visa sponsorship opportunities. Choosing a career in hospitality can serve as an effective means to relocate to the United Kingdom. This not only permits you to work and reside there but also grants you access to the various privileges associated with UK citizenship.

It is advisable to seek sponsorship while holding a job offer from a UK-based enterprise. This significantly enhances your prospects of approval by the UKVI.