Thai Chefs Work Visa

Visa details

You can apply for this visa if you are a citizen of Thailand, have an offer of full-time work as a Thai chef, and the necessary qualifications and experience to do that work.

Length of stay
Up to

3 years

Cost
From
NZD $700
Processing time
90% within
35 weekdays
With this visa you can
  • Work in New Zealand as a Thai chef for up to 3 years.
  • Apply for an extension to allow you to stay for another year, allowing a total stay of up to 4 years.
  • Study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.
Things to note
  • The time you can stay in New Zealand will depend on the length of your job offer.
  • If you’ve already spent 4 years working in New Zealand on a Thai Chefs Work Visa, you can apply for another one after you’ve spent 3 years outside of New Zealand.
  • You can't include a partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
    Explore family visa options

What you need to apply

Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.

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Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

You must provide proof of your identity:

Acceptable photos

You may provide your original passport, or a certified copy when you submit your application. If you provide a certified copy we may request your original passport to complete your application.

Tips

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand.

Health

You must be in good health

We may ask you to have a chest x-ray, a medical examination or both as proof of your good health.

If you are staying less than:

  • 6 months you do not normally need a chest x-ray. 
  • 12 months you do not normally need a medical certificate. 

Who needs an x-ray or medical examination

When we process your application we let you know if we need you to have a chest x-ray or medical examination.

Acceptable standard of health criteria for visa approvals

Please only provide medical certificates if requested

Character

You must be of good character

If you have a criminal conviction or are a security risk to New Zealand we may not be able to grant you a visa.

Good character for temporary visas

You must provide police certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits. This includes any time you have spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas, even if you have been out of the country since then.

You also must provide police certificates if we ask for them.

If you are 16 years old or younger you do not need to provide police certificates.

Providing police certificates

How to get a police certificate

If you have already sent us Police Certificates with a previous visa application and they are less than 24 months old, you do not need to send them again.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. They must be from any country you are a citizen of, or have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.

Genuine intentions

You must genuinely intend to meet the conditions of your visa

When we decide if your intentions are genuine, we consider all the information:

  • you provide to support your application
  • we have about your personal circumstances, and
  • you provided in any previous applications.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ

Citizenship

You must be a citizen of the country this visa is for

You must provide a valid passport from your country of citizenship.

New Zealand job offer

You must have an offer of full-time work as a Thai Chef

You must provide a copy of an employment agreement, which must include:

  • your employer’s name and contact details
  • your job description
  • your working hours and rate of pay
  • the length of your job offer.
Tips

Your job offer may be for up to 3 years. The time you can stay in New Zealand will depend on the length of your job offer.

Qualifications and work experience

You must have the necessary qualifications and work experience to work as a Thai Chef

You must provide evidence you have completed one of the following options:

  • Thailand National Skills Standard Thai Cooking Certificate 1 and 5 years of practical work experience
  • Thailand National Skills Standard Thai Cooking Certificate 2 and 4 years of practical work experience
  • Thailand National Skills Standard Thai Cooking Certificate 3 and 3 years of practical work experience.

Process and costs

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

Notes

We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

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How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

Notes

We cannot display any receiving centre or payment method information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

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Conditions

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing a paper arrival card or a digital traveller declaration. If you are completing a paper arrival card you will be given this on the way to New Zealand.

New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.

Arriving in New Zealand

Notes

You can be refused entry permission if:

  • you don’t meet our character requirements
  • your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
  • you refuse to let us to take your photo, or provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if we ask you for them.

Work

You can only work as a Thai Chef for the specific employer and in the specific location stated on your visa label.

Notes

Everyone who has a job in New Zealand pays tax on what they earn. An IRD number can be applied for online through Inland Revenue.

Apply online for an IRD number

Study

You can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

You can also do any training required by your employer as part of your employment.

Travel

After you arrive, you can travel in and out of New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires.

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Notes

If you want to stay in New Zealand longer, you must apply for and be granted a different visa.