Thai Chefs Work Visa

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

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity:

• 2 acceptable photos of your head and shoulders
• your passport or

Visa and NZeTA 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.

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.

Why you need to provide evidence you are in good health

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.

Character requirements for New Zealand 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.

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.

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

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.

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
• you provided in any previous applications.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in New Zealand

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.

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.

Entry permission

You must apply for permission to enter New Zealand. You do this by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form.

You can start your digital declaration any time, but the earliest you can submit it is 24 hours before starting your travel to New Zealand.

A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.

New Zealand Traveller Declaration

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

Arriving in New Zealand

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa. Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.

Work

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

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.