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New Zealand · Work

New Zealand Thai Chefs Work Visa

11 facts quoted from the official source

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.

Route type
Work
Can bring
children, partner
from the official record
Requirements
5
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

5 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Employment, placement or host agreementYou must provide a copy of an employment agreement, which must include:
  • Job offer or appointmentYou 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.
  • Nationality or qualifying statusApplicants must be citizens of Thailand.checked 2026-08-06
  • Qualifications or professional authorisationCertificate 1 requires 5 years, Certificate 2 requires 4 years, and Certificate 3 requires 3 years of practical work experience.checked 2026-08-06
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Passport or travel-document requirementYou must provide a valid passport from your country of citizenship.
Also stated by the source
  • Dependent-family rightsYou cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
  • Work rightswork as a Thai chef in New Zealand for up to 4 years; study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period; do any training required by your employer; apply for an extension to your visa to stay for another year; travel in and out of New Zealand.
Family

Who you can bring

childrenpartner
  • Dependent-family rightsYou cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Fees
1 proven from the official source.
  • Government feeFrom NZD $1355checked 2026-07-27
Validity
2 proven from the official source.
  • Initial duration or stay ceilingUp to 4 years
  • Renewal or extensionIf you have already spent 4 years working in New Zealand on a Thai Chefs Work Visa, you can apply for another one after you have spent 3 years outside of New Zealand.
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every New Zealand route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to New Zealand?
The official source states: 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.
02Can I bring my family?
The official record lists: children, partner.

Every answer is quoted from the official immigration.govt.nz page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 11 points against the official source; 11 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Processing time is not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source immigration.govt.nzLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this New Zealand government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
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