New Zealand Visa Options for Hiring Chefs and Other Special Roles

By Erik Murthy November 5, 2024 August 13th, 2025 No Comments

In New Zealand, roles such as chefs, waiters, café and restaurant managers, kitchenhands, and sales assistants are in high demand, with chefs being one of the most needed positions. Nearly 37% of workers in the food and beverage industry were migrants in 2021, up from 33.8% in 2012. To address high demand, Immigration New Zealand offers specific visa pathways for chefs from select countries. Thai Chefs Work Visa

Eligibility : Citizens of Thailand with a full-time job offer as a Thai chef, along with relevant qualifications and experience.

Employer Requirements :

- Candidate Skills : Must have one of the following:

- Thai Cooking Certificate Level 1 with 5 years of experience.
- Thai Cooking Certificate Level 2 with 4 years of experience.
- Thai Cooking Certificate Level 3 with 3 years of experience.
- Job Offer : A written employment agreement that:

- Details a Thai chef role with at least 30 hour...