Hiring a Japanese Chef in Myanmar: What Can Be Confirmed

This is a shorter guide than most on this site, on purpose. Myanmar's rules for foreign staff are thinly codified, applied inconsistently, and have changed repeatedly since the 2021 coup. We set out below only what could be confirmed from official or clearly authoritative sources as of September 2026, and say plainly where we could not confirm something.

1. The situation in 2026

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rates the whole of Myanmar at Level 2 or higher on its travel risk scale. In its notice of 16 December 2025:

• Level 3 (do not travel) covers parts of Rakhine, Shan, Kachin, Chin and Kayin states and the 63 townships placed under martial law on 31 July 2025, among others.
• Level 2 (avoid non essential travel) covers everywhere else, including Yangon.

MOFA notes continuing clashes between the military and opposition forces since 1 February 2021, air strikes in several regions, and the risk of tighter controls around the elections the election commission scheduled in phases from December 2025 to January 2026.

For an employer, that is the starting point. Recruiting a chef from Japan to a place their own government advises against visiting except when necessary is a duty of care decision before it is a visa question. Candidates will read the same advisory.

2. What the numbers show

• 1,768 Japanese nationals lived in Myanmar on 1 October 2025, down 18.2% on the year. 1,745 were long term residents and 23 permanent residents (MOFA).
• MAFF counted 90 Japanese restaurants in Myanmar in 2025, up 10 on 2023.

A falling expatriate population and a small, roughly stable number of restaurants. There is no sizeable local pool of Japanese chefs to hire from.

3. What we could confirm about hiring a foreign chef

JETRO's summary, updated 10 November 2025, describes the following.

Entry and stay

• A foreign worker enters on a 70 day business visa, from an embassy (single or multiple entry) or by e-Visa (single entry only), then obtains a Stay Permit after entry. Foreigners staying 3 months or more must register and obtain a Foreigner Registration Certificate.
• For a company registered under the Companies Law, the employer first obtains a recommendation letter from DICA (the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration) online, then applies to the Department of Immigration for the stay permit and multiple entry visa.
• The DICA application must be made 90 to 120 days before the current permit expires, with at least 6 months' passport validity. The company must have been registered with DICA for at least a year. Documents include the company extract, tax filings, the foreigner's CV, terms of reference, employment contract, qualifications, and a list of employees showing foreign and Myanmar staff.
• Companies whose registration was suspended or cancelled for missing annual returns cannot act as visa sponsors (DICA announcement, 1 September 2025).

Staffing rules

• For a company set up only under the Companies Law, there is no statutory ratio of foreign to Myanmar staff and no statutory bar on foreigners in unskilled roles. JETRO notes that immigration may nonetheless expect a certain number of Myanmar employees when a stay permit is granted.
• Companies approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission, or in special economic zones, may not employ foreigners in unskilled positions.
• Under the Employment and Skill Development Law, an employment contract must be signed within 30 days of hiring, cover 21 specified items and in principle follow the ministry's model contract. Employers of 5 or more workers submit contracts to the township labour office for approval.

4. What we could not confirm

• How long a stay permit will be granted for. JETRO records the validity of first permits switching between 3 months, 6 months and 1 year over recent years, with further unexpected changes reported in 2025. We cannot tell you what a new applicant will receive.
• A separate work permit. JETRO's summary does not describe a separate work permit for foreign employees of a Companies Law company, beyond the DICA recommendation and stay permit. We found no official source setting one out, so we do not state that none is required. Ask a local lawyer.
• Pay benchmarks. We found no official wage data for chefs or cooks in Myanmar.
• City data. We found no official count of Japanese residents or Japanese restaurants in Yangon.

5. If you are deciding now

• Read MOFA's current advisory for your location and share it with candidates.
• Consider whether training Myanmar cooks, with remote support or visits from a Japanese chef, meets your needs better than relocating one. See training local staff in Japanese cuisine.
• If you do relocate a chef, budget for uncertainty: short permit terms, early renewals (90 to 120 days ahead) and an exit plan. See relocation packages for chefs.
• Compare nearby markets with clearer rules: Thailand and Cambodia.

General information checked in September 2026 against JETRO's summary of Myanmar's rules, MOFA's travel advisory and Japanese government statistics, not legal, immigration or security advice. Myanmar's procedures change without notice. Confirm current requirements with DICA, the Department of Immigration or a lawyer in Myanmar, and check MOFA's latest advisory before any travel.