Working Holiday visas

Is the New Zealand Working Holiday visa for me?

New Zealand is known for its natural beauty and friendly people, and has long been a popular spot with travellers and holidaymakers. Migrants can enter New Zealand for up to 12 months on a Working Holiday visa.

One of the greatest ways to experience all New Zealand has to offer is through a working holiday, especially in the areas of horticulture, viticulture and agriculture, the three most popular industries for holiday workers. If you’re not the outdoor labour type, there are many temporary jobs in New Zealand that provide a great way to see the lesser-known and less-touristy parts of the country while putting a little extra travel cash in your pocket at the same time.

What are the entitlements?

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) organises the availability of Working Holiday visas and permits based on the country of each applicant’s origin. Generally, permits and visas under these schemes last for 12 months, and have somewhat more severe restrictions and limitations than other types of work visas and permits.

In addition to meeting the same health and character requirements standard to any visa application, and having a valid passport that expires no less than three months after the planned date of departure from New Zealand, there are also stricter age requirements – applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30, rather than the 20 and 55 necessary for other types of visas.

What requirements must I meet?

Individual countries have specific requirements. The following is a short list of requirements/qualifications that apply to all applicants:

  • No previous approval of visa or permit through a working holiday scheme
  • Work must be secondary to pleasure in your purpose for visiting New Zealand
  • You must have at least NZ$4200 in available funds to cover living expenses
  • You must have adequate health coverage for the extent of your stay in the country
  • You may not be accompanied by any children
  • A return ticket or the financial means to purchase one must be available to you

How long can I stay?

A Working Holiday visa does not cover permanent positions – once you've entered New Zealand on your Working Holiday visa, you will be ready to start exploring the country and its temporary employment opportunities.

Be mindful to avoid certain violations, or risk having your visa revoked and your stay ended prematurely. For example, you are not allowed to take up any permanent employment under a Working Holiday visa, though you may be eligible to apply for a traditional work visa if offered employment. You may only be allowed to work for an employer for three months, and only enrol in one course of study or one training programme for a maximum of three months.

or workers who have been involved in three months of work in either the horticulture or viticulture industries may apply for a Working Holidaymaker Extension Permit. If granted, this permit will allow for an additional three months’ stay at the end of a working holiday.

New Zealand working holiday schemes

A working holiday can be a great way to earn money and gain valuable experience while you explore New Zealand.

If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30, and you hold a passport for one of the countries listed below, you may be able to apply for a Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand.

Apply online

Citizens of the following countries can apply for Working Holiday Visas directly through Immigration New Zealand’s website:

Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Uruguay.

 
If you would like more information about the Working Holiday Visa or want to apply for a visa under this category, talk to the experts at Working In Visas.