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Working Holiday Visa Guide

Many countries in the world offer working holiday visas and schemes to their visitors. Essentially it is an authority which allows you to be in the country and undertake paid work while you are there. New Zealand has one such scheme which allows those aged between 18-30 to take on temporary work during a stay of anything between 6-23 months. Certain requirements have to be fulfilled but the process is relatively simple and the whole thing can be done online.

It is currently available to citizens of 42 countries and hopefully you are one of them! If you are planning a long trip to New Zealand, it's worth getting hold of this visa in case you get short of money. However, be aware that you can only get one working holiday visa in your lifetime so make the most of it!

Visa Check
Date of Birth:
Country:

Am I eligible for a visa?

Citizens from the following countries can obtain a Working Holiday Visa:

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea (South), Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay and Vietnam.

If you are not from one of these countries then you will only be able to obtain a visitor visa to enter New Zealand and will not be able to work.

The requirements for obtaining a Working Holiday Visa are different for each country. For the exact requirements for your country's scheme, please see our WHV Country Guide.

General Requirements

In general, the following requirements apply:

  • Be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old (or 35 if you are from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Uruguay)
  • Be able to show you have sufficient funds to support yourself (approx NZ$4200 in cash, travellers cheques, bank draft or bank statement)
  • Have a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one
  • Have no dependent children with you
  • Never been on a Working Holiday to New Zealand before
  • Main reason you're coming to NZ is to holiday; work being your secondary intention
  • Evidence you hold adequate medical insurance for your time in NZ (click here for our travel insurance guide).

In addition, the Working Holiday Schemes for each country have their own unique requirements, such as limitations on the number of visas issued each year and restrictions on the length of time you can work for each employer. You may be asked questions and be required to provide evidence that you meet the above requirements before being allowed into NZ, so make sure you have all the relevant documents with you!

How do I apply for the visa?

For all applications this is done online. The NZ Immigration website has an easy to use guide – simply enter your age and country and it gives you all the visa options available to you, including the WHV. You can then follow the directions on the site to apply for your visa.

For full details on how to do this read our ‘Applying for a WHV Guide’

 

Country Duration Age Range Quota Status  
Argentina 12 months 18 - 35 1000 visas per year
Austria 6 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Belgium 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Brazil 12 months 18 - 30 300 visas per year
Canada 12-23 months 18 - 35 unlimited visas per year
Chile 12 months 18 - 35 940 visas per year
China 12 months 18 - 30 1000 visas per year
Croatia 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Czech Republic 12 months 18 - 35 1200 visas per year
Denmark 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Estonia 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Finland 12 months 18 - 35 unlimited visas per year
France 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Germany 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Hong Kong 12 months 18 - 30 400 visas per year
Hungary 12 months 18 - 35 100 visas per year
Ireland 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Israel 12 months 18 - 30 200 visas per year
Italy 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Japan 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Latvia 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Malaysia 6 months 18 - 30 1150 visas per year
Malta 12 months 18 - 30 50 visas per year
Mexico 12 months 18 - 30 200 visas per year
Netherlands 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Norway 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Peru 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Philippines 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Poland 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Republic of Korea (South) 12 months 18 - 30 3000 visas per year
Singapore 6 months 18 - 30 200 visas per year
Slovakia 12 months 18 - 35 100 visas per year
Slovenia 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Spain 12 months 18 - 30 200 visas per year
Sweden 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Taiwan 12 months 18 - 30 600 visas per year
Thailand 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
Turkey 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year
United Kingdom 12-23 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
United States of America 12 months 18 - 30 unlimited visas per year
Uruguay 12 months 18 - 35 200 visas per year
Vietnam 12 months 18 - 30 100 visas per year

Related Information:

Apply for tax number

Latest job listings

Recruitment agencies

NZ visitor visa

Travel insurance

Bank accounts

Find out more...

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