Each year, 100 places are available under this scheme allowing young citizens of the Republic of Poland to stay in New Zealand for up to 12 months.

2013/2014 quota

The quota opened on 15 February 2013, and is now full.

2014/2015 quota

The quota will open in February 2014.

Online application service available

Applications can be made online for this scheme by following the link below. You will need a valid Visa or Mastercard credit card. This is the only way to pay for your online application. 

However, before you think about applying, please read the following important information. 

To be eligible

You must:

• be a citizen of the Republic of Poland and have a passport from Poland that is valid for at least three months after your planned departure from New Zealand
• be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old
• not bring children with you
• hold a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket*
• have a minimum of NZ$4,200 available funds to meet your living costs while you’re here
• meet our health and character requirements
• hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the length of your stay
• be coming to New Zealand to holiday, with work or study being secondary intentions for your visit
• not have been approved a visa under a Working Holiday Scheme before.

If you are already in New Zealand you also need to hold a valid temporary visa.

*You are required to hold sufficient funds for the duration of your visit and for the purchase of an outward ticket from New Zealand.  Such evidence may be requested on arrival at the border.

Health requirements

You will need to meet our health requirements for temporary entry to New Zealand.

The online system will tell you whether you need to send us a completed Medical and/or Chest X-ray Certificate, and if so, how to do it, when you submit your application. This is based on the maximum length of stay that you are allowed under your country's Working Holiday Scheme (not your intended stay), along with your responses to our health requirements questions.

A Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) is required: If you are applying using the online application system from outside New Zealand you will be required to provide a Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) PDF within 15 days of your application being submitted. You will receive full instructions in an automated e-mail shortly after submitting your application.

It will save you time if you book an appointment for your chest X-ray with a radiologist on our approved list of medical doctors and radiologists before you apply. Please note that making an appointment for a chest X-ray will not guarantee you a place. If you are not able to successfully lodge an application, the onus is on you to cancel the appointment.

Once you have successfully submitted your application, please do as follows:

• Get your chest X-ray and Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) form completed by a radiologist on our approved list of medical doctors and radiologists.
• Attach the radiologist’s report to this certificate. 
• Ensure that the radiologist’s report is in English. If the report cannot be provided in English, a certified translation from a recognised and independent translation service must be provided along with the original report. 
• Write your application number on the top right hand corner of this certificate. This number can be found in the automated e-mail referred to above. 
• Send the completed Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) together with the radiologist’s report to one of Immigration New Zealand’s nominated branches immediately so that the information is received within 15 days. 
• If abnormalities are present or indicated, the X-ray film/CD must also be sent with this certificate. If the X-ray is clear, you do not have to send the X-ray film/CD. If an X-ray film/CD is sent when not required, it will be destroyed.

If you have already provided this certificate with a previous application or are applying in New Zealand, and if a General Medical Certificate (INZ 1007) PDF and/or a Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) PDF is required, you will receive full instructions in an automated e-mail shortly after submitting your application.

If you are applying manually using a paper-based application form you will be required to provide a General Medical Certificate (INZ 1007) and/or a Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) with your application.

Character requirements

You will need to meet our character requirements for temporary entry to New Zealand. 

Note: If we do have concerns about your character and require additional information, such as a police certificate, the processing of your application may be delayed.

When you are here

• You must not take up permanent employment (unless you apply for and are granted an ordinary work visa while you’re here)
• You must not work for the same employer for more than three months. 
• You can enrol in one or more courses of training or study of up to three months’ duration in total during your visit.

New Zealand law prohibits any person on a temporary visa including a Working Holiday Scheme work visa, from providing commercial sexual services, or operating or investing in a business which provides such services.

Tax

Like all New Zealand workers, you will need an IRD number so that your employer can deduct tax from your earnings at the correct rate. In New Zealand, you pay tax on a pay as you earn (PAYE) basis. This means that there should not be a large refund or an amount to pay when you leave. For more information see Inland Revenue's Travelling to New Zealand webpage [external link].

How do I apply?

Applications under this working holiday scheme can be made online by going to Working Holiday Schemes online. On this page you can register for and access the Working Holiday Scheme online application system.

Check our questions and answers for more information on the online application system.

If you want to apply manually, follow the steps to apply for a Working Holiday Scheme work visa.