Each year, 100 places are available under this scheme allowing young citizens of Peru to stay in New Zealand for up to 12 months. The scheme runs from August each year.

To be eligible

You must:

• have a passport from Peru 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 are here, if you produce evidence that you hold an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate level 5 or over in speaking and in one of the other three skills areas**, or
• have a minimum of NZ$7,000 available funds to meet your living costs while you are here if you do not meet the English language requirement above
• provide evidence, verified by the Peru Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that you have completed a minimum of three years’ full-time study towards a tertiary qualification
• 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.

*You must 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.

**Your certificate must be no more than two years old when you submit your application.

Health requirements

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

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.

Please note:  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?

Follow the steps to apply for a Working Holiday Scheme work visa.