Who can apply for a working holiday visa
Working holiday visas allow young people from recognised countries to work and travel in New Zealand, normally for up to 12 months.
If you want to work or study while travelling
Working holiday visas are available to young people — normally aged 18 to 30, but 18 to 35 in a select few countries.
This type of visa lets you travel, work and study in New Zealand, generally for up to 12 months.
To apply, you must be a citizen of a country that has a working holiday agreement with New Zealand.
Note
If you are from Canada, you can stay for up to 23 months on a working holiday visa. If you are from the United Kingdom you can stay up to 36 months.
Advantages of having a working holiday visa
There are certain advantages to having a working holiday visa. You can:
- stay longer than with a standard visitor visa
- start work straight away
- leave and re-enter New Zealand any number of times while the visa is valid.
Countries with a working holiday agreement
Working holiday visas are only available in countries that have an agreement with New Zealand.
The visa requirements for each country will tell you:
- how old you have to be
- how long you can stay
- how much money you need to bring with you
- any specific criteria and conditions.
Argentina Working Holiday Visa
Hong Kong Working Holiday Visa
Lithuania Working Holiday Visa
Luxembourg Working Holiday Visa
Netherlands Working Holiday Visa
Philippines Working Holiday Visa
Singapore Work Exchange Programme Visa
If your country is not on the list
If your country is not listed, we cannot give you a working holiday visa.
You may, however, be able to apply for a different visa that allows you to work in New Zealand.
What you can and cannot do on a working holiday visa
Work
You cannot take a permanent job while you are in New Zealand on a working holiday visa.
Conditions of employment will vary depending on where you are from. Check the details for your country’s working holiday visa scheme.
If you are looking to work in New Zealand longer term, or accept a permanent job, you will need a relevant work visa — such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
Study and training
On a working holiday visa, you can study 1 or more courses for up to 6 months in New Zealand. For example, you could study English, do a Study Abroad programme, or a short training course.
Note
On a working holiday visa, you need to:
- have a return ticket, or be able to pay for one, and
- be coming mainly to holiday — work or study should be secondary intentions.
Applying from New Zealand or overseas
All working holiday visas must be applied for online — and only if the visa is 'open' for applications.
In most cases, you can apply from any country, including from within New Zealand. However, some schemes require you to be in your home country when you apply. For example, you must be in China when you apply for the China Working Holiday Visa.
If you apply for a working holiday visa while in New Zealand, you may need to provide a medical certificate. If you plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months (including time on visas other than a working holiday visa), you must have a chest X-ray and a general medical examination.
The medical information you must provide for a working holiday visa is based on: We use chest X-rays to check for TB and general medical examinations to check for other medical conditions. If you are outside New Zealand and your country’s working holiday scheme allows you to stay up to 12 months, you: Countries with a low incidence of TB If you plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months (including time on visas other than a Working Holiday Visa), you must have a chest X-ray and a general medical examination. If you are from the United Kingdom or Canada your working holiday scheme allows you to apply to stay for more than 12 months. If you plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months (including time on visas other than a Working Holiday Visa), you must have a chest X-ray and a general medical examination. If you are outside New Zealand and applying for an Austria or Malaysia Working Holiday Visa you do not need to have a chest X-ray or a general medical examination. You must have a chest X-ray and general medical examination if you are in New Zealand and applying for a working holiday visa, unless you are applying under the Austria, Malaysia or Singapore schemes. If you are in New Zealand and are applying for an Austria Working Holiday Visa, you: If you are in New Zealand and have been here for more than 6 months and are applying for a Malaysia or Singapore Working Holiday Visa, you must have a chest X-ray and general medical examination. If you are in New Zealand and have been here for less than 6 months and are applying for a Malaysia or Singapore Working Holiday Visa, you: When you have had your chest X-ray or medical examination, you must provide us with evidence you have done so within 15 days of submitting your visa application. You can do this by: Panel physicians are doctors and radiologists who are approved to complete chest X-rays and medical examinations for New Zealand visa applications.
Working holiday visa medical requirements
If you apply for a working holiday visa you may need to have a chest X-ray or medical examination to prove you are in good health.
What you need to provide depends on your situation
Applying if you are outside New Zealand
United Kingdom and Canada
Malaysia and Austria
Applying if you are in New Zealand
Austria
Singapore and Malaysia
Evidence of your chest X-ray or medical examination
Using your visa
When you are given a working holiday visa, you must come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date your visa is issued.
You cannot delay or cancel a working holiday visa. If you do not arrive in New Zealand within 12 months, the visa will expire, and you will not be able to apply for another working holiday visa.
If you are from a visa waiver country and coming to New Zealand on a working holiday visa, make sure you tick the option 'I hold a temporary entry class visa' when completing your New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). If you do not do this, we may give you a visitor visa at the border, and your working holiday visa will be cancelled. You will not be able to apply for another working holiday visa.
How to apply
You can only apply for a working holiday visa online and in English.
Note
Applications for a subsequent working holiday visa under the UK or Canadian working holiday scheme cannot be made online. They must be made using a paper application form.
Setting up an online account
To apply for a working holiday visa online, you will first need to create an account.
Create an account -Online services
Once you have logged in, you can apply, upload your documents and pay the fees that apply.
If you have forgotten your password, try resetting it or contact our Customer Service Centre.
You can also log in to your account to check your application status.
Completing the application
You must complete the application correctly. If you do not, you may have problems when you travel to New Zealand on your working holiday visa.
Warning
Make sure you are applying for the right visa for your visit. You can only get a working holiday visa once to work in New Zealand, even if you do not use it.
When to apply
You can only apply when the working holiday visa for your country is open for applications. Check the website for this information. If you apply before the opening date, your application will be automatically deleted. This is to improve the performance of the online application system.
Note
You must have a valid physical passport when you apply. If you do not have one, your application may be declined.
Extending your working holiday
If you are on a United Kingdom or Canada working holiday visa
If you are currently in New Zealand on a 12-month Canada Working Holiday Visa, you can apply to extend your stay for up to another 11 months with a Working Holiday Scheme Subsequent Work Visa.
If you are currently in New Zealand on a 12-month or longer United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa, you can apply to extend your stay to cover the balance of the 36-month maximum duration with a Working Holiday Scheme Subsequent Work Visa.
If you have completed 3 months of seasonal work
If you have completed 3 months of
Other visa options
If you want to work or stay longer in New Zealand, or are coming for a purpose other than a working holiday, there may be another visa better suited to your plans.