You can only apply for a Working Holiday Visa online.
You can’t accept a permanent job.
You can’t bring children with you on a working holiday. If you have a partner who wants to come to New Zealand, they’ll need to apply for their own visa.
When you apply online, you must answer questions about your character. After you apply online, we may ask you to provide Police Certificates as proof of your good character.
We’ll check our records for any previous New Zealand Working Holiday Visa approvals you may have had.
You can’t apply for this visa, if we’ve already approved an earlier application for you to have a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa. This applies even if you didn’t use that visa.
It’s OK to apply for this visa, if you’ve had approvals for working holidays in countries other than New Zealand.
Medical insurance
You must have full medical insurance for the length of your stay
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.
Travel
You must come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date your visa is granted.
After you arrive in New Zealand, you can come and go from New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires.
Your visa is valid from:
the date you enter New Zealand, if you are outside New Zealand
the date your visa is granted, if you are already in New Zealand.
Entry permission
You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing an arrival card, which you are given on the way to New Zealand.
enough money to pay for a travel ticket out of New Zealand, in addition to your living costs.
We may ask to see evidence of your onward travel arrangements when you arrive in New Zealand.
Funds
You must have at least NZ $4,200 to live on while you’re in New Zealand.
We may ask to see evidence of your funds when you arrive in New Zealand.
Medical insurance
You must maintain your medical insurance while in New Zealand.
We may ask to see evidence you’re insured when you arrive in New Zealand.
Work
You can work in any employment you like, as long as:
you do not get a permanent job
the work you do is legal
you do not provide commercial sexual services
you do not run or invest in a business that provides commercial sexual services.
You don’t need a job offer.
Everyone who has a job in New Zealand pays tax on what they earn. You’ll need a New Zealand bank account and IRD number to pay tax. You can apply for an IRD number online through Inland Revenue.
