Working holiday visas
Check the countries that have a working holiday visa agreement with New Zealand, visa eligibility, and what to do if you want to extend your working holiday visa.
Eligibility and criteria for working holiday visas
Working holiday visas are available to young people, usually aged 18 to 30, but 18 to 35 in a select few countries. They let you travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months. If you are from Canada they let you travel and work for up to 23 months, and for up to 36 months if you are from the United Kingdom.
Employment conditions
You cannot accept a permanent job offer while on a New Zealand working holiday visa. Employment conditions vary between the different countries. Check the details for your country’s working holiday visa scheme.
Studying and training courses
With your working holiday visa you can study one or more courses for up to 6 months in New Zealand. For example, you could study English for up to 6 months, do a Study Abroad programme for up to 6 months, or a short training course in New Zealand.
You need to:
- have enough money to pay for a return ticket, and
- be coming mainly to holiday, with both work or a short amount of study your 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 for a working holiday visa from any country, including 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 be required 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.
Working Holiday Visa medical requirements
You cannot delay your working holiday visa
If you have been granted a working holiday visa you must activate it by arriving in New Zealand within the timeframe you were given. This is usually 1 year from the date it is granted.
You cannot delay or cancel a working holiday visa that has been granted. If you cannot activate the visa, it will lapse.
You cannot apply again for a working holiday visa if one was already granted to you.
Countries with working holiday agreements and their criteria
Working holiday visas are only available in countries that have an agreement with New Zealand for working holiday visas.
In your country's working holiday visa criteria, it will tell you:
- how old you have to be
- how long you can stay
- how much money you need to bring
- any specific working criteria for your country's arrangement with us.
List of countries with a working holiday visa agreement
If your country is not on the list
If your country is not listed, we do not have an agreement with them and cannot offer you a working holiday visa.
Check if you can apply for a different visa that lets you work in New Zealand.
Visas that allow you to work in New Zealand
Extend a working holiday visa
If you are on a United Kingdom or Canada Working Holiday Visa
If you are a Canadian citizen currently in New Zealand on a 12-month working holiday visa, you may be able to extend your working holiday for up to another 11 months with a Working Holiday Scheme Subsequent Work Visa.
If you are a UK citizen currently in New Zealand on a 12-month or longer working holiday visa, you may be able to extend your working holiday to cover the balance of the 36 month maximum duration with a Working Holiday Scheme Subsequent Work Visa.
Working Holiday Scheme Subsequent Work Visa Application form (INZ 1223) PDF 1009KB
If you completed 3 months of seasonal work
If you do not meet the requirements for the second work visa, you may still be eligible for a 3-month extension of your working holiday visa. To be eligible you must have completed 3 months of seasonal work in the horticulture or viticulture industry while holding your working holiday visa.
Working Holiday Extension Work Visa
Other visa options
If you are looking to work or stay longer in New Zealand, or come for a purpose other than a working holiday, there may be a more relevant visa you could consider.