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WHV — Working Holiday Visa
New ZealandNew Zealand•Oceania
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WHV — Working Holiday Visa

Working Holiday

At a Glance

Processing Time

5 weeks

Estimated Cost

NZD $770

Stay Duration

Up to 23 months

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

Not specified

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Overview

Reciprocal work-and-travel visa for citizens of 43 partner countries aged 18-30 (18-35 for UK and select others) to live in NZ for 12-36 months.

Administered by Immigration New Zealand under reciprocal agreements with 43 partner countries, the Working Holiday Visa lets young foreigners travel, work and study in NZ. Applicants need a partner-country passport, must be 18-30 (18-35 for UK and select others), not have held a NZ WHV before, and meet health and character checks.

Standard stay is 12 months; Canadians get 23 months and UK citizens up to 36 months, with a 3-month seasonal extension for others doing qualifying horticulture work. Most nationalities pay NZD 670 (NZD 215 fee + NZD 455 immigration levy) plus the NZD 100 IVL, NZD 770 all up; 80% decided in 2.5 weeks. Funds of NZD 4,200 are required (UK NZD 350/month), plus medical insurance (waived for IE, JP, MY, UK). No PR pathway.

This visa is ideal for citizens of partner countries aged 18-30 (or 18-35 where qualifying) seeking a gap year of seasonal or hospitality work in NZ, with no plan to settle.

Cost Breakdown

Working holiday scheme application feeNZD $215
Immigration levyNZD $455
International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)NZD $100
TotalNZD $770

Eligible Nationalities (43)

ArgentinaArgentinaAustriaAustriaBelgiumBelgiumBrazilBrazilCanadaCanadaChileChileChinaChinaCroatiaCroatiaCzechiaCzechiaDenmarkDenmarkEstoniaEstoniaFinlandFinlandFranceFranceGermanyGermanyHong Kong SAR ChinaHong Kong SAR ChinaHungaryHungaryIrelandIrelandIsraelIsraelItalyItalyJapanJapanSouth KoreaSouth KoreaLatviaLatviaLithuaniaLithuaniaLuxembourgLuxembourg

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Citizen of a country with a working holiday agreement with New Zealand (43 partner countries).

Aged 18 to 30 inclusive at time of application; 18 to 35 for citizens of select countries including the United Kingdom.

Hold a valid passport from the partner country at time of application.

Not previously granted a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa under any scheme (even if unused).

Have sufficient funds to support yourself: NZD 4,200 for most countries; NZD 350 per month of stay for the United Kingdom; NZD 7,000 for Thailand; NZD 2,250 for Malaysia and Singapore.

Have a return ticket or sufficient additional funds to purchase one (onward travel requirement).

Hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the full duration of stay (waived only for Ireland, Japan, Malaysia and United Kingdom schemes).

Be coming to New Zealand primarily to holiday, with work or study as a secondary intention.

Not be accompanied by dependent children on the visa.

Meet health requirements (chest X-ray and general medical examination required if staying more than 12 months or if applying from within NZ).

Meet good-character requirements.

KEY CRITERIA

Min. Savings

4,200 NZD

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid physical passport from the partner country.

Evidence of sufficient funds (bank statement, traveller's cheques, bank draft, or credit card with sufficient available credit).

Evidence of medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the full stay (not required for IE, JP, MY, UK schemes).

Evidence of a return ticket or sufficient additional funds to purchase one.

Chest X-ray and general medical examination certificates if staying more than 12 months or where TB-risk criteria apply.

Police certificate if requested by INZ based on character history or length of stay.

Country-specific evidence where applicable (e.g. IELTS for China/Peru/Philippines/Thailand/Turkey; tertiary qualification evidence; ministry letters).

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Open work rights with no employer sponsorship or job offer required
  • Long stays available: 12 months standard, 23 months for Canadians, up to 36 months for UK citizens
  • Multi-entry — leave and re-enter New Zealand any number of times during the visa
  • Up to 6 months of study or training permitted alongside work
  • 80% of applications decided within 2.5 weeks
  • Low entry threshold: NZD 4,200 in savings (NZD 350/month for UK) and no qualification requirement for most countries
  • Insurance requirement waived for citizens of Ireland, Japan, Malaysia and the United Kingdom

Worth Knowing

  • Quota-based and one-shot: can only ever hold a NZ Working Holiday Visa once
  • Permanent jobs are prohibited — work must be temporary or fixed-term
  • No pathway to permanent residence; transition to AEWV or skilled visa required for long-term stay
  • Must enter NZ within 12 months of visa grant or the visa expires unused
  • Country-specific extras for several schemes (e.g. IELTS for China/Peru/Philippines/Thailand/Turkey; tertiary qualification for SG/PH/TH)
  • Only citizens of the 43 partner countries with a working holiday agreement are qualifying
  • Cannot apply if previously granted any NZ Working Holiday Visa (even if unused)
  • Cannot bring dependent children on the visa

Application Process

1

Check qualification and confirm the WHV scheme for your country is currently open for applications.

2

Create an account on Immigration New Zealand Online Services.

3

Gather supporting documents

valid passport, evidence of sufficient funds, evidence of insurance, return-travel evidence.

4

Complete the Working Holiday Visa application online (UK/Canada subsequent applications use a paper form).

5

Pay the visa application fee, immigration levy and IVL (typically NZD 670 + NZD 100, varies by nationality) by credit card in NZD.

6

Provide a chest X-ray and general medical examination if staying more than 12 months or if INZ requests evidence.

7

Provide police certificates if requested by INZ.

8

Await decision (80% within 2.5 weeks); enter New Zealand within 12 months of visa grant.

Application Forms

Working Holiday Visa ApplicationFill online

Related visas

Working holiday visas in other countries

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