How to Get Your New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

Promising incredible experiences across diverse landscapes, New Zealand is one of the best places in the world for the outdoor adventure traveller. From working on the iconic Routeburn Track in Fiordland to tramping the volcanic landscapes in Tongariro in the North Island, we were able to have unbeatable experiences in our year living in NZ and it’s without a doubt one of our favourite countries in the world.

If you’re hoping to live, work and travel longer term in NZ, the working holiday is a fantastic option if you’re eligible. With over 45 countries being offered a working holiday visa, it’s relatively easy to apply for and offers a lot to flexibility in where you go and what you do.

What is a working holiday?

Sometimes referred to as international experiences or working holiday schemes, the working holiday is a visa which allows young people to temporarily work, live and travel in a new country, regardless of what they choose to do for a job or where they’d like to be based. It’s a fantastic way to experience living abroad while making an income and offers a lot of flexibility with how you choose to spend your time.

Read our generalised guide on the working holiday visa for a brief overview of what it is, how to start your application, and what you can do for work.

Being based just outside of Queenstown over 2017 and 2018, we had the opportunity to work on the stunning Routeburn Track in the summertime, and on the slopes of local’s hill Coronet Peak in the winter, taking advantage of the months in between our seasonal work to tour the rest of the South and North Islands.

WHAT’S IN THIS POST:

• Are you eligible?

• How to apply for your visa

Are you eligible?

Although eligibility is largely dependent on the candidate (where they’re from, what the purpose of travel is, etc.) there are some generalised criteria for the working holiday.

The iconic view of Queenstown and the Remarkables mountain range from Skyline. The South Island town is known as the adventure capital of the world and for good reason.

• You have to be within the 18-30 age range, or 18-35 in a select few countries (Choose your country of residence from their list on this page to check the age range in your country).

• You can stay up to 12 months on the visa (or 23 if you’re from the UK or Canada)

• You can only apply for a Working Holiday Visa online

• You can’t accept a permanent job on the WHV (so you’ll have to rely mainly on seasonal work, or go through a different visa)

• You need to have enough money to pay for a return ticket/ enough money to live on (you may be asked to provide proof of this - the amount for a return will depend on where you’re flying from, but the amount to live on is usually $350 per month you intend to stay)

• Although you can’t renew your visa, you can get an extension of 3 months if you’re doing particular seasonal work. See more here. If you were eligible for the 23 month but only chose the 12 at application, you can apply for the balance of the 23 month.

• You can’t bring children on a working holiday or other dependents

• You can study or train for up to 6 months of the visa.

• Immigration NZ offers a set number of visas each year (a quota), and if this is reached, you’ll need to wait until the next year to apply. Lucky for any new applicants, NZ is increasing this quota for 2022/ 2023!

Check more specific criteria on the page of your country of residence. You may be asked to provide other information at the time of application including providing police certificates, proof of good character, English language ability, etc.

How will I know if the quota has been reached for my country of residence?

At the time of application, head to the Immigration NZ site and choose your country of residence from their list at the bottom of this page.

You’ll see the eligibility details along with the option to check criteria or apply. If the quota hasn’t yet been reached, you’ll see a blue ‘open’ banner, but if the quota has been reached, you’ll see the orange ‘closed’ banner.

Ineligible for the WHV but still want to live and travel within New Zealand?

If you’re over the age limit or otherwise ineligible for the working holiday, it’s very possible you’ll still be able to find a way to live and work in New Zealand. They have dozens of visa options depending on if you’re hoping to travel on a long holiday, to study or to work. Your eligibility will depend on what passport you’re travelling on, if you’re planning on staying for 3 months or more, and what the main purpose of your visit is. Explore options below:

I want to explore options for visiting.
I want to explore options for working.
I want to explore options for studying.

New Zealand is also known for being a fantastic country for energy exchanges such as WWOOF or Workaway. Whether you’re eligible for the WHV or not, it can be a great idea to consider for travellers who’d like the experience of volunteering while living with locals and saving money along the way.

Read more about WWOOF through our guide:

How to apply for your visa

Head to the Immigration NZ site and choose your country of residence from their list at the bottom of this page. Once you’re confident you meet the criteria for the WHV in your country of citizenship/ residence, click the Apply Now button. You can also access the application pages through this link here, select Work as the visa type// and ‘Nationality’ as what the work visa is based on.

You’ll first be asked to log in/ create an account. This is where you’ll be able to submit your application, pay for your application, and view it’s status. Once logged in, the following steps will be outlined:

• Gather Documents
  Depending on where you’re from, you’ll be asked to submit certain documentation. Within the commonwealth, this will largely just be a valid passport, personal details, and up to date passport photos. However, this process can take a bit longer if you’re asked to submit other documentation such as police certificates, proof of funds, evidence of English language ability, or other supporting letters.
  

• Submit Application
  Double check all of your requested paperwork before you submit your application. It will be officially put through once you’ve made the full payment (see more on fees below).
  

• Wait for visa decision
  Although timeframes can vary depending on your application, the NZ visa process is a relatively quick process. When we applied in 2017, we had our acceptance and eVisa within the week, although use this as more of a guide as to how quickly it’s possible to get approved. You can view the approximate timeframe on your application on NZ Immigration, find out more here.
  
  If the application has been approved, you’ll receive an email advising that your ‘application had changed’ and you’ll be granted an eVisa if successful that will be downloadable on your online account. They may also send you an email if they need more information from you.
  

• Arrive in New Zealand
  Your particular visa will specify the exact date you need to be in New Zealand by, it’s usually within one year of the date your application is approved.

How much does the visa cost?

The fee that comes with submitting your visa is non-refundable (even if your application is declined), it includes processing fees and your International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).

Although the cost will depend on what your country of residence is, you’ll be able to find about fees here. In Autumn 2022, the cost for a UK Working Holiday was $455 NZD.

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Undeniably one of the most incredible countries in the world, New Zealand is particularly well suited for the outdoor adventure traveller, solo traveller, and female traveller. If eligible, we definitely recommend taking advantage of the working holiday to experience all NZ has to offer!

Happy Travels,
Sam

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