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Ultimate Guide to New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

New Zealand; from the pictures themselves, I want to be transported to this gorgeous country. With a New Zealand working holiday visa you can be! This is a country full of picturesque ranges that hikers will absolutely love and surrounded by the pacific that will awe beach bums. Do you know you while having a holiday here; you can work too for extra travel funds?

Well not, everybody, but even Filipinos are included (limited though). However, New Zealand offers this program to the list of nationalities listed below.

New Zealand Working Holiday Visa
Photo by Offcut

New Zealand has working holiday visa agreements with many countries, allowing you to work and explore their country. Working holiday visas are available to young people, aged 18 to 30 (35 in some) in a select few countries. They let you travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 or 23 months. Check here to find out if you can apply!

Who can apply for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa?

Countries and Age Requirement

New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

Conditions

Travel

  • Come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date your visa is granted
  • Leave New Zealand before the visa expires

Onward travel

  • Must have a travel ticket out of New Zealand
  • Enough money to pay for a ticket out of New Zealand

rent a flight3

Sufficient Funds

  • Have at least NZ 4,200 when in New Zealand

Medical Insurance

If you apply for a 23-month visa, you must provide a General Medical Certificate.

What are Processing Time and Fees?

It is usually NZ$245. However, some fees are waived in selected countries. Processing times and costs vary from country to country.

Steps by Step Guide on Applying for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

Step 1: Apply Online

  • Go to this website and choose the “working holiday scheme”
  • Under new user, click Create an account
  • Fill-up required information
  • After clicking the page, it will show an e-mail; so follow the link
  • Log-in using your username and password
  • On “Working Holiday Schemes” – click here to apply
  • Select your country and click “apply now” if it is available
  • Please fill up your information (on the occupational details under the personal tab, you may skip it)
  • Answer all Working Holiday Specific questions and click “submit”
  • Pay fees for your application

Step 2: Visa Issuance

  • You will receive an e-mail with regards to your application; nothing will be pasted on your passport
  • Print it and use it when passing through Immigration and Passport Control on your arrival

Step 3: Arrival in New Zealand 

Arrival Card

  • Complete arrival card in arriving in New Zealand
  • Bring Documents
  • Bring your travel tickets, evidence of funds, insurance; the government may ask to see proof upon your arrival
New Zealand Working Holiday Visa
Photo by Ömer Faruk Bekdemir

More information with your New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

Things you can do with your New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

  • You can come and go from New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires
  • Work within the visa validity
  • You can do some study or training, as long as it’s not for more than 6 months of your stay

Things you cannot do with your New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

  • Work for more than 3 months for any one employer
  • Work for more than 12 months in total
  • Get a permanent job
  • Get an illegal job
  • Provide commercial sexual services
  • Run or invest in a business that provides commercial sexual services
  • Bring children with you on a working holiday

Where to find jobs in New Zealand?

Online

You can Google jobs in New Zealand or Working Holiday Visa Jobs. You can also check this website, and use the same account you used in the application for a job search. You can do some research before your visa application or maybe apply so that when you arrive, you can work as soon as possible.

If you don’t have much experience, don’t worry as there are a lot of basic jobs out there that you can learn from. However, if you have one, you can use your knowledge and skills to your advantage.

News Paper

You can check out job vacancies in the national or local newspapers.

In-Person

Applying in person is quite a tedious process; handing out CVs to stores or offices that you don’t know if they are hiring or not. However, sometimes, you get to choose the stores and identify their locations plus they can interview you on the spot if you’re lucky.

Additional Tips in New Zealand

  • 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
  • Try changing places every 3 to explore all of New Zealand
  • Budget your money properly
  • Make new friends
  • Explore and enjoy
New Zealand Working Holiday Visa
Photo by Annie

Doing this during your gap year or if you want to travel and feel another country’s culture is a great experience. I bet you’ll do tons of hikes and meet a lot of new friends. New Zealand’s Working Holiday visa is open to many countries; lucky are you if you are included. I hope you find this post helpful if you want to know more about New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.

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7 thoughts on “Ultimate Guide to New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

  1. Hi! I was looking through the NZ immigration website but couldn’t find a schedule of application. I heard this is open just once a year. any idea?

    1. Most slots are full by February, as I’ve heard. Try contacting the immigration before the year ends for slots for the next year.

  2. It’s not something that you can apply for anytime of the year however. It only opens every February and slots are limited to 100 Filipinos. The slots run out as fast as 10mins from opening.

  3. Can you apply if you’re 30 this year and will turn 31st on July? Will you be able to use your visa in NZ if you’re 31 years old?

  4. Is it hard to apply for the visa online if you’re a filipino citizen? Because I heard there’s only a quota of 100 per year.

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Written by Kach Umandap

Founder of Two Monkeys Travel Group. Since 2013, Kach has visited all the 7 continents (including Antarctica) and 151 countries using her Philippines Passport. In 2016, she bought a sailboat and went on sailing adventures with her two cats - Captain Ahab & Little Zissou in the Caribbean for 2 years. She now lives in Herceg Novi, Montenegro where she's enjoying her expat life and living on a gorgeous Stonehouse. She writes about her experiences traveling as a Filipina traveler with a PHL Passport. Also tips on backpacking trips, luxury hotel experiences, product reviews, sailing & adventure travel.