Under the New Zealand Working Holiday Programme, young citizens of approved countries may travel to New Zealand for a holiday and undertake employment during their stay.

VISA FIRST can apply for your visa in 48 hours* if you hold a passport from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, UK or USA.

General Terms and Conditions

• Have a passport for Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, UK or USA, valid for at least three months after your planned departure from New Zealand;
• Be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old;
• Not bring children with you;
• Hold a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket;
• Be of good health and character;
• Not previously have been approved a visa or permit under a working holiday scheme;
• Hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the length of your stay in New Zealand;
• Be aware that any employment undertaken is for the purpose of supplementing holiday funds, and that your main intention for traveling to New Zealand is to holiday. You may not undertake permanent employment;
• You can enroll in one training or study of up to three months duration during your visit.

Additional Requirements

Hong Kong SAR

• Have a British National Overseas or HKSAR passport valid for at least 3 months after planned departure from New Zealand

Malaysia

• Have a minimum of NZ$2250 available funds to meet your living costs while you are in New Zealand.
• Citizens of Malaysia are only allowed to a period of stay no longer that 6 months in New Zealand!

Singapore

• Have a minimum of NZ$2250 available funds to meet your living costs while you are in New Zealand.
• Be ether undergraduate* student of graduate** of a Singapore university or polytechnic.
• Successful applicants can stay up to 6 months in New Zealand.

*If you are undergraduate waiting to gain work experience in New Zealand before completing your study in Singapore you must:

• be registered with a Singapore university or polytechnic, and
• be a participant on an agreed exchange between your university or polytechnic in Singapore and a New Zealand university or polytechnic, or
• arrange your own employment directly with a New Zealand employer.

**If you are graduate of a Singapore university or polytechnic you must:

• apply for a Work Visa or Permit under this programme within 3 years from the date of your graduation, and
• meet the same conditions for undergraduate students above.

Thailand

• Have a minimum of NZ$7000 available funds to meet your living costs while you are in New Zealand
• Have a tertiary qualification granted in respect of a minimum of three years’ fulltime study.
• Have a level of proficiency in English that is assessed as at least functional.

United Kingdom

• Usually be permanently living in the United Kingdom – this means you can be temporarily visiting another country when you lodge your application.
• Have a minimum of NZ$350 per month of stay available funds to meet your living costs while you are in New Zealand.
• Have sufficient funds for the duration of your visit and for the purchase of an outward ticket from New Zealand. Such evidence may be requested on arrival at the border.
• You must not work for a period exceeding 12 months.
• Applicants from the UK can select either a 12-month or 23-month stay in New Zealand. Depending on the length of stay they chose they may be required to complete medical forms. Please contact Visa First Help Desk for further details.

*Please note that we advise you to apply at least 2 weeks before your departure date, as in a small number of cases, the New Zealand Immigration Authorities may request further verification of personal details before granting a visa, thus delaying the processing time. In such cases, we will notify you of any further requirements as soon as we have details of these.