New Zealand Working Holiday Visa: Countries, Rules and Costs

A working holiday in New Zealand is one of the simplest ways to live abroad for a year: no job offer, no sponsor, and a visa decision that usually comes in weeks. The catch is that it depends entirely on your passport, your age and whether your country's places are still open.

This guide covers every scheme, what you can and can't do on the visa, how extensions work, and the tax and money details that trip people up. All figures come from Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Inland Revenue and Employment New Zealand, checked in September 2026.

What a working holiday visa lets you do

A working holiday visa is for young people who are coming mainly to holiday, with work and study as secondary reasons. INZ says it normally lasts up to 12 months and lets you:

• start work straight away, without a job offer
• study or train for up to 6 months in total
• leave and re-enter New Zealand as often as you like while the visa is valid

You can't take a permanent job or run a business as an owner. From 20 April 2026, INZ made this clearer for all working holiday visas: any work must be for an employer, under an employment agreement or a contract for services.

Your partner or children can't be included. They'd need to apply for their own visas.

Which countries can apply

Only citizens of countries with a working holiday agreement can apply. INZ lists 45 schemes, including Singapore's Work Exchange Programme. If your country isn't on the list, INZ can't give you a working holiday visa, and you'd need another type of work visa.

At the time of writing, there's no scheme for Nigeria, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Ghana or Kenya. If you hold one of those passports, look at skilled routes such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa and Green List instead.

"No cap listed" means INZ's page for that scheme didn't show an annual number when we checked.

Capped schemes fill fast

Capped schemes open on set dates and close when places run out. In September 2026, INZ showed several as closed, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Taiwan, Uruguay and Vietnam. Some pages said the visa was closed for 2026 and would reopen next year.

INZ says applications made before the opening date are automatically deleted. Watch your country's page closely and have everything ready.

Extra rules for some countries

Some schemes add conditions beyond age and money:

• China: a senior high school qualification and English. You must be in China when you apply.
• Philippines and Vietnam: a university qualification and English.
• Thailand: a tertiary qualification, English and a support letter from the Department of Children and Youth.
• Turkey: tertiary education and English.
• Peru: at least 3 years of full-time tertiary study.
• Singapore: a university qualification or 2 years of full-time university study.
• UK: you must normally live in the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, and not have been away for more than 2 years before applying.

Almost every scheme also requires full medical insurance for your whole stay. The UK and Ireland scheme pages didn't list it, but travel insurance is still wise.

Work rules while you're there

You can work in most temporary jobs, as long as the work is legal and for an employer. About 20 schemes, including Brazil, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, Portugal, Thailand and Vietnam, also limit you to 3 months with any one employer. Check the conditions on your eVisa.

INZ points working holidaymakers toward seasonal and short-term work in:

• horticulture and viticulture, such as fruit picking, packing and vineyard work
• hospitality, tourism and accommodation
• dairy farming, forestry and events

Your rights at work

Working holidaymakers have the same minimum employment rights as everyone else. Employment New Zealand says:

• the adult minimum wage has been NZD 23.95 an hour since 1 April 2026
• every employee must have a written employment agreement
• if you're on a fixed-term agreement of less than 12 months, you can agree to receive holiday pay of at least 8% of gross earnings with your regular pay

Step by step: how to apply

1. Check your country's page. Confirm your age, funds, stay length, insurance rules and whether applications are open.
2. Check your passport. It must be valid for at least 3 months after your visa expires.
3. Gather your evidence. Bank statements showing your funds, and proof of a return ticket or money to buy one on top of those funds.
4. Create an INZ online account and apply online, in English, when your scheme is open.
5. Answer the health and character questions honestly. INZ may then ask for a chest X-ray, medical examination or police certificates.
6. Pay the fee. INZ lists it from NZD 770, and the exact amount depends on your country.
7. Wait for your eVisa. INZ showed 80% decided within 2 weeks when we checked.
8. Arrive within 12 months. On your New Zealand Traveller Declaration, visa-waiver travellers must tick "I hold a temporary entry class visa". INZ warns that otherwise you may be given a visitor visa at the border and lose your working holiday visa.

If you apply from inside New Zealand, or plan to stay more than 12 months in total, you'll need a chest X-ray and medical examination.

Extending your stay

There are three main ways to stay longer:

• Seasonal work extension. After at least 3 months of planting, maintaining, harvesting or packing crops in horticulture or viticulture, you can apply once for a 3-month Working Holiday Extension Work Visa. INZ lists it from NZD 800. Work in plant nurseries or food processing doesn't count.
• UK scheme. On a 12 or 23-month visa, you can apply to extend up to 36 months in total, showing NZD 350 a month for the rest of your stay.
• Canada scheme. On a 12-month visa, you can apply to stay up to another 11 months.

UK and Canadian extensions use a paper form, the Working Holiday Scheme Subsequent Work Visa application (INZ 1223).

If you want a long-term future in New Zealand, you'll need a different visa, such as one linked to an accredited employer, and eventually a residence route like the Skilled Migrant Category.

Tax, IRD numbers and KiwiSaver

Get an IRD number

Everyone who works in New Zealand pays tax, and you need an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number to be taxed correctly. It's free.

Inland Revenue has a "new arrival" process that checks your identity with INZ, so you don't send documents twice. You'll need your passport details, your INZ application number and your most recent overseas tax number if you have one. If approved, your IRD number arrives by text or email in 2 days.

Use this process before the final arrival date on your visa. After that, you must apply as someone "living in New Zealand".

Tax codes and rates

Give each employer a tax code declaration (form IR330). Inland Revenue says that without one, your employer deducts tax at the non-declaration rate of 45%.

Your main job normally uses the M code. A second job at the same time needs a secondary code, such as S. The ACC earners' levy for non-work injuries is also deducted, at NZD 1.75 for each NZD 100 earned.

The tax year ends on 31 March. If you were taxed at the wrong rate, you might get a refund or owe tax, so keep your pay slips.

KiwiSaver

KiwiSaver is New Zealand's retirement savings scheme. Inland Revenue says you can't join on a temporary, visitor, work or student visa, so it doesn't apply to working holidaymakers. If an employer tries to enrol you, point this out.

Costs to budget for

On top of this, allow for your first weeks of rent and a bond, transport between jobs, and gear such as work boots for orchard or farm work. Open a New Zealand bank account soon after you arrive so you can be paid, and compare fees if you send money home.

If you're deciding between hemispheres, compare this with Australia's working holiday visa, which has different countries, ages and extension rules.

Scams to watch for

INZ says employers can't charge you for a job or pass on recruitment costs. Be wary if:

• someone asks for a "placement fee" to find you work
• a job comes with a package of accommodation at a high price
• you're asked to pay visa or medical fees into a bank account, which INZ never asks for
• a website or email looks like INZ but its address doesn't end in immigration.govt.nz

You don't need an agent to apply. The application is online and designed for you to complete yourself.

Your working holiday checklist

• Confirm your country has a scheme and check your age on the date you apply.
• Note when your scheme opens and whether it's capped.
• Check any extra education, English or residence rules.
• Save the required funds plus money for a return ticket.
• Buy medical insurance that covers your whole stay.
• Make sure your passport is valid for 3 months beyond your visa.
• Apply online, then arrive within 12 months of issue.
• Tick the correct box on your Traveller Declaration.
• Apply for your IRD number and give employers an IR330.
• Get a written employment agreement for every job.

A New Zealand working holiday can be the best year of your twenties, and sometimes the start of something longer. Check your scheme's official page first, apply early, and keep every pay slip.