Working holiday visas for New Zealand citizens

This page is for citizens of New Zealand interested in working holiday visas. It shows key details for programs offered by Canada, the UK, Ireland, Japan, Germany, and Hong Kong. Eligibility generally requires you to be between 18 and 30 or 18 and 35 years old. The length of stay varies from up to 12 months in Ireland, Japan, Germany, and Hong Kong, to up to 23 months in Canada. The UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme visa allows for a stay of up to 24 months, with a possible one year extension.

Costs and required funds are also listed where available. For example, the Canadian program has a CAN$184.75 IEC fee plus a CAN$100 open work permit holder fee, and requires proof of CAN$2,500. The UK visa application costs £340 plus an Immigration Health Surcharge, and you must have £2,530. For Hong Kong, the required funds are at least HK$14,000.

Passport

New Zealand

Programs found

6

Lowest upper age limit

30

Highest upper age limit

35

Programs that list New Zealand citizens

Country-specific conditions

Canada: IEC Working Holiday

• Fee: CAN$184.75 IEC fee + CAN$100 open work permit holder fee
• Funds: CAN$2,500
• As a citizen of New Zealand, you may participate in IEC only once. If you participated in IEC before April 2, 2015, you are no longer eligible to apply.

Germany: Working Holiday visa

• Where to apply: Any German mission abroad, or the local foreigners authority if already in Germany.

Hong Kong: Working Holiday Scheme

• Funds: At least HK$14,000
• Places: 400 per year
• Work: No more than three months with the same employer.
• Study: One course, up to three months.

Ireland: Working Holiday Authorisation

• Fee: NZD $120 processing fee
• Funds: At least NZ$2,500 plus a return ticket, or NZ$5,000
• Apply by post to the Embassy of Ireland in Wellington (or London or Canberra if resident in the UK or Australia).
• Register for an Irish Residence Permit after arrival.

Japan: Working Holiday visa

• Funds: Reasonable funds for the first part of the stay
• Places: No limit
• Must currently live in the country of nationality.
• Since 1 December 2024: can take part twice in a lifetime (two separate one-year stays).

UK: Youth Mobility Scheme visa

• Fee: £340 + Immigration Health Surcharge (usually £776 per year)
• Funds: £2,530 held for 28 days
• Can extend the visa by one year after the 2-year period ends.

What stands out

Some programs for New Zealand citizens have specific conditions that stand out. The UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme is unique in offering a one year extension after the initial 24 month period. For Canada, you may only participate in the IEC program once, and participation before April 2, 2015 makes you ineligible now. Japan’s visa is also notable, as since December 1, 2024, it allows for two separate one year stays in a lifetime.

Hong Kong’s Working Holiday Scheme has a quota of 400 per year and places restrictions on your employment, limiting you to no more than three months with the same employer.

This page covers the destinations in this directory only: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, South Korea. Singapore’s Work Holiday Programme is left out here because it depends on where your university is, not on your passport; see the Singapore sheet. A destination missing here may still run a program for your passport; check its official immigration site.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official government pages:

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): IEC Working Holiday (Canada)
• GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration): Youth Mobility Scheme visa (UK)
• Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland: Working Holiday Authorisation (Ireland)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Working Holiday visa (Japan)
• German Federal Foreign Office: Working Holiday visa (Germany)
• Hong Kong Immigration Department: Working Holiday Scheme (Hong Kong)

Last checked October 21, 2026 (Oct 2026). Rules, fees and quotas can change after this date.