Independent guides not a government, embassy or immigration website

Travel to Work Search
WHV Visa data

New Zealand working holiday visas by country

Which passports can get Working Holiday Schemes (New Zealand): 44 countries, age limits (18 to 30, 18 to 35), stay and funds. Official sources, checked Oct 2026.

Checked against official sources by the Travel to Work desk

CheckedWHV21 OCT 2026
Last checked
Checked against
immigration.govt.nz
Filed

This page is for citizens of 44 countries who are interested in New Zealand’s Working Holiday Schemes. It shows the general rules for this type of temporary visa. The visa allows you to work in a temporary job and to study or train for up to 6 months in total. You must be aged either 18 to 30 or 18 to 35, depending on your country of citizenship.

To apply, you must submit your application online and in English while the scheme for your country is open. Once a visa is issued, you have 12 months to arrive in New Zealand. This visa cannot be delayed or cancelled, and you can only be granted a New Zealand working holiday visa once in your lifetime, even if you do not use it.

Program
Working Holiday Schemes
Passports listed
44
Age ranges
18 to 30, 18 to 35

General rules

  • Temporary work for an employer under an employment contract or contract for services; no permanent job, and you cannot operate a business as an owner.
  • Study or train for up to 6 months in total.
  • You must arrive within 12 months of the visa being issued; the visa cannot be delayed or cancelled.
  • You can only get a working holiday visa for New Zealand once, even if you do not use it.
  • Apply online, in English, and only while the visa for your country is open for applications.
  • Doing 3 months of seasonal work in horticulture or viticulture can make you eligible for a 3-month Working Holiday Extension Work Visa.
  • Visa waiver nationals should tick 'I hold a temporary entry class visa' in the New Zealand Traveller Declaration, or the working holiday visa can be replaced by a visitor visa at the border.

Passports accepted: Working Holiday Schemes

44 passports, checked October 21, 2026
Passport Age Stay Funds Places / status
Argentina 18 to 35 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Austria 18 to 30 Up to 6 months NZD $2,250
Belgium 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Brazil 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Canada 18 to 35 Up to 12 or 23 months NZD $4,200 Open
Chile 18 to 35 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
China 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Croatia 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Czech Republic 18 to 35 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Denmark 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Estonia 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Finland 18 to 35 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
France 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Germany 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Hong Kong 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Hungary 18 to 35 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Ireland 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Israel 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Italy 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Japan 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Latvia 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Lithuania 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Luxembourg 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Malaysia 18 to 30 Up to 6 months NZD $2,250 Closed for 2026
Malta 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Mexico 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Netherlands 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Norway 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Peru 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 with an acceptable English test result, otherwise NZD $7,000
Philippines 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Closed for 2026
Poland 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Portugal 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Slovakia 18 to 35 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Slovenia 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
South Korea 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Spain 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Sweden 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Taiwan 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Closed for 2026
Thailand 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $7,000
Turkey 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $7000
United Kingdom 18 to 35 Up to 12, 23 or 36 months NZD $350 a month Open
United States 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200 Open
Uruguay 18 to 35 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200
Vietnam 18 to 30 Up to 12 months NZD $4,200

What stands out

A key point for all applicants is that you can only get a working holiday visa for New Zealand once. This rule applies even if you are granted the visa but your plans change and you do not travel. For nationals of visa waiver countries, it is also critical to correctly complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration. If you do not declare that you hold a temporary entry class visa, your working holiday visa could be replaced with a visitor visa when you arrive at the border.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Open the page for your country's scheme and confirm it is open for applications (applications sent before the opening date are deleted).
  2. Check you meet the age, funds, insurance and any country-specific education or English conditions.
  3. Create an Immigration New Zealand online account, then apply online in English and pay the fee.
  4. Answer the health and character questions; an X-ray, medical or police certificates may be requested.
  5. Arrive within 12 months of the visa being issued.

Sources

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

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

In this part of the directory

Back to Working holiday visa directory: rules by country and passport