New Zealand has working holiday visa arrangements with nationals of 45 countries, allowing eligible young travellers to combine temporary work with travel.
Immigration New Zealand says applicants must meet country-specific requirements, including age, funds, health and character conditions. Most schemes allow stays of up to 12 months, although some countries have different arrangements.
UK and Canada Get Longer Options
United Kingdom nationals have the longest available stay. Eligible applicants can obtain visas for up to 12, 23 or 36 months, depending on the option selected.
Canadian nationals can apply for a visa lasting up to 12 or 23 months. Those initially granted a 12-month visa may qualify for an extension to 23 months.
Austria has one of the shorter arrangements, with its working holiday visa allowing stays of up to six months.
The 45 Eligible Countries
The countries listed under New Zealand’s working holiday scheme are:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong SAR
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- South Korea
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- United States
- Vietnam
Immigration New Zealand’s operational manual confirms working holiday schemes for these participating countries and territories.
Nigeria Not on the List
Nigeria is not among the 45 countries covered by New Zealand’s working holiday arrangements.
This means Nigerian nationals cannot apply for the working holiday visa under the participating-country scheme.
The programme should also not be confused with New Zealand’s visa-waiver arrangements. Immigration New Zealand maintains a separate list of visa-waiver countries and territories, which also does not include Nigeria.
What Applicants Need to Know
Working holiday visas generally allow eligible applicants to undertake temporary employment while travelling around New Zealand.
Applicants do not necessarily need a job offer before applying. However, they must satisfy the specific conditions attached to their country’s arrangement.
Financial requirements also vary. Immigration New Zealand lists NZ$4,200 as the minimum funds requirement for most participating countries, while Malaysia and Singapore have a NZ$2,250 requirement. UK applicants must generally show NZ$350 for each month of their intended stay.
The arrangements therefore differ significantly by nationality, so prospective applicants should check the official Immigration New Zealand requirements before making travel plans.
