New Zealand - FAQ

What are the requirements to get a Work and Travel visa for New Zealand?

He or she must be at least 18 and not more than 30 years of age.
He or she must be able to show they have sufficient funds in order to support themselves in an estimation of $4,200 in cash, traveler’s cheques, bank draft or statement

He or she must have a return ticket or enough funds

He or she must be 1st timer to encounter working holiday

The main reason they are coming to New Zealand is to go to holiday; work is their secondary intention.

There must be proof evidence that they hold an adequate medical insurance for their time in New Zealand.

In terms of temporary work, this is very significant when they will work in New Zealand. They will apply working visa because these are the people who have a job from a New Zealand Employer. People who are coming to an important event or important occasions or purposes, why they will go there can be considered as temporary work in New Zealand. Another example is they like to gain work experience or work after studying in New Zealand. They want to join a partner here and work.

Here are the requirements for the temporary work Visa:

In order to enter New Zealand, they must be in good health and of good character. Second, they must have a passport that is valid for at least three months from the date they are going to leave New Zealand. They must be genuine in wanting to work in New Zealand. They have the right visa for their visit.

Here are the following countries that are allowed to apply working visa holiday in New Zealand:

In North America, it is Canada and United States of America who is also welcome in applying working visa holiday

In South America, only Argentina, Chile, Uruguay are the sole countries that are allowed to applying working holiday visa in New Zealand

In European Countries, it’s only Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

In Asian countries, it is only Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand

Once the countries that was not mentioned can obtain visitor visa to enter New Zealand, although they cannot be able to work.

Do I need a visa to travel to New Zealand ?

The visa-waiver list in the immigration website will help you determine whether you need a visa to come to New Zealand or not. However, if you fall under all the following provisions, you don’t need to apply for a visa.
If you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen.
If you hold a New Zealand resident or permanent resident visa.
If you hold an Australian resident or permanent resident return visa. Make sure that it is not a temporary or provisional resident visa or else you may still need to apply for a New Zealand visa.
If you work in the consular affairs or a diplomat.
If you came from one of the countries listed on the visa-waiver list, provided you only intend to stay at the allotted time which is a maximum of three months only.

Note that in some cases, a visa may not be granted due to the following reasons:

False information on the application
The information on the application is incomplete
You have been sentenced to imprisonment
If you are a member or has any connection to a known criminal or terrorist group
If you have been deported from any other country due to illegal reasons
If you are a threat to standard health and good moral character

Refusal of visa like any other country is New Zealand ’s way of protecting its people, and immigration officers have the right to deny entry if a visitor is deemed to be a threat.

How much does it cost to apply for a New Zealand Visa?

The cost of a New Zealand visa depends on what type of visa you are applying for, or your country of origin. You can inquire about this in their office and fees guide. Before you apply for a visa, make sure that you have checked whether you need one or not. New Zealand has a visa-waiver list that will help you determine whether you are required to apply for one or not.
Payment methods:

Bank Cheque / Bank Draft
Credit Cards
EFTPOS (if you wish to pay over the counter)

Take note that New Zealand offices do not accept cash payment for visa applications, especially their offshore offices. Depending on which country you’re from, different methods of payment may apply and it is advisable that you contact your local immigration officer for accurate information.

You may also need to check their list of fee-waiver countries as New Zealand has bilateral fee-waiver wherein countries that are included in the list don’t need to pay any fees for certain types of visa. If you are lodging your application in New Zealand , you are required to pay in their currency, however, if you are outside New Zealand during your application, most certainly, you will pay using the local currency.

Fees do not apply individually to families with multiple members. You only need to pay one application fee for all the family members included in your application provided the visa is for visitor visa, limited pass to visit New Zealand , transit visa and residence class visa.

What is New Zealand ’s Working Holiday Visa?

New Zealand ’s Working Holiday Visa is for younger visitors who wish to live and work there for a longer period of time. If you wish to apply for this type of visa, make sure that you are applying the one that matches your passport. Lodging the wrong application will be immediately declined and may be noted as false information; a red flag that may affect your future plans to visit the place. Family members are not covered by Working Holiday Visa and should lodge their own application. You are eligible to apply the New Zealand Working Holiday Visa if:
You are between 18-30 years old.
You can show and guarantee that you can finance the whole duration of your stay in New Zealand .
You have a return ticket within the allotted time of staying in New Zealand . If you haven’t purchased a ticket, supporting financial documents that shows you’re capable of buying a return ticket is sometimes accepted.
You can convince the immigration that your main purpose to visit New Zealand is for holiday and working is just secondary.

If you get approved, you can tour and work in New Zealand for a maximum of 12 months or if you are from the United Kingdom , you can stay for a maximum of 24 months. If you intend to stay in the country for a longer period of time, it is advisable that you apply for a more suitable type of visa instead of the Working Holiday Scheme.

Which countries are eligible for the 18-30 Working Holiday Scheme Visa?
Normally, the working holiday scheme visa is applicable to younger visitors ages 18-30, but New Zealand also has a list of countries that allows up to 35 years old to apply for the WHS. Countries that can acquire this scheme include Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czeck republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hongkong special administrative region, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Singapore (through their work exchange program), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay and Vietnam.
Included in the list are the countries that are eligible up to 35 years old. Visit the 30+ eligible countries under the Working Holiday Scheme Visa. You can use an immigration adviser, provided they are licensed to help you complete your application. Legitimate advisers include, Licensed Immigration Adviser, Immigration New Zealand, Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Community Law Center and a Lawyer. Take note that while these advisers can help you, they also have their own field of expertise and you may still need to seek more advice on certain level of the process.

Avoid seeking the help of unlicensed immigration adviser as it may cause your application to be returned (Immigration New Zealand does not entertain unlicensed advisers), false information on your application and put you on a criminal offense for dishonesty on your application.

Any adviser who refuse to stamp their name on your application or lets you you sign an application without filling it out first should be avoided.

What is a skilled migrant and how do I apply for permanent residency?

If you want to permanently live in New Zealand , you have three options to choose from and your visa application will depend on the type of occupation or skills you have.
OPTION 1: Skilled Migrant Category
Under the Skilled Migrant Category, you are eligible for residency if:

You are under the age of 55 years old
You have strong, healthy physical appearance
You have a good moral character and you can speak English

The points system implemented, will determine whether you are eligible to apply and their basis for the points system includes your qualifications, age, experience and employability. Earning enough points will make you eligible to fill out the Expression of Interest, mostly about your personal information, skills, experience and information about your family.

OPTION 2: Work to Residence
Under the Work to Residence option, you are eligible if:

You have an occupation that is very in demand in New Zealand .
You have been recruited or hired by a legitimate employer from the country.
You are a professional athlete or an exceptional artist.

OPTION 3: Residence from Work

Under the Residence from Work, a person who is already in New Zealand is eligible to apply for a temporary work in order to eventually gain residency through the Work to Residence option (OPTION 2).
Once your Expression of Interest is accepted, the immigration will send you and invitation to apply and all you have to do is to complete it and send it back along with your supporting documents. Lodging of Expression of Interest or (EoI) can be done online or through the paper-based EoI form. An EoI lodged online is cheaper than manually submitting your EoI because of its minimal requirement for less processing. Online EoI submission costs around NZ$510 and manual submission is higher amounting to NZ$ 650.

Do I need to have a job offer in order to acquire the Working Holiday Scheme Visa?

No. You do not need to have a job or job offers in order to get the working holiday scheme visa. Work will be available once you get to New Zealand . However, if you choose not to work, make sure that you can finance the whole duration of your stay in the country. If you choose to work, most establishments offer minimum wage and having two or more jobs is a legal thing to do, as long as you are physically fit to complete them.
You may need to show your possible employer a legitimate work visa in order for you to get accepted. Avoid giving fake documents as employers can check online through the online Visa view service, whether you are legal or not. In the event that your country is not eligible for another working holiday scheme, you may still apply for a different type of visa that will still allow you to work in New Zealand . Once you arrive in New Zealand , under the working holiday scheme, you can start looking for a job to help you finance your stay there.
Take note that employers may need you to have your own New Zealand bank account and an IRD number for proper tax filing, if you have secured a bank account before you arrived, this may not be a problem to you, but for others who haven’t opened their accounts yet, it may be the cause of delay on work application or if you have started working, remittance of salary and wages.

How much money do I need to show the immigration?

The reason why the immigration requires you to have a certain amount of money is to make sure you will be able to finance your stay in New Zealand . Depending on your nationality, the amount required may differ, however, the normal show money you have to put up should not be less than NZ$350 a month or NZ$4200 for 12 months. The computation is based on the standard living in New Zealand , but you may need more depending on your lifestyle once you get there.
The immigration may require you to have more depending on your declared activities once you get there. New Zealand ’s immigration may also require you to have your own medical and comprehensive hospitalization insurance once you get there, again, it depends on what your country is. Under the Working Holiday Scheme Visa, it also means you have multiple entry within the validity of the visa and you can leave and come back to New Zealand within the allotted time without having to apply again. Be Remember, the time you spend outside New Zealand cannot be added to your current visa time in the country and you may still need to leave on the original specified schedule.
Once you have proved to the immigration that you can finance your stay in New Zealand , jobs under the working holiday visa will be able to help you earn more as soon as you get there. If you are flexible and open for different options, job hunting will not be so hard for you.

What jobs are available for the Working Holiday Visa?

New Zealand ’s Working Holiday Visa is formulated to allow you to earn while spending your vacation in the country. Under this type of visa, you can choose to work in different areas of New Zealand and still have the option to change location on the next season of your stay. While most visitors have specific jobs in their mind, it is advisable to be flexible and ready for any type of work, especially if you are in dire need of financial stability.
Jobs available under the Working Holiday Visa:

Agriculture and tourism cover most of New Zealand ’s economy so you can expect the massive need for farm helpers. If you follow through their season and still in the area during the harvest season, thinning and fruit picking will get you through the summer. Expect to bathe under the summer heat as most farming jobs require you to work under the sun for most of the day.
Hotels and Restaurants offer several works such as waiters/waitresses, porters, chambermaids and valet. Restaurants often look for busboys and kitchen staffs that are willing to work long hours.
Ski Resorts and Shop Retails are often in need of staff to cater the arrival of other tourists. Some shops are even located inside the airport and malls that visitors find it easy to inquire if they are looking for work once they arrive.
Career Related Jobs such as IT, marketing, public relations and accountancy are mostly found in the business centers of New Zealand and very seldom in the regional areas. They are mostly long term; however, if you are keen enough to search more, you will find something that allows you to work temporarily.

Do I need a New Zealand bank account in order to work?

A New Zealand bank account for Working Holiday Visa is important in order for you to work stress free in the country. Most employers require you to have a New Zealand bank account where they can deposit your salaries and wages. To open an account, you must prove that you are a resident of the country as some banks are hesitant to open accounts for visitors who are staying for a short period of time. It is advisable that you explain to them how you intend to stay for at least a year and that you have a valid visa to support it.
Another advantage of opening an account is the benefit of having access to electronic fund transfers at point of sale (EFTPOS) and a cash card at the same time.

Tax refunds also automatically deposited on your New Zealand bank account. To open a new account, you can do this online before you leave for New Zealand . It is also important to coordinate with your local bank so they can properly endorse you to their foreign correspondent. New Zealand has several banks that are willing to accommodate and offer you their services, pick your choice and talk to them about your reason for opening an account.

Tips on how to choose a bank:

Choose a bank that allows you to open an account at least three months before you arrive in New Zealand
Make sure that you have an online access to your account wherever you are in the world. Fund transfer should also be available to make banking easier for you.
Choose a bank that offers very minimal fees
Most of all, choose one that allows unlimited electronic transactions for easy access and security.

Do I need to apply for a TAX number from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD)?
In New Zealand , anyone who receives an income, registering for a loan, applies for a child support or just starting a business, you are required to have an IRD number. In case you haven’t acquired one and you have already started earning an income, your tax will be much higher than those that already have an IRD number. If you are a visitor, you still need to apply for a Tax number if you are in New Zealand holding a visa with work rights. If you also intend to work as soon as you arrive in the country, it is advisable to apply for an IRD number.
An IRD number, like any other country that issues one, is a unique identification number given to you for several purposes, especially for your tax identification. For non residents and visitors, you can also visit the IRD website wherein double tax agreements are discussed to see whether which country you are held taxable. Your IRD number should be made available to your accountant, employer, Inland Revenue and your bank.
When applying for an IRD number, carefully fill out the form (IR595) given to you and wait for at least 8-10 days from date of application to receive your IRD number. If you are a parent, you can also apply for an IRD number for your children provided that their birth registration is properly filed. In case a newborn has not been registered, wait for the registration and acquire a copy of the birth certificate before applying for an IRD number.

How long will my New Zealand visa take to process?

The processing time for a New Zealand visa can take up to two weeks, depending on the requirements given to you. Some aspects that can delay the process include:
​An incomplete application
The time the immigration will finally check your documents
Verification process, where the immigration will confirm the details and information you have given them for authenticity
Your response time to other inquiries asked from you

Keep in mind that it takes longer for work visa and residence application to be processed because of the complexity of document verification. In some cases, even after all the needed documents have been submitted, the immigration may still need further information from you which adds to the processing time. If you wish to track the progress of your application, you can log in to your service account online and check your status under “What’s Happening” section. For those who applied on paper form, you may need to enter some details that will enable you to track your application online. Those who lodged their application through paper form will have to set up an account on the specified website to receive updates from the immigration.
Immigration forms are accessible on their website. Visit the forms and guides section to know more about how to apply for a visa. These forms can all be downloaded in PDF format, make sure you have the software installed on your device and once you are handed a form, complete all the details or else it will be returned to you unprocessed.

What do I need to do to extend my Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand ?
Under the Working Holiday Visa, it is impossible for you to extend your stay in New Zealand . However, there are certain criteria that may enable you to do so, provided you meet all of them. If you meet all of the following provisions, you can extend your Working Holiday Visa if:
You are a UK citizen on a working holiday in New Zealand and your current visa was issued on or after November 28, 2005.​
The Working Holiday Visa currently issued to you is valid for 12 months only and you are currently in New Zealand .
You are at least 18 years old and not more than 30.

Take note that even if you meet all the criteria, a maximum of 11 months can only be granted for your petition to extend your stay in New Zealand .

The only other option for you is the Seasonal Work Extension wherein you have to prove to them that you have worked for three months in the regional areas of New Zealand then you can try and apply for the Working Holiday-maker Extension Visa. If you are a successful applicant, you will be granted another 3 months from the expiry of your current visa. Please be reminded that the conditions on your previous visa will be the same as the new one including your travel state.
An application for a Working Holiday-maker Visa extension cannot be lodged online, you will need to send your application to the nearest New Zealand Immigration Bureau.

Is it possible to apply for a Working Holiday Visa if I’m already in New Zealand ?

Yes, it is possible for you to apply for a working holiday visa if you are already in New Zealand . Medical testing may be asked from you such as chest x-ray and medical examination as soon as the immigration receives your application. The processing time for your visa could take up to four weeks this is why it is important to plan and decide ahead of time in order to avoid delays.