If there is one thing in my life that I will never ever look back on in regret, that is my year spent living in New Zealand on a working holiday visa.
I fantasised about this land of mountains, turquoise lakes and smouldering volcanoes ever since 2001, the year that The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring hit the big screen. I’ve had a travel love affair with Scotland ever since my first visit to the Isle of Arran with my parents when I was 10. With New Zealand often referred to as ‘Scotland on steroids’ these isolated islands became my Shangri-la.
Over the following 17 years of studying, working in London, and holidaying in places closer to home, I never gave up on my dream to visit the long white cloud. Eventually, extremely belatedly, early in 2018 and a few months shy of my 30th birthday, I finally applied for my New Zealand working holiday visa.
Once approved, I celebrated by further delaying things and went backpacking around Southeast Asia for eight months.
Finally, I placed my own feet on Middle Earth soil (well, the tarmac came first) on a blustery October morning.
A whole bunch of questions flew through my mind at the time I applied for my New Zealand working holiday visa. Many other things didn’t cross my mind that I later wished had. So, in case you’re fancying jacking in your ‘Proper Job’ or dropping out of university to do something far more interesting, here is everything you need to know about your New Zealand working holiday visa.
Table of Contents
What is the
New Zealand working holiday visa?
Home is behind, the world ahead,
and there are many paths to tread
through shadows to the edge of night,
until the stars are all alight – Pippin
A New Zealand working holiday visa is a permit that grants you the right to work legally in New Zealand as a non-resident.
The emphasis is on the ‘holiday’ aspect. What the folks at New Zealand Immigration want you to do is tour the country and pump your hard-earned Kiwi dollars around the islands. And trust me, once you catch your first sight of this remote nation that’s exactly what you’ll want to do too.
Most of the work associated with the New Zealand working holiday visa is casual. Not casual as in you can saunter in and out of the office (or paddock) as and when you please. Oh, your new Kiwi boss is going to make you earn those dollars.
Casual as in, you might only sign a contract for a few weeks at a time. Other employers will want you to commit to a whole season, such as summer or the ski season.
The types of jobs available for backpackers on the working holiday visa are those that the country has a high demand for. That’s agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, hospitality, and leisure, among others. Proper get-your-hands-dirty, your boots muddy and your cheeks ruddy kinds of jobs.
If you have your eyes on a specific professional background, you might not find those types of work opportunities available. However, you might be in a position to apply for an alternative work visa if your skill is beneficial to New Zealand. There is more information about the different types of work visas in New Zealand on the Immigration website.
COVID-19 UPDATE:
After the outbreak of COVID-19, applications for New Zealand working holiday visas were closed. On 14 March 2022, applications resumed for residents of select countries – including the United Kingdom.
Applications for other countries will roll out over time. Keep an eye on updates from New Zealand Immigration.
Meanwhile, this blog can help you to plan your own WHV in New Zealand.
Planning your New Zealand working holiday visa
Oh, it’s quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open – Gandalf
If you are wondering about the specifics of the New Zealand working holiday visa, this is what you need to know before you apply!
Who is eligible for the New Zealand working holiday visa?
At the time of writing, 45 countries are eligible for the scheme. You can check if you are eligible on the New Zealand Immigration website. In most instances, you need to be aged between 18 and 30.
This means you can apply within your 30th year as long as is before the day you turn 31. This is what I did, and I arrived in the country closer to my 31st birthday.
A handful of countries let you apply up until you are 35. Those countries are Argentina, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Uruguay.
How long is a New Zealand working holiday visa?
There are two visas; one is 12 months and the other is 23 months.
You can only apply for a 23-month visa if you are from the UK or Canada. Everyone else can apply for 12 months.
If you’re a Brit or Canadian and take the 23-month option, you can only work for 12 of those 23 months in total. You’ll also need to show a General Medical Certificate as part of the application process.
TIP:
Brits and Canadians: although you can’t legally work for 11 of those 23 months, you can still undertake volunteer work in New Zealand.
OR you can see about finding yourself a Kiwi who will marry you so you can stay forever and ever…
What are the requirements for a
New Zealand working holiday visa?
One does not simply walk into Mordor – Boromir
Nor the security gates at Auckland International. The following requirements are mandatory for all hobbits, elves and backpackers regardless of your nationality.
- You will need to have access to NZ$4,200 to get started on your new life in New Zealand. It didn’t happen to me, but immigration sometimes asks for proof of these funds on arrival. You should have a bank statement to hand.
- Technically you are supposed to have an outward flight booked. Alternatively, you can show evidence that you have access to further funds on top of the NZ$4,200. Again, immigration may well ask for proof so it’s best to have all this in order just in case.
- You must be moving to New Zealand with the main intention being to travel, not work or seek permanent employment. All that means is don’t tell Immigration that you’re there for Jacinda Ardhern or Lou Sanson’s jobs.
- You cannot bring any dependent children with you.
- A bit obvious but you will need a valid passport.
Everyone is entitled to only one New Zealand working holiday visa. So you can’t complete your year in New Zealand then apply for a second one later down the line.
TIP:
Because you receive a 12-month grace period to plan your move to New Zealand, I’d recommend using that time well. New Zealand is an expensive place to live in and it’s ideal to save up some cash before you arrive.
That NZ$4,200 you’re required to bring works out at NZ$350 per month. Which is nothing! You need to double that amount to live even a frugal lifestyle in New Zealand.
When does the visa start?
From the date that the visa is granted, you have 12 months to arrive in New Zealand and activate it. Which is great, because that gives you time to gather that hefty NZ$4,200 together.
If the 12 months pass and you do not arrive it becomes invalid.
If you want to postpone your arrival date, you’ll need to contact New Zealand Immigration and sweet-talk them over the phone.
Honestly, I’m not sure whether this is even possible but it’s worth a try if you have extenuating circumstances. All I know is that I wasn’t able to postpone the start date of my Australia working holiday visa.
When should I apply for my New Zealand working holiday visa?
You should consider when you want to move to New Zealand and apply accordingly. As a time estimate, New Zealand Immigration advises a 14-day turnaround for each visa application. But it may be processed more quickly or take a little longer.
Some countries do have a limited number of visas per year. For example, there are unlimited visas for UK citizens, but only 100 per year for Peruvians. So you should check the terms as per your own nationality and find out if there is an ideal time to apply to optimise your chances.
It’s best to apply for your New Zealand working holiday visa while in your home country. Apparently, if you apply while overseas the process is slower and you’re more likely to be asked to complete a medical check-up.
How much does a working holiday visa cost?
In most cases, the 12-month New Zealand working holiday visa costs NZ$190.
Again, it might vary per country do please don’t heckle me if I get that wrong.
How do I apply for my working holiday visa?
You can apply for your New Zealand working holiday visa online via the New Zealand Immigration website. The application is quick and easy.
Most applicants hear back within one week – the website will give you guidance on how long the process should take at the time you apply.
Can I extend my visa?
If you complete three months of agricultural, viticultural or horticultural labour, you can pay to extend your visa for an additional three months.
Visa approved! now what?
The board is set, the pieces are moving. We come to it at last, the great battle of our time – Gandalf
Once you’ve got confirmation of your New Zealand working holiday visa – hooray! You can reread The Lord of the Rings, pack your best gum boots and start planning how you’ll spend your cash.
When is the best time to move to New Zealand?
This will really depend on your personal preferences. New Zealand has four distinct seasons. A warm spring (Sept-Nov), baking hot summer, (Dec-Feb), brisk autumn, (Mar-May) and near-freezing winter (Jun-Aug).
I loved every season, but I was grateful not to have arrived in the middle of winter.
In summary:
- Spring is the best time to arrive if you intend to buy and live in a van. You will benefit from the weather warming up rather than getting frostier. This is also best if you want to bag a long-term job that will take you through summer – such as tour guiding or working at an outdoor activities place.
- While it’s nothing compared to the crowds you see elsewhere, the New Zealand summer is very busy. Accommodation – including campgrounds – are brimming at the seams during summer so you’ll need to consider pre-booking where to stay, which blows if you like to live off the cuff. I wouldn’t recommend moving to New Zealand during summer if you’re planning to start work immediately; while not impossible, jobs are harder to find.
- Autumn is the best time to activate your New Zealand working holiday visa if you plan to work at a ski field. You can apply online in advance but you will need to be in the country by late March for in-person interviews. There are also lots of harvest jobs going and it’s a really nice time to travel with lovely weather and fewer crowds.
- Winter is a tricky time to arrive as most of the seasonal jobs are taken and a lot of the tramping trails are closed due to snow. However, as with summer, there are always jobs to be found and New Zealand in the snow is a wonder to behold!
TIP:
Essentially, I recommend starting your New Zealand working holiday visa in either of the shoulder seasons.
This way you will have more job opportunities available to you while benefiting from the most amiable weather.
Where should I start my New Zealand working holiday visa?
Again, this really depends on you – do you want to be in a city or the backcountry? Are you planning on finding work right away or do you want to travel first?
You should consider the following pointers:
- The easiest (or cheapest) place to fly to from your departure country. Auckland usually has the cheapest flights, followed by the other major cities such as Christchurch and Wellington.
- The weather: the further south you go – the colder it gets.
- What type of job you want to do – Auckland is generally better for office jobs, Wellington is artsier, and Christchurch is well-placed for farmwork in Canterbury. Queenstown and Taupo are your adventure hotspots while Dunedin is the realm of Kiwi students.
- How far off-grid you want to go. Rakiura/Stewart Island is a totally different vibe to Mount Maunganui or Raglan or Arrowtown.
- Whether or not you will buy a car or campervan. You will find a wider choice of backpacker cars for sale in these the major cities mentioned above. Of course, you can buy cars from all over the country, but choices are more limited.
Wherever you start, you will need to stick around for around 2 weeks while you open your Kiwi bank account and get your IRD number from Inland Revenue.
Do I need travel insurance for New Zealand?
You do – travel insurance is mandatory for all New Zealand working holiday visa candidates. I was never asked to show it, even when I was employed as a farm labourer or whenever I visited the doctor. When I had an allergic reaction and my head doubled in size, I was extremely grateful that my insurers reimbursed me for my trip to the Urgent Care Clinic and covered the cost of my steroids to shrink it back to a normal sized head.
Something great about New Zealand is that the country has the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) scheme, This is compulsory insurance cover for personal injury for absolutely everyone in New Zealand, whether you’re a citizen, resident or tourist. And it does apply to those on the New Zealand working holiday visa.
I used it myself when I had (another) accident (this time a trip and a tumble down a mountain) and it was very straight forward. All I had to cover was the doctor consultation fee (NZ$30) and the prescription drugs. The clinic handled the claim paperwork itself.
TIP:
If you’re a British or European national, I recommend True Traveller insurance. No, I’m not an affiliate. But, I do use them personally and they had my back when I needed surgery in Georgia this year.
True Traveller are a little more affordable than World Nomads but are also designed for long-term travellers and digital nomads.
Insure and Go covered my allergic reaction plus a few other cuts and scrapes while in New Zealand and I can also vouch for them but you cannot renew their policies while out of your home country.
Part II: Once in New Zealand
For the time will soon come when Hobbits (or should we say, backpackers?) will shape the fortunes of all – Galadriel
Welcome to New Zealand!
Now you’re here, you have a to-do list to crawl your way through before you can start climbing mountains and chucking yourself off bungee platforms.
Open a New Zealand bank account
In order to get paid while living in New Zealand, you must have a Kiwi bank account. No employer will pay you in cash, it’s not that kind of place. Nor will anyone pay into overseas bank accounts.
It’s extremely easy to open a bank account in New Zealand, the banks are used to our vagabond kind passing through. You will need to provide a physical address, which can be your landing hostel. Most hostels are cool with travellers using their address in order to open a bank account but do check first.
The best banks for working holiday visa holders are ANZ, BNZ, Kiwi Bank, ASB and Westpac. I researched all the different options and went with ANZ in the end, who I never had a single problem with. Opening and closing the account was seamless. They only charge an annual fee of NZ$10 and cash withdrawals are free when you use an ANZ cashpoint – I was able to find ATMs all over the country. Plus, their app is extremely user-friendly.
Once you have your bank account open, you can transfer your money over using a service such as TransferWise. I’ve used them on several occasions now and find them reliable. You are welcome to use my TransferWise referral code if you’d like to save paying whopping transfer fees elsewhere.
Apply for an IRD number
In order to seek employment in New Zealand, you need an IRD number for tax purposes. You can apply online or do this at your nearest New Zealand Post branch. Don’t forget to do it before you apply for a job otherwise you risk being overlooked.
If you go in person, you’ll need proof of your address in New Zealand; I used a letter provided by ANZ bank. I went into my nearest New Zealand Post branch and it was very easy to arrange. The cashier provided me with the form and helped me complete it. Less than a week later my number was delivered by text, email and post. Efficient, ey.
At the same time, you can visit the IRD website and register for your online MyIR account. You’ll need this later when you claim your tax rebate. Say what now?
As New Zealand working holiday visa holders, we are taxed 10 per cent of our earnings. But once the tax year concludes, we get a small fraction of this back. Inland Revenue takes care of this automatically but you need to log into your MyIR account to confirm your bank details. Even more efficient!
Get a SIM card
A SIM card is essential for New Zealand working holiday visa holders. Wi-Fi isn’t really a thing in New Zealand yet.
There are four major mobile providers in New Zealand. Browse the packages and choose the prepaid SIM that suits you best. Essentially they all offer some really cheap barebones deals that will do the trick for the average traveller.
But if you consume a lot of data you’ll probably want to weigh up your options across the four.
- Spark – I picked Spark which I never had any issues with them. I usually spent NZ$19 per 4 weeks, which gave me 1.25GB of data and unlimited texts. I also took advantage of the half-price Spotify Premium which I considered essential for those long, lonely drives out of coverage.
- Skinny – apparently these guys have the cheapest packages. Their version of what I had with Spark is NZ$16. No Spotify, mind you!
- Vodafone – you can get the same deal with Vodafone that I had with Spark for NZ$19, bar the Spotify offer.
- 2degrees – yet again, NZ$19 for 1.25GB. New Zealanders clearly aren’t out to undercut anyone!
TIP:
Hostels in New Zealand do not always include Wi-Fi in the rate. Often they give you a short allowance per day/stay and you need to pay extra for more. More often than not, there is no free Wi-Fi. When you do get your weary paws on some megabytes, they’re often v-e-r-y v–e–r–y slow. So that SIM card could come in useful.
Finding a job with your New Zealand working holiday visa
Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere – Elrond
Some travellers choose to jump straight into employment in New Zealand. Others like to cruise the island(s) to begin with. If you have enough cash saved up, this is a great idea. You might stumble upon a small town that you’d like to settle in for a few months.
I’ve written I’m in the process of writing a whole post of advice about finding a job in New Zealand. But, in summary, these are my takeaways of wisdom:
- Online Part I: You can register with recruitment agencies online before you arrive in the country with your New Zealand. Simply Google your city and… you know what, I’m sure if you found this blog post – you know how to yield some search engine power.
- Online Part II: While you’re surfing, you’ll also want to check out Ye Holy Bible of New Zealand working holiday visa peeps; BackpackerBoard.nz. There are lots of job listings on here across all types of industry. Another useful website to seek out work is Trade Me – the New Zealand equivalent of Gumtree. I found several jobs using both of these websites.
- In-person: Go retro and print off some CVs and deliver them to local businesses in whatever town you’ve got your eyes on. This is how I got my job working as bartender.
- Via your Hostel: Check out your hostel noticeboard and ask the team for any tips!
- Use Facebook: Run a search for ‘jobs’ in your current city or town and join whatever groups come up. This is how I found a couple of jobs in New Zealand, including being a live model, deliverer of leaflets, and even how I signed up as a Coastguard New Zealand volunteer.
TIP:
I adore Kiwis (fluffy ones and less-fluffy ones alike) and generally had a positive experience overall working alongside them.
However, as with Australia, there is some chat from backpackers about employers who exploit their New Zealand working holiday visa crew.
If you are ever in a situation where your employer acts unfairly or withholds your pay, do seek some advice. Talk to another manager or chat with the staff at your hostel about the circumstances.
What is the New Zealand working holiday visa wage?
Most of the jobs that are available to New Zealand working holiday visa holders will pay minimum wage.
The minimum wage is NZ$20 per hour as of 1 April 2021. From this, a tax of 10 per cent is deducted.
So if you work the standard 40-hour week, you will take home around NZ$800 per week before tax – NZ$720 after tax.
When you work in certain industries typical of the New Zealand working holiday visa (like agriculture, horticulture and viticulture) your hours are generally subject to the weather. So this can fluctuate a lot.
Can you save money working in New Zealand?
This is going to boil down to what you want to get out of your year in New Zealand. On the New Zealand working holiday visa the likelihood is that you will earn the minimum wage. The New Zealand working holiday visa experience is very different to the Australian equivalent where the potential to save money.
If you stay in one place, work full-time, live frugally and travel only sporadically then you could save a lot of money in that year.
But, if you want to see a lot of the country, work less and splurge on some tours like cruising in Milford Sound, scuba diving in the Far North and going heli-hiking on a glacier to name but a few, you’ll probably not be able to save.
Personally, I moved to New Zealand with the intention that anything I earned off the back of my New Zealand working holiday visa I’d invest straight into exploring. Oh, and buying food other than packet noodles and canned tuna. While I wasn’t generally excessive in what I spent and I did find that everything I earned in the country went into covering my essentials (food, boxes of red wine, petrol and car insurance) and budget-friendly travel.
Because my car was on its last legs, I only managed to sell it for NZ$600… after buying it for NZ$3,800 and then furnishing it myself and covering numerous repair costs along the way as chunks of it fell off.
So I actually left New Zealand with very little cash and sky-high money anxiety. But like I said at the beginning of this remarkably long post, I didn’t move there with the intention to make money and I don’t regret a thing about my New Zealand working holiday visa experience.
Buying a vehicle in New Zealand
If you’re spending a year in New Zealand on your working holiday visa then having your own pair of wheels is such a worthwhile investment. Backpacker cars sell for a cocktail of prices: anywhere from a perfectly reasonable NZ$1,500 to upwards of an extremely unreasonable NZ$15,000.
Before you move to New Zealand, find out whether you require an International Driver’s Permit from your country. If you’re from the UK, you don’t need one for the first 12 months of your stay. After a year is up, you will need to convert to a New Zealand driving licence.
TIP:
Nervous about driving in New Zealand?
After having zero driving experience – bar my official driving lessons nine years prior to moving to New Zealand – I was too. Fortunately, New Zealand roads are in good condition (generally speaking) and they’re really quiet once you’re out of the cities.
But I would recommend you take a refresher lesson if you are very nervous. I intended to do this but I was lucky enough to have some help from a friend who bravely strapped herself into the passenger seat to impart all her motoring wisdom.
And while car insurance isn’t mandatory – I recommend all backpackers take some out. I paid NZ$60 per month for AA motorhome insurance and it saved me thousands of dollars when I f****d up a parking manoeuvre.
Final Thoughts
Many moons ago – back when you started reading this post – I said that my New Zealand working holiday visa is one of the things in my life that I will never regret. Well, I lied… it was a year of hell.
No, not really!
It truly was the best.
My time in New Zealand was some of the happiest months of my life. Everything from exploring those beautiful mountain ranges, clamping my feet onto a glacier, living in a camper van, and trying my hand at a variety of different jobs made me feel more alive in comparison to pretty much everything I’d done before.
In addition to making some truly special friends in New Zealand, I also met the love of my life there. Plus, I was fortunate to be visited by a few of my closest friends from my birth-home which meant a lot to me.
New Zealand is such a special place and I think it has a little something that will touch the heart of any traveller.
If you are considering applying for the visa but are hesitating then feel free to message me and I will try to share any more useful advice.
Also, if there are any topics that I haven’t covered in this article please leave a comment or message me and I will add them in.
Pin It For Later…
Wow what an informative post! Loved how much detail you included and all the pictures! I’ll be forwarding this onto my friend who is actually planning to move to NZ in the near future. Great post 😊
I’m happy that it’s helpful! I’m convinced I’ve missed something really major (!) so if your friend has any questions give me a shout and I’ll try to help 🙂
this is the most thorough post I’ve seen on how to get the NZ Work Visa. I just pinned & saved it so I can navigate the process when we can (finally!) freely travel again. thanks for all the amazing info.
Thanks so much, Shelley – I’m pleased it was helpful! It’s such a great place to explore, I hope you can make it there soon 🙂
Your guide is detailed, complete, clear and easy to follow. New Zealand looks like a nice place to work from and especially to visit. Thanks very much for the tips!
Thank you so much, Giorgia 🙂 New Zealand is definitely one of the most beautiful places to visit, and it’s a great experience to work there. I hope this helps if you go!
My husband worked a season in New Zealand and can’t stop talking about it -even though it was years ago! Sounds wonderful
It’s one of those places that is really hard to shake off – I’m hoping to go back again in the next few years. Glad your husband also had a great experience there 🙂
This is very helpful! As a British citizen, we can make use of the Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand and I’ve always wanted to utilise the opportunity 😍
It’s such a great experience Queenie, definitely check it out if you can -it’s such a special country 🙂
Hi Hannah,
Great blog with loads of useful information!
I wanted to ask what type of bank account you set up with ANZ ? im just having a look now and you can choose between a ‘Freedom’ ,’Go’ or ‘Select’ account and I wondered which one you chose plus hoe you chose it. Thank you 🙂
Hi Katie, I’m pleased that it’s helpful!
I had a “Go Online Account” as well as a separate instant savings account. I’m not familiar with the other types: I opened my bank account in-person at my closest ANZ branch once I arrived and I think the “Go” account was the standard option for those of us on the WHV as the cashier didn’t actually go through the other options. The Go account didn’t have any monthly fees (just an annual fee for the debit card of 10$NZ) and I managed it via the ANZ app so it was super easy to manage my cashflow, get paid, and transfer in and out of the instant savings account.
I’d check out whether the other two have any fees attached and whether they are managed via the app as well, so you can avoid having paper statements while you’re moving around.
Also, when I left NZ – I kept the Go account open for a few months and then closed it down via online banking when I was ready. I didn’t need to contact the bank over the phone or in writing which was really convenient; it’s probably best checking if the same applies to the Freedom and Select accounts.
Hope that helps, feel free to message with any other questions.
This is the best thing I’ve read about NZ visa and experience there. LOVED reading it, such a joy.
I’m pleased that you found this useful! If you have any questions about something I’ve missed, feel free to drop a question here.