COVID-19 Update: Since 10 August 2020, people outside of New Zealand have not been able to apply for temporary visas (student, visitor, and work visas) as Immigration New Zealand (INZ) have been unable to grant visas to people who are unlikely to meet New Zealand's entry requirements.
Due to New Zealand’s COVID-19 border restrictions, the Minister of Immigration decided to continue to defer opening New Zealand’s 31 capped Working Holiday Schemes (WHS) that were due to open between April 2020 and September 2020, and to defer opening all other capped WHSs due to open between October 2020 and March 2021 because of ongoing COVID-19 border restrictions.
However, as noted in New Zealand's recent re-opening announcement(external link), the WHS will re-open on a rolling basis - the staging and timing of individual schemes is yet to be confirmed(external link).
For further details on the WHS, please contact the INZ Call Centre at +64 9 914 4100. They are open from 08:00 to 22:00, Monday to Friday (NZ time).
If you have contacts in New Zealand, they can also contact INZ from within New Zealand and make inquiries on your behalf. The local free phone number (NZ landline only) is 0508 558 855.
United Kingdom citizens
United Kingdom citizens aged between 18 and 30 can apply for a 12 or 23-month Working Holiday Visa.
Read more about a Working Holiday Visa for New Zealand(external link).
To apply, you can submit an application online(external link).
Republic of Ireland citizens
Republic of Ireland citizens aged between 18 and 30 can apply for a 12 month Working Holiday Visa.
Read more about a Working Holiday Visa for New Zealand(external link).
To apply, you can submit an application online(external link).