Ultimate Guide to New Zealand Working Holiday Visa: Application, Costs, Health Insurance and More
If you're considering a working holiday visa for New Zealand, my best advice is to take the leap! The process may seem daunting, but I'll cover everything from applying for your visa to finding a job and getting paid. You'll be surprised at how straightforward it is to relocate and become a functioning member of New Zealand's society.
Working Holiday Visa Application
Eligibility:
Applying for a working holiday visa is generally straightforward, but your eligibility depends on your citizenship. Age requirements typically range from 18 to 35 years, allowing stays of six to 23 months. Check your eligibility under the List of countries with a working holiday visa agreement on the New Zealand Immigration website.
Eligible Countries (as of October 2023, subject to change):
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam
Cost:
Keep an eye on the visa application costs, which are currently around $400 but may fluctuate. I applied early 2023 and paid only $70. This may have been due to Covid or low quota. Prices can change, so monitor them if you have time.
The Process:
The visa process is extremely easy, much easier than any job or university application - no cover letters required! Input your personal information such as date of birth, place of residence, etc and then you wait approximately 30 days for approval. Once approved, you have a year from the approval date to enter New Zealand and use your visa. I recommend only applying if you plan to use your visa within the year from the date you apply.
Health Insurance:
While New Zealand offers free healthcare to citizens and permanent residents, you'll need to purchase health insurance as a working holiday visa holder. Consider local insurance options for good coverage, especially if you plan on participating in extreme sports. To add a bit of perspective, one year of New Zealand insurance with good coverage was almost half of what I was paying in the United States under a company health insurance policy.
Research:
I recommend joining groups such as Canadians in New Zealand (or your country) or Working Holiday Visa New Zealand 2024 on Facebook. These are expat communities and great resources where people often discuss items like the best insurance options, phone plans, and bank accounts.
Selecting your insurance:
There are a variety of digital nomad type insurances available, however, it can get quite pricey. I recommend getting travel insurance or digital nomad insurance to cover your big flights to/from New Zealand and a local insurer while in the country. Going with a local more reputable company in my opinion will guarantee better coverage and less paperwork for reimbursements.
When looking for insurance policies read the fine print! If you’re planning on bungee jumping, skiing, hiking or doing any extreme sport make sure your policy will cover those activities. A lot of digital nomad insurance policies do not cover these types of activities. For this reason I went with Southern Cross Visiting New Zealand Travel Insurance as it covered skiing and hiking up to a certain elevation.
Additional Health Exam Requirements (dependent on visa):
Visas over a year may require additional health checks including chest x-rays and medical exams. These will be done voluntarily and could cost upwards of $500 to obtain on top of your visa application fee. Check your country specifics to see if this may be a requirement for you as well.
Bank Account
Bank options:
Consider banks with no or minimal fees like ANZ or BNZ with numerous ATMs across the country. I personally banked with ANZ as there are no monthly or annual fees, but you can additionally apply for a bank account online and then verify your account at the branch in person. BNZ also has a similar option.
Requirements for setup
You will need your passport, overseas tax identification number (ex. Social security), visa and proof of New Zealand address, which is critical.
Proof of address:
You will need a formal letter stating your proof of address in New Zealand to apply for a bank account. I recommend staying at a hostel or location where many backpackers tend to visit as often they can provide you with a proof of address letter. I stayed at Lylo Auckland and was able to get one this way. I’d asking ahead when booking your temporary stay to ensure you can get proof of a New Zealand address or getting one from your landlord in advance. You can not open a bank account without a New Zealand proof of address.
Setting Up:
The more people I have talked to the easier time they had getting their bank accounts set up in Auckland. Auckland is just a much bigger city and has more resources than Queenstown. Additionally, many working holiday visa holders come through Auckland, so much so that bank locations have separate working holiday visa teams to support getting these accounts set up quickly and easily.
What to leave the bank with:
Personal Banking Number
Access to your online account
Proof of bank account including deposits and withdrawals, you will need this to apply for your IRD number to get paid!
IRD Number
To legally work and get paid you will need an IRD number. To apply online you will need your passport, NZ Visa application number, proof of bank account (including deposits and withdrawals), and your taxpayer’s identification number from your country of residence (ex. social security).
IRD Numbers typically take a few days to process. Some employers will let you start working without one (although frowned upon), but this could lead you to working without pay if your IRD is not approved. I’d try to get the paperwork going as soon as you enter the country so you can work and ensure you will get paid.
Money to bring
To show that you can meet the living cost requirement, which is a minimum of NZ $350 a month or NZ $4,200 for 12 months, you will have to have proof of these funds. Though you may not be asked to prove this upon arrival, have a bank or savings statement ready just in case.
Employment Conditions
Job Types:
On a working holiday visa, you can work but you can not accept permanent job offers. Essentially, you won’t get a full time corporate job on your working holiday visa. Job options may be limited to seasonal or fixed-term roles, but they can be financially rewarding and great fun! I spent a month kiwi picking and it was great money and comparable to my corporate salary.
Finding work:
Explore the following resources to find temporary or fixed-term jobs:
Backpacker Board: backpacker type jobs along with work for accommodation
PickNZ: Produce picking jobs across New Zealand, it can be good money!
Conservation Jobs New Zealand: Facebook job board in conservation across NZ
Seek.co.nz: New Zealand’s main job search engine
Enjoy Your Time:
Your visa duration will fly by, so take the opportunity to immerse yourself in New Zealand’s culture, explore, and enjoy your working holiday to the fullest.
