Now, who hasn’t dreamed of quitting their desk job, packing all their belongings and jetting off to foreign lands? Well that dream can quickly become reality for those wanting to work and travel in the land of the long white cloud. A working holiday in New Zealand is possible for residents of lots of countries around the world, with a visa allowing you to work and explore this epic land.
The quick answer: you can go on a working holiday in New Zealand if you’re a citizen of a country with a working holiday scheme, usually aged 18 to 30 (18 to 35 for some nationalities, including the UK and Canada). Most visas last 12 months, while UK citizens can choose 12, 23 or 36 months. The visa costs from NZ$770 for UK applicants (it varies by country), and you’ll need proof of funds, an onward ticket or the money to buy one, and insurance for your whole stay (checked October 2026, Immigration NZ).
New Zealand is small, diverse and home to more sheep than people. FACT!
It’s easy to make your way around both islands and finding a job during your backpacking adventure shouldn’t be too tricky as there are plenty of options. Requirements and application costs do vary depending on your home country, so it’s always best to check the Immigration NZ website before packing your bags.
So, if you’re ready to get your fellowship on, then follow this simple guide to a working holiday in New Zealand.
📍 Castle Point Lighthouse, North Island
What is a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa?
A New Zealand Working Holiday Visa lets you work to pay for your travels around the country. Most visas last 12 months; Canadian citizens can stay up to 23 months, and UK citizens can choose a 12, 23 or 36-month visa under the UK scheme. Some nationalities can also get a one-off extension if they do 3 months of seasonal horticulture or viticulture work (more on that below). Immigration NZ is the best place to start: enter your details (age, nationality and so on) and it shows your options. Processing times vary by country and season, so check the current times on the INZ website before you book flights.
The visa is available for citizens of Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, 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, USA, Uruguay and Vietnam. Some schemes have a yearly cap on places and open on set dates, so check your country’s scheme on INZ early.
What are the New Zealand Working Holiday Visa requirements?
- You must be aged 18 to 30, or 18 to 35 if you’re from the UK, Canada or a few other countries – check your country’s scheme on Immigration NZ
- You must have a valid passport
- You can’t bring any children or a partner with you
- You must be in good health
- You must have sufficient funds – that’s right, New Zealand would like to see that you have sufficient funds of NZ $350 for each month of your stay (or NZ$4200 altogether) in your bank to sustain your trip, plus a ticket out of the country or the funds to book one later.
- You must have medical and comprehensive travel insurance for your whole stay in New Zealand – it’s a condition of the visa.
But what if I’m over 30?
Don’t you worry. Once your visa is approved you have 12 months to enter New Zealand, so if you apply just before you turn 31 you can still go. Many nationalities, including UK and Canadian citizens, can now apply up to the age of 35. If you’re older than your scheme allows, working holiday specialists like Jenza (formerly BUNAC) can talk you through your options.
How much does a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa cost?
The visa fee depends on your nationality. For UK citizens it starts from NZ$770, and most applicants also pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZ$100 with their application (checked October 2026, IVL). The UK scheme asks you to show NZ$350 for each month of your stay; most other schemes ask for a lump sum, usually NZ$4,200. Around NZ$5,000 would be ideal to bring along, as you’ll need to cover living costs while you find a job. Because you’ll have a visa, you don’t need a separate NZeTA.
Giving yourself enough cash to explore and get set up in New Zealand takes away any money-related stress when first arriving. A copy of your bank statement is sufficient evidence of your available funds for your application.
📍 Milford Sound, South Island
How long does it take to get a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa?
Processing times vary a lot by country and time of year, so check the current times on the INZ website and apply well before you plan to fly. You must enter the country within 12 months of the visa being approved.
Most working holiday visas are valid for 12 months. If you’re from the UK, you can choose a 12, 23 or 36-month visa when you apply, and Canadians can stay up to 23 months, so pick the length that fits your plans from the start.
On a Working Holiday Visa, you can’t:
- Get a permanent job
- Work illegally
- Stay longer than your visa allows
When working in New Zealand you’ll need to pay tax, so you’ll need a NZ bank account and an IRD number (like a UK national insurance number), which you apply for online. Make this a priority when you arrive!
Can you extend a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa?
For most nationalities (but not UK or Canadian citizens, who can get longer visas from the start), the Working Holiday Extension Work Visa gives you a one-off 3-month extension if you’ve done at least 3 months of seasonal work in horticulture or viticulture (picking fruit, pruning vines and so on). You don’t need a job offer, but you must apply before your current visa expires. The fee is from NZ$700, plus the NZ$100 IVL (checked October 2026). After this you’ll have to go home, unless you’re eligible for a different type of visa.
If you fall in love (like many do) with Kiwi life, you do have options to stay. If you get a legendary job and a good boss, then a work visa is your next step. You can work for up to a year for the same company. If you choose to quit your job, you will have to get sponsored by another company or leave the country.
You could even potentially become a resident of New Zealand. If you have a trade under your belt such as builder, chef, hairdresser etc. then you may find yourself on the skills shortage list, which means New Zealand needs you! You can apply for residency, work the point system, save up, get a good agent and apply. Agents such as New Zealand Shores will provide you with all the help and support you need during the process.
📍 Picturesque view featuring Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook and Lupines Fields on the South Island
What types of jobs can you get with a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa?
- Horticulture – fruit picking
- Farm work
- Retail
- Working in a hostel
- Bar work/hospitality
Finding a job as a backpacker is fairly easy. With so much tourism in New Zealand, businesses are always looking for workers, from café work to bartending, labouring and retail. The adult minimum wage is NZ$23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026 (MBIE), and skilled or trade jobs pay more. Big tourism towns like Queenstown, Wellington and Auckland rely on backpackers to fill roles in all parts of tourism. You could be working for one of the many campervan companies or making coffees for the masses as you lap up the surroundings.
People on the Working Holiday Visa tend to get a job in horticulture or farm work (depending on the country you’re from, doing this for 3 months could get your visa extended!). Working in retail, hospitality or for a hostel is often popular work too.
If you’re taking up the popular working holiday job of picking fruit, you might be paid per hour or per bin filled. Piece rates must still work out at least at the minimum wage for the hours you work.
- Minimum wage: NZ$23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026
- Tax: most working holidaymakers use the M tax code – give your employer your IRD number so you aren’t taxed at the much higher no-notification rate
📍 Franz Josef Glacier, South Island
How to find a job for your Working Holiday
You don’t need to have a job to apply for this visa, and it is often easiest to find a job after you arrive. If you’re arriving in one of the cities, print out lots of copies of your CV/resume and give it to local bars, pubs, restaurants, shops and hostels.
Keep checking websites like Indeed. Many hostels also have job noticeboards for people on working holiday visas. For fruit picking and harvest work, the government-backed Seasonal Work NZ site lists jobs around the country, and NZ Pocket Guide has regular job listings for working holidaymakers. Facebook groups like Brits in New Zealand are great for job leads and for adjusting to Kiwi life with others in the same situation.
📍 Cardrona Mountain Ski Resort, South Island
Where to stay on a Working Holiday in New Zealand
Hostels are the best starting point for when you first arrive in New Zealand. You can ask about jobs in the area (or even at the hostel) and always meet other travellers on the Working Holiday Visa.
Explore our hostels in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington to find the right fit.
Jailhouse Accommodation in Christchurch is in a great location near the arts district, with a large kitchen that’s key for saving money. Ask the staff about jobs, or head into the city to explore.
If you need a bit more space to adjust to your new location, check in to The Marion in Wellington, where comfy, spacious dorms await. Their café is a great place to spend the day with your laptop and job hunt on the web. One Hostelworld guest who stayed in Wellington said the city has “a really lively, creative feel”.
Some farm, horticulture, and hospitality jobs might actually provide accommodation, but if they don’t, look at websites like nzflatmates and Trademe to find some legendary flatmates and a fun place to live.
📍 Bay of Islands, North Island
How to get a tax refund from your working holiday in New Zealand
The boring (but important) stuff. When you get home, you’re gonna want that extra cash that was ripped away from you when you paid tax in New Zealand. The good news is that you can get it back. Woo-hoo!
New Zealand’s tax year runs from 1st April to 31st March, and you’ll be able to apply for the tax refund after the 31st of March if you worked in New Zealand during that period.
To get this extra cha-ching back, you’ll need your final payslip or a summary of earnings. You can choose an external company to do your tax refund for you. This takes away the stress but will cost you. Otherwise, you can do it yourself through the Inland Revenue Department.
📍 White’s Beach, Auckland 📸:@kylemyburgh
The smart stuff: essential things to know before going on a Working Holiday in New Zealand
Here are a few things to think about before you leave the motherland and arrive safely in New Zealand:
- Pack for the climates
New Zealand experiences all four seasons. In summer it’s beautifully warm countrywide, while in winter you may see some epic snowfall depending where you’re based. The South Island will reach minus temperatures, so make sure you pack for all seasons. Woolly hats and jandals (flipflops) are good staples. If you’re heading out in the cooler months, our guide to winter hikes in New Zealand will help you plan.
- Travel insurance
Without sounding like a nagging parent, do yourself a favour and make sure you get decent travel insurance before you jet off. It could save you a whole lot of hassle if your bag decides to go on a solo mission at the airport or worse. It’s also a requirement for the visa now too.
- Spending money
Like we mentioned, you’ll need to have some dollars saved before you start your epic New Zealand trip, so save accordingly and enjoy.
- Print your documents
Always a handy tip. Print your documents before you depart, so if you get stopped on arrival you’ll have all the proof you need to sail on through customs. Visa, travel insurance and bank statements are normally what the officers like to see. Also, if you have booked accommodation for your first few nights, they would like to know where. You can also show your return flight if you’ve booked it – this way they won’t need to see your bank details.
- Book a tour
The perfect way to make some friends and see the country before you set off in search of work. Hop-on hop-off bus tours like Kiwi Experience and Stray are popular with backpackers, so you can cover all corners of the country and then return to your favourite place for work. Plan your route with our New Zealand itinerary.
- Book your hostel
Avoid the stress of trying to find a place last minute by pre-booking a nice comfy bed in a sociable hostel. There you’ll meet people who are either in the same boat or those who have travelled New Zealand and can give you some top tips. I’m a believer in the saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” after finding my first job in NZ through a new hostel buddy. Socialise, meet new people, extend your network and you never know what opportunities might arise!
The Hostelworld app helps here too: City Chats connect you with travellers at any hostel in the city, which is handy for job leads and flatshares, and Linkups such as walking tours and group dinners open 14 days before check-in. With a Social Pass you can join the chats before you’ve even booked.
📍 Roys Peak, South Island 📸:@paulamayphotography
What to do when you arrive for your Working Holiday in New Zealand
- Apply for an IRD number
A tax number that you will need to start getting paid by your employer. You apply online with your passport, visa and NZ bank account details (or proof of your address).
- Set up a bank account
ANZ, BNZ, Westpac, the possibilities are endless. Just pop in to the bank with proof of your visa status and your passport. The bank will have you set up in no time.
- Get a sim card
Skinny mobile offers excellent rates for backpackers. They’re also pretty cheap and give you ample amounts of data, so you can make all your pals jealous at home with your ‘gram updates.
So, you’re ready, visa in your inbox, saving well underway… it’s time to book that flight. Booking your flights is easy as 1,2,3, right? A one way ticket is always a good start – it may be daunting, but at least you can choose later when you want to leave.
Now, plan the adventure and enjoy your time in the long white cloud!
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