Working Holiday Visa
The United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa is a visa to holiday, work and study in New Zealand for young people from countries with a working holiday scheme. Immigration New Zealand describes it this way: “Apply for this visa if you want to holiday, study and work in New Zealand. You must be aged 18 to 35 and a citizen of the United Kingdom.” It costs from NZD $770. INZ publishes a processing time of 80% within 2 weeks.
Checked against immigration.govt.nz on 2026-09-15
What Immigration New Zealand publishes
- Length of stay
- Up to either
- 12, 23 or 36 months
- Cost
- From
- NZD $770
- Processing time
- 80% within
- 2 weeks
- Age range
- 18 to 35 years
- Visas available
- Each year
- 15,000
Copied from the United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa page at immigration.govt.nz on 2026-09-15. Figures change without notice.
To apply you must
- be a citizen of the United Kingdom and aged 18 to 35
- normally live in the United Kingdom or the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
- have at least NZD $350 a month to cover your living expenses
- have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
This visa lets you
- holiday for up to 12, 23 or 36 months
- work in temporary jobs for up to 36 months
- study or train for up to 6 months in total
- travel in and out of New Zealand.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
Where to apply
You apply to Immigration New Zealand, not to us. The United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa page carries the application link, the full requirements and the current fee.
Questions about the United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa
What does the United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa cost?
Immigration New Zealand publishes a cost of NZD $770 for this visa, as the "from" figure — the lowest published amount. Medicals, police certificates, translations and any adviser's fee are separate. Checked on 2026-09-15; confirm on the INZ page.
How long does the United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa take?
Immigration New Zealand publishes 80% within 2 weeks for this visa. That is a published average, not a promise about any one application. Checked on 2026-09-15; the current figure is on the INZ page.
Who can apply for the United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa?
INZ's own summary is: "Apply for this visa if you want to holiday, study and work in New Zealand. You must be aged 18 to 35 and a citizen of the United Kingdom." The published criteria are listed above, word for word. Whether any particular person meets them is a question for Immigration New Zealand, or for a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer — not for this site.
Where do I apply?
On Immigration New Zealand's own website. Start at United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa. Applying through this site is not possible: we are an information site and we cannot lodge or handle an application.
Can NZ Visas tell me whether I qualify?
No, and we would be breaking the law if we did. Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, telling somebody how the rules apply to their own immigration matter is licensed work. We republish the published rules and stop there. More on where that line sits.
Sources
Read on 2026-09-15. Immigration rules change: if this page and the source disagree, the source is right.
Once you have a decision
Getting the visa is one job; landing here is another. Our settling-in guides cover the IRD number, a bank account, a rental, schools, a doctor and a driver licence — all free, and all separate from anything to do with your visa.