Working Holiday Visa for British citizens

Eligibility for the Working Holiday Visa is set by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). British applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.

London (VFS). Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.

Yes — British nationals can enter New Zealand without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 180 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the Working Holiday Visa.

The stored worked example (Single applicant, UK scheme) totals about NZ$770. It may combine government charges with other stated route costs. Source: Immigration New Zealand - United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa, verified 10 September 2026. Treat it as indicative and confirm the current official schedule before budgeting.

Citizens of the 40-plus countries that hold a Working Holiday Scheme agreement with New Zealand, normally aged 18 to 30. A small group of countries has an extended 18 to 35 age window - the United Kingdom is the best-known example. You apply online, need funds for your stay and a return or onward ticket (or the money for one), and must meet health and character requirements.

Fees are country-specific. Current INZ country pages, including the UK and USA schemes, list the cost from NZD 770. Check the INZ page for your own country before applying, because each scheme sets its own fee and requirements.

Most schemes require at least NZD 4,200 in available funds to cover living costs, and the UK scheme expresses the requirement as NZD 350 for each month of your stay. You also need a return or onward ticket, or enough extra money to buy one. Keep the funds in an account you can evidence with a bank statement.

Many schemes are capped. The UK scheme has 15,000 places a year, and many smaller country schemes have much lower annual quotas that can fill very quickly after opening. Check your country page on the INZ website for the quota and the next opening date, and be ready to apply as soon as places are released.

Most schemes are for 12 months. Canadians can stay up to 23 months and UK citizens up to 12, 23 or 36 months. Many nationalities can also extend by 3 months if they complete 3 months of qualifying seasonal work in specified industries. Check the INZ page for your country because age limits, quotas, funds evidence, and maximum stay vary.

No. India does not currently have a Working Holiday Scheme agreement with New Zealand. Indian nationals seeking to work in NZ must use the AEWV, SMC, or other standard work visa categories.

You can work for any employer at any skill level, but you cannot take a permanent job, and you can study or train for up to 6 months in total. Many working holidaymakers use the year to line up a skilled role and then switch to an Accredited Employer Work Visa, which has no age limit.

INZ country pages currently list 80% of applications processed within about 2.5 weeks. For capped schemes the real constraint is quota timing rather than processing: places can go quickly when a scheme opens, so apply on the opening date if your country's quota is small.