New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

Step 2: Medical Certificate

If you are coming from a country where a medical exam is required OR if you are applying while already in New Zealand, you will be required to undergo a chest x-ray and a general medical exam as proof that you are of sound health.

I had my appointment in Christchurch which I selected from the Immigration New Zealand's Approved Panel Physician's List.

The cost for the appointment, the x-ray and the medical exam (including tests for blood, urine, eyes and a full physical exam) came to $485 NZD. The clinic will provide you with an eMedical number which you submit to Immigration New Zealand so that they can access your results.

Once Your Visa is Approved

Step 3: Letter of Approval

In order to enter the country or apply for jobs, you will need to print off the letter of approval that is emailed to you and keep it with your passport at all times. It will include all the information about your visa number, your visa expiration date and all the terms and conditions of your visa.

Step 4: Insurance

Once you are approved for your working holiday visa, you are required to purchase travel and medical insurance that will cover medical costs and hospitalization should the need arise. This insurance will need to last for the duration of your stay in New Zealand. Try Orbit Protect; they have an insurance plan specifically for working holiday visa travelers.

Step 5: International Driving Permit

For those wishing to purchase a car or a van to travel around New Zealand in, check to see if the country your driving license is from requires you to apply for an International Driving Permit. Typically, licenses from non-English-speaking countries will not be permitted without the IDP.

Step 6: Money

In order to successfully enter the country on your working holiday visa, you will need to prove that you have the funds to support yourself. This is approximately $4200 NZD per year. A copy of your most recent bank statement should be sufficient evidence.

Bear in mind that this is just a minimum amount required by Immigration New Zealand. The costs of your trip will depend greatly on your choices of accommodation, transport, food and activities as well as the length of your stay.

Step 7: Bank Account

In order to be paid by your employers, you'll need to open a New Zealand bank account. The most common banks are BNZ, ANZ, Kiwi Bank and WestPac. Check out your options and choose a bank that offers convenience, low fees and high flexibility.

Step 8: IRD Number

If you make money in New Zealand, you'll need an IRD number for taxation purposes. This number will allow you to pay your taxes at the end of the year. In order to apply for an IRD, you'll need to complete a form online or pick up a paper copy at your local post office. You'll need a valid New Zealand bank account, proof of address, proof of intent of activity (your working holiday visa approval letter) and photo identification in order to validate your form. Apply for your IRD number here.

Step 9: Phone Plan

Of course, this is optional, but I highly recommend getting a monthly phone plan to use as you travel around. It will be cheaper than constantly topping up a pay-as-you-go plan. Common carriers include Vodafone, 2degrees and Spark. Check to see what the current deals are and what suits your budget and data/minutes/texting needs!

Step 10: Get a Job!

Once you arrive in New Zealand and are on the job-hunt, you can go the old-school route and wander around town looking for jobs (best for hospitality work) or get online and search there - the most common job website here is Seek.

Extending your Working Holiday Visa

As a Canadian or British citizen, you are eligible to extend your one-year working holiday visa by up to 11 months. Here are the steps you'll need to follow in order to apply.

You must apply for the extension before your original visa runs out; Immigration New Zealand requires approximately 27 days to process and return your application. You must also be in New Zealand when you apply.

As of January 2020, it costs $280NZD to apply for the extension - this did not include the cost of passport photos, the required medical exam and postage. Along with the items below, you must also mail in your passport. Everything will be returned to you by secure post at the address you provide on the form.

Step 1: INZ 1223

You need to print off a copy of INZ 1223 which is the required extension form for all Canadian and British citizens currently on their first year of their working holiday visa. You can find the form here. The form will ask for, among other things, your passport information, address, outbound travel plans, character and health.