New Zealand's Working Holiday Visa: What Actually Determines Your Terms

One visa name, dozens of different agreements

Immigration New Zealand runs Working Holiday Scheme agreements with a large number of partner countries individually, and the specific terms of each — permitted stay length, age range, and any annual cap — are set separately for each partner country, not as one uniform policy.

Stay length varies more than people expect

Most partner countries receive a 12-month working holiday visa, but a handful of agreements are longer — reflecting the specific bilateral terms New Zealand has negotiated with that country, not a general rule.

Age eligibility isn't fixed at 30

• —Most agreements: 18 to 30
• —A smaller group of partner countries: extended to 35
• —Some agreements set their own minimum funds or health-insurance requirement

Confirm your own agreement's terms

Because the working holiday visa is really dozens of separate bilateral arrangements under one name, don't assume terms you've read about another nationality apply to yours. Immigration New Zealand's official site lists current terms by partner country.