The Ultimate Guide to a Working Holiday in New Zealand

A working holiday in New Zealand is a great way to make money in order to fund your travels around the country. The working holiday visa allows US citizens to work and travel in New Zealand for up to 12 months with the possibility to extend. A WHV is easy to apply for and there are various ways to find jobs and housing. This guide will explain everything you need to know about a working holiday in New Zealand.

A Working Holiday in New Zealand

What is a Working Holiday

A working holiday is when you visit a country for an extended period of time while working a paid job in order to fund your travels.

New Zealand’s Working Holiday VISA

The New Zealand Working Holiday visa allows US citizens ages 18-30 to work and travel in the country for up to 12 months.

There are 6 countries that offer working holiday visas for US citizens.

What You Can do on a Working Holiday

New Zealand’s working holiday visa allows you to work any temporary job within the country for up to 12 months, with the possibility to extend for another 3 month. You are also able to study for up to 6 months.

Requirements for a WHV

To be eligible for the New Zealand working holiday visa you must be between the ages of 18-30 and be a US citizen who has not been currently living outside of the USA for more than two years. You will need proof of NZD $4,200 (roughly $2,383 USD), obtain full medical insurance for the length of your stay, and have not had a prior New Zealand WHV.

Duration of Stay in New Zealand

You can work and travel in New Zealand for up to 12 months and apply for a 3 month extension. This means you can work in New Zealand for a total of 15 months (as a US citizen).

Money You Can Make

The money you make will depend on your specific job, how many hours you work, and how good you are at saving. As of May 2026, the national minimum wage in New Zealand is NZD $23.95/hour.

Most people make enough to live comfortably while saving up enough money to travel the country.

Entry and Exit Restrictions

You are able to enter and exit the country of New Zealand as many times as you like while your visa is valid.

How to Get a Working Holiday VISA for New Zealand

Requirements

To be eligible for the New Zealand working holiday visa you must be between the ages of 18-30 and be a US citizen who has not been currently living outside of the USA for more than two years. You will need proof of NZD $4,200 (about $2,383 USD), obtain full medical insurance for the length of your stay, and have not had a prior New Zealand WHV.

If you are not a US citizen, you can find a list of requirements for your country, here.

Cost

It costs NZD $770 (about $452 USD) to apply for a NZ working holiday visa.

This does not account for any medical checkups, appointments, or other document fees you may need to pay in order to apply for your visa.

You should also consider the following start-up costs; round-trip airfare, transportation to/from your destination, police clearance, health/travel insurance, phone/sim card, and other start up costs.

What You Need to Apply

To apply you will need to following documents;

Copy of your passport photo page.
Bank statement showing you have at least $4,200 NZD ($2,383 USD).
Copy of a medical insurance policy.
Proof of a plane ticket leaving NZ at the end of your visa or a sufficient amount of money beyond the $2,383 USD to buy one.

How to Apply

You must apply online for your working holiday visa. You can apply on the New Zealand Immigration website.

You can be in New Zealand or outside of the country when you apply.

How Long it Takes

For most US citizens it takes up to 1 week for their visa to be processed. It can take longer depending on how many visas the government is processed.

Next Steps

Once your visa is granted, you need to enter the country within 12 months from the date it was issued. Once you enter the country your 12 month working holiday begins.

If you do not enter within 12 months, your visa will become void and you can not apply for another working holiday visa.

If You are Rejected

If your visa is declined, you can submit a request for reconsideration. You must do this within 14 days of your visa being declined. This request will allow you to correct any discrepencies or provide further information as to why your visa should be granted.

Choosing a Job on Working Holiday in New Zealand

Job Restrictions

You can work any job you like, as long as it is a temporary or contract job and not permanent.

Popular Working Holiday Jobs

There are many different kinds of entry level and skilled jobs you can do on a working holiday. Some of the most popular are;

Hostel/Hotel/Lodges: housekeeping, administration, or retail.
Ski Field Worker: liftie, ski instructor, car park, attendant, ski patrol, or rentals.
Food Service: barista, bartender, server, dishwasher, cook, baker, or chef.
Childcare: au pair or nanny.
Farm Worker: meat processor, cow milker, sheep sheerer, or farm hand.
Horticulture: fruit picker or vineyard worker.
Other: fundraising, tour guide, or seafood processor.

How to Choose a Job

When choosing a job, consider what your goals are for your working holiday. Are you hoping to work as much as possible to save a bunch of money and then travel for as long as you can? Is your goal to get experience in a specific industry? Do you just want an easy part-time job so that you can enjoy your holiday?

You should choose your job based on what you want your working holiday to look like.

Highest Paying Working Holiday Jobs

Some of the higher paying jobs you can do in New Zealand are; dairy farm work, meat processing, seafood processing, or construction. Of course, these jobs are more physically demanding and require you to work long days/hours.

You can also make a good amount of money by working jobs that offer tips such as; tour guide, ski instructor, bartender, barista, server, etc… You can find these jobs in tourist areas, but remember that tipping culture in New Zealand is different than it is in the USA.

Jobs You Need to do to Extend your VISA

You can extend your New Zealand working holiday visa to continue working in the country for 3 months. To do so, you must have completed at least 3 months of seasonal horticulture or viticulture work. You can do this work at any point during your 12 months.

How Long it Takes to Find a Job

The time it will take to find a job depends on what type of job you are looking for, how many people are applying, and how much effort you put in. For most people it takes a couple weeks after arriving in country and some get a job before moving to New Zealand.

Recently, a lot of expats have been reporting difficulty finding a job due to the current state of the New Zealand job market and how many expats are utilizing the working holiday visa.

Choosing a Location in New Zealand

What to Consider When Choosing a Location

When deciding what city/town you want to live and work in while in NZ, you should consider the following;

What is the entertainment in the area?
Do you want to live in a busy city or smaller town?
What weather do you prefer?
What transportation is available to you? How will you around?
What do you want your days off to look like?
Do you want to be surrounded by other expats or around locals?
Are there things on your bucket list that will effect where you want to spend your time?
What kind of housing is there?
What is the cost of groceries and entertainment in the area?

Locations to Work in New Zealand

New Zealand is a small country but it’s food, culture, and vibes can vary drastically from the North Island to the South Island. Where you live and work will influence your working holiday experience, so it’s important to choose your location carefully.

The North Island is more known for it’s highly populated cities, geothermal and volcanic features, and rich Maori culture. Locations include;

Auckland
- New Zealand’s largest and most populated city that is composed of multicultural neighborhoods. It’s a bustling, international city that always has something going.
Wellington
- The capitol city of NZ. It’s perfect for foodies and artists as it’s downtown area is packed with international food spots, coffee shops, and events.
Rotorua
- Situated along lake Roturua, this location is popular for it’s geothermic hot spot, mud pools, and adventure activities. It’s a great spot to learn about the Maori culture.
Whangarei
- The island’s Northernmost city known for it’s sunny, warm climate and beautiful beaches. It has a laid back atmosphere and costal charm.
Taupo
- A popular tourist destination located along the largest freshwater lake, Lake Taupo. It’s packed full of activities from waterfall hikes, sailing, bungee jumping, and more.
Naiper
- A city famous for its Art Deco architecture and culture. It boasts beautiful wineareys and vineyards, rich history, and wildlife.

The South Island is much less populated and is known for it’s drastic scenery, breathtaking hikes, and outdoor adventures. Locations include;

Queenstown
- Known as the country’s adventure capitol, this city offers breathtaking scenery and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and adventure sports. It’s also one of the busiest places to live but is a great base to explore the rest of what the south island has to offer.
Christchurch
- The biggest city on the south island, this city is considered to be the Garden city thanks to it’s plentiful gardens and parks. It know to be the gateway to the south island and offers a relaxed atmosphere.
Dunedin
- A city rich in history that is considered to be a mix of the old world and modern art. It it considered to be the country’s oldest city that has an abundance of marine life.

How to Find a Job with a New Zealand Working Holiday VISA

Websites to Find a Working Holiday Job in New Zealand

On the websites below you will find job listings from employers looking to hire for all types of jobs in New Zealand. You can apply for these jobs before or after you arrive in the country.

Recruitment Agencies

You can find and apply for working holiday jobs with help via the recruitment agencies below;

New Zealand Work & Travel Programs

You do not need to join a program to find a job on a working holiday visa, but some people find it easier and want the support these programs provide.

Listed below are known companies that offer working holiday programs in New Zealand. To join these programs, you need to pay a program fee. Each company’s fee will differ depending on what they provide. The programs usually include one or more of the following; visa application support, accommodation, in-country support, job placement, etc…

Applying in Person

Believe it or not, it is common to find a job by going door to door and see who is hiring. Take a few copies of your resume with you and stop by restaurants, coffee shops, bars, etc… and ask if they are hiring. Lots of expats find working holiday jobs this way and it’s easier than you may think.

Before you Arrive in New Zealand

How Much Money to Bring

You need to have proof of NZD $4,200 to obtain your visa and enter the country. This amount will be more than enough to get you started and keep you going while you find a job. However, it’s easy to spend money while on vacation and you should be cautious about how much you spend, especially if you are not yet making an income.

Consider the following start up costs; arrival accommodation/rent, transportation, food, cookware, phone plane, laundry, utilities (if not included), and entertainment.

It’s also good to have emergency funds incase you need to book a plane ticket home for any reason.

Booking Your Flight

Upon arrival in New Zealand, you will need to show proof of a plane ticket out of the country or proof of enough funds to buy a return ticket. While purchasing a return ticket is usually cheaper, unless you know your exact leave dates, it best to buy a one way ticket to New Zealand or a flexible return ticket.

Health Insurance

Heath insurance is required while on a working holiday in New Zealand. There are tons of options you can find just by doing a google search. You should shop around to find which provider is the best fit for you.

Accommodation

Booking some sort of accommodation before you arrive will ensure you have a place to go when you land and can serve as a home base while you are looking for a more permanent location. Many people choose to stay in a hostel while looking for a more permanent accommodation.

Arriving in New Zealand on a Working Holiday

Arriving in New Zealand

When you arrive in New Zealand, you will need to show you passport, a printed copy of your visa, proof of NZD $4,250 in funds via a bank statement, and proof of travel out of the country. Once you enter the country your visa is active and your 12 month working holiday begins.

Phone Number / SIM Card

To get a New Zealand phone number you will need to buy a SIM card. All phones need to be unlocked in order to install a SIM card. It’s easiest to unlock your phone while still in your home country. You can unlock your phone by calling your mobile provider.

You can buy a virtual SIM card or a physical SIM card. There are tons to choose from so be sure to do your research on what one is best.

Most newer phones do not have a way to install a physical SIM card so you may only be able to install a virtual SIM. This is an easy process and can be done before you leave the country. To get a physical SIM card you will need to go to a cell phone/SIM card provider once you land in New Zealand and provide your passport.

Banking

In order to get paid, you will need to set up a bank account. For most banks, you can just walk in and set up an account. You will need to provide you passport, working holiday visa, and proof of residency of your home country. If you prefer, it is also possible to set up an account before you arrive in the county via the bank’s website.

When choosing a bank, consider it’s location in relation to where you want to live and work. If you plan on traveling around the country, it is best to stick with the popular banks that have multiple branches around the country, such as; ANZ, BNZ, Kiwi bank, or Westpac.

Inland Revenue Department Number (IRD)

You must have an IRD number if you are earning any money in New Zealand. If you do not have an IRD number than a higher percent of taxes will be deducted from your pay.

You can apply for an IRD online. To apply you will need you passport, New Zealand Immigration Number (the number sent to you when they approved your visa), and and your taxpayer ID (USA social security number). You may also need your NZ bank account details and NZ phone number.

When you apply, you can request to receive your IRD number within 24 hours by text or email.

Finding Housing

There are a handful of longer-term housing options if you are on a working holiday.

Hostel
- Hostel’s offer shared or single rooms and are great options if you are looking to connect with other travelers and are trying to save money.
- You can find hostel option by using the website hostel world.
Airbnb
- There are many different types of fully furnished airbnbs and they usually come with necessities such as laundry and cookwear.
- You can find options on the Airbnb website.
Shared Accomodation
- You can connect with others to search for housing and roommates.
- Find these opportunities through sites such as; Trade Me, Facebook Group, or Flatmates.
House Sitting
- You can create a house sitter profile and connect with New Zealand locals who are offering free room and board in exchange for taking care of their home and pets.
- Join platforms like; Trusted House Sitters, Kiwi House Sitters, or New Zealand House Sitters.
Included Housing
- You can find a job with housing included so that you do not need to pay rent.
- Most of these jobs will be remote farm work or Au Pair/nanny jobs.
Renting
- You can rent a room, apartment, house, unit, etc…
- You can find rentals by using websites like; Realestate NZ, OneRoof, or Trade me.
Van Life
- Some expats purchase a van to live in so that they can travel easily around the country.
- They then stay at camp grounds or find jobs on farms where they can park.

Drivers License

You do not need a special license to drive a car while in New Zealand. You can drive on your USA license for up to 18 months, as long as it is valid. Remember, they drive on the left side of the road and many vehicles in New Zealand are manual.

When Your Working Holiday VISA Ends

Extending Your Working Holiday VISA

You can only extend your working holiday visa once.

Doing a Different Working Holiday VISA

If you had your fill of New Zealand but want to continue your working holiday, you can do a Working Holiday in Austrlia, or consider one of these 6 working holiday’s for US Citizens.

Taxes When Arriving Home

You will need to file a tax return at the end of the year or when you leave New Zealand. You can do so with help from a registered tax agent, or online via the New Zealand IRD website.

Going Back to New Zealand

When your working holiday ends and you want to go back to New Zealand you can do so on a tourist visa.

Conclusion

A working holiday in New Zealand is a great way to fund your travels around the country. Hopefully this post was able to provide you with everything you needed to know about a working holiday in New Zealand. Have you been on a working holiday? What was your experience like? Please let me know in the comments below.