Working holiday visas for New Zealander citizens

Every working holiday visa New Zealander citizens can apply for, in one place. Compare the age limit, cost, and how long you can stay, then go straight to the route that fits. Every option is checked against the issuing government’s own pages.

Compare your options

Where New Zealander citizens can go

Sort by any column to find the route that fits. Each row is verified against its government source and links through to the full requirements.

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Destination	Age limit	Visa cost	Maximum stay	Funds required	Quota or cap
Canada	18-35	C$184.75	23 months	CAD 2,500 (bank statement issued within 1 week of departure; covers first 3 months) + round-trip ticket or funds for departure ticket	Capped2026 allocation: 1,547 places (pool-based, regular invitation rounds; often oversubscribed)
Work rights Open work permit: work for most employers anywhere in Canada (jobs in health services, child care, primary/secondary education, eldercare require a medical exam). Medical requirements Must meet Canadian health requirements Reciprocal healthcare No. You will need your own health cover. Funds required in full CAD 2,500 (bank statement issued within 1 week of departure; covers first 3 months) + round-trip ticket or funds for departure ticket Application notes Pool entered under your passport's country agreement - dual nationals can choose the more favourable citizenship (different quota/length/participation rules). Full Canada visa details →Government source →
Ireland	18-30	NZ$120	12 months	NZD 5,000or NZD 2,500 (or equivalent) plus a return ticket.	Uncapped
Work rights You can take casual and temporary work without a separate employment permit, once you have registered your immigration permission and received your residence permit (IRP). Australian and New Zealand holders can work up to six months with any one employer; Canadian holders have no per-employer limit. Medical requirements No reciprocal public-health cover. Canadian applicants must hold a full year of comprehensive insurance at application; Australian and New Zealand applicants are not asked for it in the official application requirements, but going uninsured is a real risk. Reciprocal healthcare No. You will need your own health cover. Funds required in full NZD 5,000, or NZD 2,500 (or equivalent) plus a return ticket. Full Ireland visa details →Government source →
Japan	18-30	Free	1 year; no extension	NZD 3,000 single (NZD 4,500 couple) with a return ticket; an extra NZD 1,000 if no ticket. A three-month bank statement; credit cards and loans are not accepted.	Uncapped
Work rights Paid work is allowed to support your holiday. Work in bars, cabarets, nightclubs, gambling venues and other businesses that affect public morals (the Entertainment Business Act) is not allowed. The visa is single entry, so you need a re-entry permit to leave and come back. Medical requirements Must meet Japanese health requirements Reciprocal healthcare No. You will need your own health cover. Funds required in full NZD 3,000 single (NZD 4,500 couple) with a return ticket; an extra NZD 1,000 if no ticket. A three-month bank statement; credit cards and loans are not accepted. Full Japan visa details →Government source →
United Kingdom	18-35	£340	36 months	GBP 2,530 in savings (28-day rule)	Capped2025 published allocation: 9,500. 2026 NOT yet published
Work rights Work in most jobs; self-employment allowed only if premises rented, equipment worth under GBP5,000, and no employees. Cannot work as professional sportsperson. No public funds. Medical requirements Must meet UK health requirements Reciprocal healthcare Yes. (effectively) - full NHS access from visa start after paying IHS; prescriptions/dental/eye tests still paid Funds required in full GBP 2,530 in savings (28-day rule) Application notes One YMS per person per lifetime. Dual nationals: a passport from an 18-35 country only changes the age window - prior YMS time still disqualifies. Full United Kingdom visa details →Government source →

Canada

Age limit: 18-35
Visa cost: C$184.75
Maximum stay: 23 months
Funds required: CAD 2,500 (bank statement issued within 1 week of departure; covers first 3 months) + round-trip ticket or funds for departure ticket
Quota or cap: Capped2026 allocation: 1,547 places (pool-based, regular invitation rounds; often oversubscribed)

Ireland

Age limit: 18-30
Visa cost: NZ$120
Maximum stay: 12 months
Funds required: NZD 5,000or NZD 2,500 (or equivalent) plus a return ticket.
Quota or cap: Uncapped

Japan

Age limit: 18-30
Visa cost: Free
Maximum stay: 1 year; no extension
Funds required: NZD 3,000 single (NZD 4,500 couple) with a return ticket; an extra NZD 1,000 if no ticket. A three-month bank statement; credit cards and loans are not accepted.
Quota or cap: Uncapped

United Kingdom

Age limit: 18-35
Visa cost: £340
Maximum stay: 36 months
Funds required: GBP 2,530 in savings (28-day rule)
Quota or cap: Capped2025 published allocation: 9,500. 2026 NOT yet published

Once you've chosen

Get set up, wherever you land

Banking, SIM, tax, and a first-week checklist for the destinations you're weighing up.

Canada

Living guide →First-week checklist →

Ireland

Living guide →First-week checklist →

Japan

Living guide →First-week checklist →

United Kingdom

Living guide →First-week checklist →

Questions

Working holidays for New Zealander citizens

Which working holiday visa is easiest for New Zealander citizens?

There is no single easiest option. It depends on what matters to you: whether there is an annual cap, how much money you need to show, how long you can stay, and the work conditions. Compare every verified destination side by side in the table above.

Where can New Zealander citizens do a working holiday?

New Zealander citizens can currently apply for verified working holiday visas in Canada, Ireland, Japan and United Kingdom. Compare them side by side above, then open the route that fits for the full requirements and how to apply.

How many countries can New Zealander citizens do a working holiday in?

We currently list 4 verified working holiday destinations for New Zealander citizens. We add more as each route is checked against its official government source.

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