Canada Working Holiday Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Canada Working Holiday Visa
Purpose	Holiday, work and study
Stay	Up to 12 or 23 months
Cost	From NZD $770
Processing	80% within 2 weeks
Age	18 to 35 years
Citizenship	Canadian citizen with valid passport
Eligibility timing	Enter within 12 months
Work rights	Temporary jobs only
Study	Up to 6 months
Medical insurance	Required for entire stay
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entries before expiry
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Family need their own visas
Visa record	eVisa issued if approved
Job offer	Not required
Funds required	At least NZD $4,200

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Purpose

This visa allows Canadian citizens aged 18 to 35 to holiday, work and study in New Zealand.

You cannot take a permanent job or operate a business as an owner.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be aged 18 to 35.
• Be a Canadian citizen with a valid Canadian passport.
• Not have previously held a New Zealand working holiday visa, even if unused.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.
• Have at least NZD $4,200 for living costs.
• Hold full medical insurance for your entire stay.
• Have onward travel arrangements or enough money to buy a ticket.

You may still apply if you have held working holiday visas for countries other than New Zealand.

Stay and validity

You can apply for a visa lasting up to 12 months or 23 months.

You must enter New Zealand within 12 months of visa issue. If you do not arrive within that period, the visa expires and you cannot apply for another working holiday visa.

The visa starts:

• On entry to New Zealand, if approved while outside New Zealand; or
• On the approval date, if already in New Zealand.

Work rights and conditions

You may work in any legal job if:

• You work under an employment contract or contract for services.
• You do not take a permanent job.
• You do not operate a business as an owner.
• You do not provide commercial sexual services.
• You do not invest in a business providing commercial sexual services.

A job offer is not required.

You need an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number to pay tax on New Zealand earnings.

Study

You may study or train for up to 6 months total during your stay.

Travel

After arrival, you can travel in and out of New Zealand as many times as you like before the visa expires.

Health and character

You may need to provide a chest X-ray, medical examination, police certificates, or both.

For a 23-month visa, or a total stay exceeding 12 months, you must provide a chest X-ray and medical examination unless acceptable evidence submitted with another application is less than 36 months old.

Medical evidence must be less than 3 months old when received. Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when submitted.

A criminal conviction or security risk may prevent visa approval.

Required evidence

When applying, provide your passport details.

Immigration New Zealand may later request:

• Medical examination or chest X-ray evidence.
• Police certificates.
• Evidence of NZD $4,200 available funds.
• Full medical insurance evidence, including hospital cover.
• An onward ticket, or evidence of funds to buy one.

Acceptable funds evidence may include bank statements, credit card statements, bank drafts or traveller’s cheques.

Your onward-travel funds must be additional to your living-expense funds.

Your passport must remain valid for at least 3 months after visa expiry.

How to apply

1. Gather passport, insurance and financial evidence.
2. Obtain medical or police evidence if requested.
3. Provide certified English translations of required non-English medical or police certificates.
4. Apply online in English.
5. Upload documents and pay applicable fees.
6. Check application status online.
7. Immigration New Zealand will email its decision.

If approved, you receive an eVisa.

Arrival requirements

Complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• By air: from 24 hours before travel begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you are not a genuine visitor, no longer meet character requirements, have changed circumstances, refuse biometric collection, or cannot show onward travel or sufficient departure funds.

Staying longer

If you hold a valid 12-month Canada Working Holiday Visa, you may apply to extend to 23 months. You must:

• Be in New Zealand on a valid visa.
• Show onward travel or funds for departure.
• Have a medical examination if not previously provided.
• Submit the completed Working Holiday Scheme – Subsequent Work Visa Application (INZ 1223), fee and immigration levy.

If you do not qualify for that extension, you may be eligible for a 3-month extension after completing 3 months of seasonal horticulture or viticulture work.

Important warnings

• You cannot delay or cancel this working holiday visa.
• Previous New Zealand working holiday visa holders cannot reapply.
• Incorrect passport or identity details may delay, decline, or affect entry.
• Your eVisa records your visa conditions.