Philippines Working Holiday Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Philippines Working Holiday Visa
Status	Closed for 2026
Next application opportunity	Apply next year
Stay	Up to 12 months
Cost	From NZD $770
Processing	80% within 2 weeks
Annual places	100 visas
Age	18 to 30 years
Nationality	Philippines citizen required
Work rights	Temporary work up to 12 months
Employer limit	Up to 3 months each
Permanent work	Not permitted
Business ownership	Not permitted
Study	Up to 6 months
Medical insurance	Full cover required
Funds required	At least NZD $4,200
Job offer	Not required
Travel facility	Multiple travel until expiry
Family sponsorship	Family need separate visas
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Visa record	eVisa issued if approved

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Purpose

This visa allows eligible Filipino citizens to holiday in New Zealand while doing temporary work and limited study or training.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be aged 18 to 30.
• Be a citizen of the Philippines with a valid Philippine passport.
• Not have previously held a New Zealand working holiday visa, even if unused.
• Have a tertiary qualification involving at least 3 years of full-time university study.
• Speak and understand English.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.
• Hold at least NZD $4,200 for living expenses.
• Have full medical insurance for your entire stay.
• Have onward travel arrangements, or enough additional money to buy a ticket.

Working holiday visas from countries other than New Zealand do not prevent eligibility.

English requirement

Provide either:

• An acceptable English-language test result, or
• A tertiary qualification taught entirely in English.

Test results must be no more than 2 years old.

Stay and travel

You may stay for up to 12 months.

You must enter New Zealand within 12 months of visa approval. You cannot delay or cancel the visa. If you do not arrive within 12 months, it expires and you cannot apply for another New Zealand working holiday visa.

The visa starts:

• On arrival, if approved while you are outside New Zealand; or
• On the approval date, if you are already in New Zealand.

You may travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you wish before the visa expires.

Work rights and conditions

You do not need a job offer.

You may work in temporary jobs for up to 12 months, including for any one employer for up to 3 months.

You must:

• Work under an employment contract or contract for services.
• Do only lawful work.
• Pay tax and obtain an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number.

You must not:

• Take a permanent job.
• Operate a business as an owner.
• Provide commercial sexual services.
• Invest in a business providing commercial sexual services.

Study

You may study or train for up to 6 months in total.

Health and character

You must answer health and character questions in the online application.

Immigration New Zealand may request:

• A medical examination.
• A chest X-ray.
• Police certificates.

Medical examination and chest X-ray results 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 result in refusal.

Required evidence

Provide passport details when applying. Immigration New Zealand may later request:

• Passport valid at least 3 months after visa expiry.
• Tertiary qualification evidence.
• English test result, if required.
• Bank, credit-card, bank-draft or traveller's-cheque evidence of NZD $4,200.
• Full medical-insurance certificate or insurer approval letter.
• Medical examination or chest X-ray evidence.
• Police certificates.
• An onward ticket to a country you may enter, or funds to buy one.

Funds for an onward ticket must be additional to the NZD $4,200 living-expense requirement.

Police and medical certificates not in English require certified English translations. Submit scanned original documents. Translations of other non-English evidence may help avoid delays.

How to apply

1. Gather your passport, qualification, English, financial, insurance and onward-travel evidence.
2. Apply online in English through the Immigration New Zealand online service.
3. Upload requested documents and pay applicable fees.
4. Check your online account for updates.
5. Provide further information if requested.

Immigration New Zealand will email its decision. If approved, you receive an eVisa.

Arrival obligations

Before travelling, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• Air travellers: from 24 hours before the journey begins.
• Sea travellers: from 24 hours before the ship leaves its last overseas port.

New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity requirements also apply.

Important warnings

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• Are not a genuine visitor.
• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since visa approval.
• Refuse biometric collection.
• Cannot show onward travel or sufficient funds to leave New Zealand.

Your specific visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.

Family

Partners and children must apply for their own visas. This visa does not allow you to include them.

Staying longer

If you complete 3 months of seasonal work in New Zealand's viticulture or horticulture industries, you may be eligible for a further 3 months through a Working Holiday Extension Work Visa.

If your temporary visa expires while that application is being decided, Immigration New Zealand will normally issue an Interim Visa so you can remain lawfully.