Account menu icon

Contact

Go to homepage

About

Book now pay later with a deposit

BOOK NOW
Girl with a coffee looks over city on fine day

Work New Zealand

Working holiday New Zealand

Visa processing + 4-day Auckland orientation

Starting in Auckland, hit the ground running on your New Zealand working holiday with hostel nights, job support, new mates, nights out, and all the nerdy bank and tax stuff included.

LET’S TALK
Girl laughs on a porch
Girl enters rainforest
Girl on paddle board in lake with mountains in distance
Friends on ski lift
Start your working holiday with like-minded 18-30s

Swap Canadian winter for NZ summer

Why should Canadians do a working holiday in New Zealand?

Need to know

What is Work New Zealand?

ASK US ANYTHING

At a glance

Price tag icon

CAD $1,450

Black birthday cake icon

18-35 year olds

Black passport icon

Stay up to 23 months

Thumbs up icon

Visa included worth NZD $840

Black calendar icon

Starts year-round in Auckland

Accomodation icon

3 nights’ accommodation

Icon of overlapping speech bubbles

Tax, bank + job support

Reasons to work in New Zealand

Job flexibility

Perfectly sized

Backpacker culture

Couple in canoe take a selfie
Guy looks into distance with a burger

Visa + cost

New Zealand working holiday requirements

Am I eligible for a New Zealand working holiday visa?

  • Canadian passport holders must be 18-35 (you must apply after your 18th birthday and be issued your visa prior to your 36th birthday)
  • You can stay in New Zealand for up to 12 months (with the option to extend)
  • Once your first visa is approved, you have 12 months to enter New Zealand
  • You must have NZD $4,200 proof of funds when submitting your application
  • You must have no criminal record
  • Health insurance is required for the duration of your stay

Deposit


$100

Second payment


$1,350

Total

$1,450

Secure your spot with a $100 deposit

All the help before you go, including:

  • Working holiday visa (worth NZD $770)
  • Visa application processing
  • 1-on-1 support from our New Zealand experts
  • Digital handbook packed with pre-departure tips, guides + local knowledge
  • Discord group to meet other travellers

Plus, 4-day semi-guided orientation in Auckland, including:

  • Auckland airport shuttle to hostel
  • 3 nights’ dorm at LyLo Hostel
  • Employment + NZ CV workshop
  • Housing + travel planning session
  • NZ bank account assistance
  • IRD tax assistance
  • Self-guided city tour
  • AT Hop Auckland transport card
  • Hostel welcome drinks (1 drink)
  • Group ferry trip to Devonport (1 dinner)

Travel insurance We recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book

Flights We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved

Balancing profit with purpose, SWAP only works for us if it works for others too. As part of the JENZA Travel Group, we donate 5% of profits to our JENZA Youth Access Scholarship Fund – helping 18-30s from under-represented groups and lower-income backgrounds to experience a SWAP working holiday or overseas internship. Find out more and apply for scholarship funding.

Swapportunities

What type of jobs can Canadians do on a New Zealand working holiday?

NZ in numbers

100+

The number of Māori iwi (tribes) in Aotearoa

4:6

The ratio of sheep to people in New Zealand

3,000

The eBay price that an Aussie tried to sell NZ for

10,000

The times you’ll say ‘too easy’ on your WHV

Finding a job in New Zealand

Girl stands on rock overlooking valley
Girl sits on wooden panels beside lake

Reasons to do a working holiday in New Zealand

Swap it like it's hot

1

The adventures

Girl enters rainforest thick with moss

The adventures

Beaches, fjords, rainforests
New Zealand may be small, but it's home to every adventure under the sun – from skiing, surfing, tramping (hiking to us), rafting, caving, wine-tasting, sailing… the list goes on. If you're an adrenaline-chaser, Queenstown is your crowd. Canadians on working holiday visas can get jobs here as skydive instructors, bike mechanics, ski lift operators and more. And then go for a post-work bungee. If that's your bag...

1

Girl enters rainforest thick with moss

The adventures

Beaches, fjords, rainforests
New Zealand may be small, but it's home to every adventure under the sun – from skiing, surfing, tramping (hiking to us), rafting, caving, wine-tasting, sailing… the list goes on. If you're an adrenaline-chaser, Queenstown is your crowd. Canadians on working holiday visas can get jobs here as skydive instructors, bike mechanics, ski lift operators and more. And then go for a post-work bungee. If that's your bag...
Maori warrior stands before building

Māori culture

Friendly, spiritual, unique
New Zealand is a special place, where cultural heritage and community is as important as beating South Africa in the rugby. The Māori connection to and respect for the land is everywhere, giving deeper meaning to your weekend roadtrips. Kiwis are also incredibly welcoming and sharing, so don't be alarmed if you see a few hakas. It's just a way of saying Kia Ora!

2

Maori warrior stands before building

Māori culture

Friendly, spiritual, unique
New Zealand is a special place, where cultural heritage and community is as important as beating South Africa in the rugby. The Māori connection to and respect for the land is everywhere, giving deeper meaning to your weekend roadtrips. Kiwis are also incredibly welcoming and sharing, so don't be alarmed if you see a few hakas. It's just a way of saying Kia Ora!
Wellington sign

The cities

Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
New Zealand cities have a strong job market for Canadians on a working holiday. Auckland is coastal and cosmopolitan with plenty of hospitality and retail jobs. Wellington is the cultural capital with a strong café/bar scene – expect barista, bartender and server vacancies. And Christchurch, often overlooked, is South Island's gateway to outdoor adventures so look out for hospitality and tourism jobs.

3

Wellington sign

The cities

Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
New Zealand cities have a strong job market for Canadians on a working holiday. Auckland is coastal and cosmopolitan with plenty of hospitality and retail jobs. Wellington is the cultural capital with a strong café/bar scene – expect barista, bartender and server vacancies. And Christchurch, often overlooked, is South Island's gateway to outdoor adventures so look out for hospitality and tourism jobs.
Man wearing a leopard-print fur coat, white shirt, and gold chain, posing confidently

Talk to us

Find out more about New Zealand work and holiday

As our first work abroad program waaaay back in 1975, New Zealand holds a special place for our SWAP team. So, if you still have questions about working holidays in New Zealand – visa requirements, types of jobs, which island is the best (correct answer is both) – give us a call. We'll figure it out together.
BOOK A CALL

How it works

How and when to apply

Countdown to Work New Zealand

  • Check your eligibility in the visa + cost section, hit 'Book now' to create your online account and pay your deposit. You can then access your account to keep track of your trip at any time at the top of this page.

    1 day

  • Select the date you want to arrive into Auckland. We'll then grab your passport details and some extra info off you to apply for your working holoday visa. Visas are issued electronically and once approved, we'll email you the confirmation.

    2-21 days

  • Now your visa is approved, it's safe to book your flights and travel insurance. Add this to your online account so that we can sort out your transfer. Also, add your dorm preferences so that we can let the team at LyLo hostel know. You'll also find info in your account on how to set up a New Zealand bank account.

    1 day

  • Select a date for your pre-departure orientation – these are at least once a month. This is a group video call with the LyLo team in New Zealand to get you fully prepped for life in NZ. It's also a great time to ask any questions and meet some soon-to-be-familiar faces of people arriving into New Zealand at the same time as you.

    1-30 days

  • Welcome to Auckland! You'll have a shared shuttle from the airport to LyLo hostel where the fun begins.

Read the SWAP blog

Inspo from around the world

Girls floating in a turquoise bay
Girls take selfie at a large party
Girls float motionless in the sea
Girls at a Japanese train station platform
Girls pose for selfie on bridge in London
Couple sit by a blue river in New Zealand
Girls lay in the sun on the grass by the sea
Friends enjoy picnic in the sun

Got questions?

We’ve got answers

Not found what you're looking for? Hit 'Ask a question' below and one of our SWAP Support Squad will come back to you.
Guy beneath tree in Autumn.

Talk to us

New Zealand experts
We’ve walked in your jandals (flip flops), so we know what planning a big move looks like. From where to go to what jobs to do – we’re with you every step.
CONTACT US

  • If you are Canadian and 18-35, you can apply for a New Zealand working holiday visa which is designed to travel and do temporary work. SWAP will process your initial 12-month visa. When you're in New Zealand, you can then apply for a 'Subsequent Work Visa' to extend your stay to 23 months. See the next FAQ for more.

  • You will need to meet some additional requirements to extend your visa to 23 months. If you do not meet these, it may still be possible to extend your visa by three months if you have completed three months of seasonal work during your first 12-month visa. You can find out more about extending your visa here.

  • Canadian citizens must be aged 18-35 to apply for a New Zealand working holiday visa – which means you must apply and get approved before your 36th birthday. For other nationalities, please check out our global JENZA website.

  • No, you don’t need to be in Canada to apply for the visa. However, you cannot be in New Zealand when you apply.
  • It can take anywhere between 24 hours and 2-3 weeks to get your visa approved. However, as the New Zealand Government make the final decision, it may take longer – up to six weeks if they require further information. We don’t recommend booking your flights until your visa is approved.
  • Your visa allows you to work anywhere in New Zealand and in any sector – meaning you can do casual work or work more related to your profession, training, trade or vocation. Typical backpacker jobs include ski season work, fruit picking, farm work, waitressing, bartending, construction, labouring, shop work, hostel work, hotel work, housekeeping, sales, promotions, tourism, and childcare such as au pair or nannying. You’re not required on this visa to have a job lined up before you go.
  • Most entry level, casual or backpacker jobs will pay at least the New Zealand minimum wage or higher depending on the role and location. If you’re doing work more connected to your career, trade or training – your earning potential is uncapped on this visa.

  • Yes, it includes three nights at the LyLo hostel in Auckland.

    Accommodation is in multi-share dorms. If you wish to upgrade to a twin, get in touch and we can check the availability for you. If you’re arriving early, we can book a maximum of three pre-nights and three-post nights – just let our team know.

  • Yes! 80% of people on our Work New Zealand program start out as solo travellers. We have monthly departures with up to 45 people per departure, so you’ll be with a like-minded group from all over the world. Before you go, we'll also give you access to a group chat with other travellers arriving in New Zealand at the same time as you so that you can start to get to know each other and arrange to meet up if you’re arriving early.

  • Getting a working holiday New Zealand visa allows you to work when you want and travel when you want – funding your time out there. This allows you to stay out for longer and experience New Zealand in a more authentic way vs visiting as a tourist.

    While you can bomb around both islands in a campervan or car in 3-4 weeks, any self-respecting Kiwi will tell you that you need at least 6-8 weeks to do it properly. A working holiday visa allows you to take your time and stop and work in the places that you love over the space of a few months or up to 23 months depending on your plans.

  • Ask your question here and one of our team will come back to you.

More ways to work the world

Swap it out

Back to top