Immigration - Working Holiday Visa
On 14 March 2022, the following working holiday schemes reopened to applications:
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA, Japan.
There is no limit on the number of working holiday visas granted to people from these countries, so applications can be made at any time. All others will open on a rolling basis.
Working Holiday Visa holders offshore have been unable to enter New Zealand due to border restrictions. As part of Step 2 of Reconnecting New Zealand, new Working Holiday Visas have been granted to about 19,500 people who:
- were granted a Working Holiday Visa on or after 20 March 2019, and
- are offshore and have been unable to enter New Zealand, and
- have not subsequently been granted a new visa under a different category.
Also, first entry dates for valid Working Holiday Visas have been extended for those who are offshore and have been unable to enter New Zealand. Those who wish to travel to New Zealand on their newly granted or extended Working Holiday Visas can enter until 13 September 2022. Visas are valid for 12 months from the date of first entry.
Before COVID-19, working holidaymakers accounted for about 50,000 of our international visitors each year. Between 20 March 2019 and 20 March 2020 almost 59,000 people were granted a WHS visa for New Zealand.
Reopening our border to working holiday makers will provide our industry access to overseas workers and ensure that some of the vacant roles within plant production can be filled.
Working Holiday Scheme Opening Dates
Immigration – Critical Workers
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Also in Step 2, critical workers who earn at least 1.5 times the median wage (NZD $84,240 a year or NZD $40.50 an hour) for roles longer than 6 months may be eligible for an exception to the border restrictions.
These workers no longer need to demonstrate their skills are not readily obtainable in New Zealand. Their partners and dependent children may request entry.
If you are looking to hire an experienced overseas worker to fill a role in your Plant Production business, here is the link to the application form.
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