Working holidays in New Zealand

Unfortunately, we’re not able to apply for the visa for you. However, we’ll provide you with a link to the correct forms and instructions on how to apply.

You have 12 months to enter New Zealand once your visa is approved.

No, you don’t need to be in your home country. 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.

You cannot work for one employer for more than 12 months.

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.

Our 4-day option includes three nights at the LyLo hostel in Auckland. And our 9-day option includes seven nights at the LyLo hostel in Auckland, plus two nights at a hostel in Pahia in the Bay of Islands. 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 packages 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 of 18-30 somethings 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.

In our very bias opinion, hell yes! 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 than if you were just visiting. While New Zealand is small, it is packed to the rafters with things to do and see and is home to every activity under the sun – from skiing, surfing, hiking, rafting, caving, wine-tasting, sailing… the list goes on. 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.

Our 9-day option is the 4-day one, plus a semi-guided trip up to the stunning Bay of Islands with our sidekicks, Kiwi Experience. At the tip of the North Island, the Bay of Islands is an unmissable round trip from Auckland – either to get out and explore before settling down to start work in Auckland, or to tick off an iconic part of New Zealand before heading south on your road trip/hop-on hop-off bus pass. Check the itinerary section above for both day-to-day itineraries and inclusions.

Nothing! We’ve always been the same team running identical programs, just with different brand names in different countries. As you can imagine, this got crazy confusing. So in 2024, JENZA became the new name for all our working holiday and intern programs, and BUNAC went back to its 1972 Americana roots, and became our summer camp brand.