New Zealand passport / Working Holiday

Working Holiday in Canada for New Zealanders (2026)

Check the essential requirements, then follow the five stages to prepare your application and trip.

Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

A numerical study allowance and season allocation need their own applicable IRCC sources; none is inferred from another nationality. The fee list resolves the application page’s failed dynamic fee display.

Key facts at a glance

Age: 18–35Learn moreReferences: CA NZE-CA-PRIMARY
Length of stay: Up to 23 monthsLearn moreReferences: CA NZE-CA-PRIMARY
Initial funds: CAD 2,500 plus departure resourcesLearn moreReferences: NZE-CA-ARRIVAL
Visa fee: CAD 184.75 IEC plus CAD 100 open permitLearn moreReferences: NZE-CA-FEES NZE-CA-APPLICATION
Annual quota: To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-CA-PRIMARY
Application dates and timing: To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-CA-APPLICATION
Language: To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-CA-PRIMARY
Study: To be confirmedLearn moreReferences: NZE-CA-PRIMARY
Work: Open work permit within its issued validityLearn moreReferences: NZE-CA-ARRIVAL

Prepare your application →Explore language courses

Traveler on a street lined with buildings.

Step 1

Check requirements and language preparation

Age

18–35

References: CA NZE-CA-PRIMARY

Length of stay

Up to 23 months

References: CA NZE-CA-PRIMARY

Initial funds

For arrival, obtain a bank statement issued no more than one week before departure. Maintenance resources are separate from your departure ticket or its purchase funds.

References: NZE-CA-ARRIVAL

Visa fee

The current fee list establishes the IEC charge. Working Holiday also pays the CAD 100 open-work-permit holder fee; biometric charges may apply. Follow the secure account’s applicable total.

References: NZE-CA-FEES NZE-CA-APPLICATION

Annual quota

CA: The inspected programme instructions do not establish an annual outbound New Zealand allocation. This is not evidence of unlimited places.

References: NZE-CA-PRIMARY

Application dates and timing

IEC operates through profiles and invitations. A particular season’s invitation dates or allocation are not reproduced here; consult IRCC without treating a pool profile as an available place.

References: NZE-CA-APPLICATION

Language

CA: The inspected New Zealand-passport instructions do not specify a language-test threshold. This does not establish a general exemption from all document or employment language requirements.

References: NZE-CA-PRIMARY

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Passport

Valid throughout the requested stay

References: CA NZE-CA-PRIMARY

Insurance

A provincial health card is insufficient. A shorter policy can shorten the permit and cannot later justify an extension.

References: NZE-CA-ARRIVAL

Documents and participation

A pool profile is not a work-permit application. Only an invited candidate may submit; follow the account checklist for police, medical and biometric evidence.

References: NZE-CA-APPLICATION

Step 2

Apply through the official route

Create an IEC profile for the New Zealand Working Holiday category and enter the appropriate pool.
Wait for an invitation; if accepted, follow the account’s exact deadline, normally twenty days after acceptance, expressed in UTC.
Submit the complete online work-permit application, pay the account’s charges and complete required biometrics.
After approval, travel with the POE letter and required evidence; the border officer determines admission and issues the permit.

Read the official instructions ↗

Step 3

Read your approval and entry conditions

Read the entire approval notice: identity, dates, entry deadline and conditions. Keep it available offline. Do not assume the visa starts on your preferred date.

Step 4

Get ready for the trip

Arrange passport and insurance to cover the intended stay of up to twenty-three months. Before departure, refresh the bank statement, print the POE letter and retain copies of the submitted evidence.

Passport, visa and requested evidence accessible offline.
Initial funds, insurance and departure costs checked separately.
First accommodation and airport transport arranged.

Step 5

Start your Working Holiday

Tell the border officer you are entering to work. Before leaving the inspection area, check spelling, expiry, employer/location fields and medical restrictions; the POE letter itself is not your work permit.

Work

IRCC says Working Holiday permits should show open employer and unknown location; there is no WH-specific work-duration or hours cap while the permit is valid. Medical restrictions may still apply.

NZE-CA-ARRIVAL

Study

CA: A numerical study allowance was not established in the inspected New Zealand-passport instructions. Ask the issuing authority before enrolling in a substantial course.

NZE-CA-PRIMARY

Explore language courses →

Language courses · commercial service

Plan a language course for your trip.

Through ViveCampus you can request language-course quotes with international-student discounts. Offers may vary by your country of origin and destination. A personalized quote confirms available discounts and the final price. Booking a course does not guarantee a visa.

CA: A numerical study allowance was not established in the inspected New Zealand-passport instructions. Ask the issuing authority before enrolling in a substantial course.

Other destinations to compare

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Frequently asked questions

Is twenty-three months guaranteed?

No. That is the New Zealand category maximum. Passport, insurance and biometric expiry can shorten the permit actually issued.

References: NZE-CA-ARRIVAL

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Can I participate again?

IRCC permits New Zealand citizens one participation only and explicitly says participants before 2 April 2015 are no longer eligible.

References: NZE-CA-PRIMARY

Can I apply for the permit immediately after creating a profile?

No. IRCC must first send an invitation. After accepting, the account supplies a twenty-day submission deadline in UTC.

References: NZE-CA-APPLICATION

Does local health coverage replace travel insurance?

No. IEC requires medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation cover throughout the stay. Provincial coverage does not cover repatriation.

References: NZE-CA-ARRIVAL

How recent must my arrival bank statement be?

It must be issued no more than one week before departure and show the equivalent of CAD 2,500. Keep departure-ticket resources additional.

References: NZE-CA-ARRIVAL

What should I check on arrival?

Check the permit before leaving the port of entry. Working Holiday should show open employer and unknown location; flag incorrect dates or medical restrictions immediately.

References: NZE-CA-ARRIVAL

Official sources

Research consulted: 17 October 2026. Check current requirements with the issuing authority before applying.

2026-10-17 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

CA · IRCC - New Zealand Working Holiday category

Read the official instructions ↗

2026-10-17 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

CA-ARRIVAL · IRCC - arriving under IEC

Read the official instructions ↗

2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

NZE-CA-PRIMARY · CA issuing authority - New Zealand Working Holiday

Read the official instructions ↗

2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

NZE-CA-ARRIVAL · IRCC IEC arrival

Read the official instructions ↗

2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

NZE-CA-APPLICATION · IRCC IEC work permit application

Read the official instructions ↗

2026-10-18 · Governments can change visa requirements at any time. Always check the official government pages before applying.

NZE-CA-FEES · IRCC current fee list

Read the official instructions ↗