New Zealand's Latest Visa Option Lets You Stay for Up to 12 Months

(SPOT.ph) In recent years, New Zealand has increased in popularity among Filipino travelers. It boasts attractions for adventure seekers, such as Abel Tasman National Park and Mount Cook; and for The Lord of the Rings fans, such as the filming location Hobbiton. And starting March 16, you now have more ways to visit and stay in this island country. The Working Holiday Visa is New Zealand's latest visa option, aside from the existing student visas, work visas, and tourist visas.

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Here's what we know about New Zealand's Working Holiday Visa:

What is a Working Holiday Visa?

A Working Holiday Visa (WHV) allows you to visit a host country for up to 12 months and take on jobs to cover living expenses and help fund your travels in that country.

Unlike the tourist visa, the WHV allows you to work during your short stay, granted your tenure per employer does not exceed three months; and take courses and study programs as long as these do not exceed a duration of six months. The WHV also lets you stay longer in NZ compared to the nine-month maximum stay limit on tourist/holiday visas.

Unlike a work visa, you don't need a job offer prior to applying for a New Zealand WHV. 

Who is eligible for a Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand?

Only 100 Working Holiday Visas will be granted by the New Zealand government for Filipinos.

To be eligible for a WHV, the applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, must show the capability to purchase a return ticket or already have one, and, most importantly, must primarily be vacationing in New Zealand with training and employment only as secondary intentions.

Additionally, those who intend to apply for a WHV must provide proof of at least a tertiary-level education, and they must be able to communicate in English, proven via a passing mark on any English language test. Aside from that, usual requirements on finances and medical insurance also apply. 

Note that you will only be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand once. If records show you've already been granted one in the past, even if you didn't use it, you will no longer be eligible for another one.

How do you apply for a Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand?

Currently, the application for a Working Holiday Visa is still closed. It will open on March 16, 2023. All applications for WHVs will be done online. So be sure to visit the New Zealand immigration website from time to time for more updates.

For more information, visit New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority's website.

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