Digital Nomad Visa For New Zealand

Nadia Dardón

Freelance writer

Last update 5 December, 2023

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New Zealand Quick Facts

Deep in the South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is attracting a great number of visitors due to its magnificent natural scenery as well as diversified economy and laid back lifestyle. You can explore the beauty of nature in New Zealand, and also enjoy the modern amenities of a nation that has enjoyed a high level of development for decades.

Capital Wellington

Form of Government Constitutional monarchy

Population Around 5 million

Climate Mild temperatures

Language English

Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZD)

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As a result of its geographic position, New Zealand possesses a pleasant climate which allows almost 80,000 species of plants, animals and fungus to live on the pair of islands.

The country is a perfect mix of cultures and it uses English as its native language, which makes it easy for most people to live there. It has a range of foods to choose from, and a very high standard of living by global standards.

If you are looking for a mix of various cultures and scenery, this gorgeous country might be the right place for you to live and work on a remote basis. It has a few programs that may be right for you, especially if you aren’t looking for a multi-year stay.

New Zealand Digital Nomad Visa Overview

New Zealand has a range of agreements with other countries, and some of these programs may create an easy way for you to live in the country for a few years.

In specific, New Zealand offers more than 100 different temporary visa options and 28 permanent visa options for foreigners. You can find the list of all existing visas in New Zealand here. If it seems like a complex offering, don’t worry.

It can be confusing to review all these options on your own, and if you have an existing online business, or remote earnings, you may want to talk to an immigration professional in New Zealand.

One of the most popular visa programs in New Zealand that normally attracts a huge number of foreigner applicants is the Working Holiday Visa – the type of visa that allows you to stay and work in this country for a short-term.

This visa scheme has agreements with many countries that generate a valuable opportunity for young people to spend their one or two year to work and experience in New Zealand. The Working Holiday Visa is likely the best option for a digital nomad, although there are other programs that would work – depending on your digital business.

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Who Can Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for New Zealand

The Working Holiday Visa requires certain criteria to be satisfied by applicants in order to get into the program. However, if you are a citizen of any countries on the list of eligible nations, it is probable that the requirements of the visa are not difficult to achieve.

One important condition is that you must be between 18 to 30 years of age (the 18 to 35 age group can be applied to some specific countries). Another requirement is the proof of sufficient funds in your bank account which shows you afford the living expenses in New Zealand (it isn’t the cheapest place on earth).

Additionally, if you are from the UK or Canada, you will be able to apply for a 23 month working visa rather than 12 month option that is open to other nationalities.

Overall this program is a good option for a digital nomad who qualifies for either the 12 or 23 month visa, and wants to get to know New Zealand better.
Are there specific nationalities that can apply?

New Zealand has created a very flexible program with its Working Holiday Visa, and you will probably be able to take advantage of an easy visa for a year in the nation. If you aren’t on the list below – don’t worry. There are other programs for you in New Zealand!

One important condition is that you must be between 18 to 30 years of age (the 18 to 35 age group can be applied to some specific countries). Another requirement is the proof of sufficient funds in your bank account which shows you afford the living expenses in New Zealand (it isn’t the cheapest place on earth).

Additionally, if you are from the UK or Canada, you will be able to apply for a 23 month working visa rather than 12 month option that is open to other nationalities.

Overall this program is a good option for a digital nomad who qualifies for either the 12 or 23 month visa, and wants to get to know New Zealand better.
Are there specific nationalities that can apply?

New Zealand has created a very flexible program with its Working Holiday Visa, and you will probably be able to take advantage of an easy visa for a year in the nation. If you aren’t on the list below – don’t worry. There are other programs for you in New Zealand!

If you are a citizen from one of these countries, the Working Holiday Visa will be pretty easy to get:

ArgentinaAustriaBelgiumBrazilCanadaChileChinaCroatiaCzechDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyHungaryHong KongIrelandIsraelItalyJapanKoreaLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMalaysiaMaltaMexicoNetherlandsNorwayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenTaiwanThailandTurkeyUnited KingdomUSAUruguayVietnam

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How many applications do they accept each year?

New Zealand limits the number of applicants every year on a country-by-country basis. Some countries may be granted more than 1,000 each year, some just 100 applications, while some nations have an unlimited number that will be accepted.

Importantly, the country has also opted to temporarily suspend most overseas visa applications amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the border closure, the processing visas for overseas applicants has slowed considerably. You will want to check with an immigration professional before making New Zealand a part of your digital nomad plans.

How To Apply For the Digital Nomad Visa for New Zealand

While the Working Holiday Visa seems easy to apply for as the required criteria aren’t very strict, the application process has a few stages that are important to be aware of. Once the border normalizes after the pandemic, New Zealand should be an easy place for a digital nomad from a qualifying country to spend a year.

Requirements for Applying

Let’s start with the requirements that you need to satisfy before applying for the Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand.

The requirements are:

• The age range for an applicant is 18-30 but it can be 18-35 depending on your country of citizenship. In specific, if you are from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Czech, Finland, Hungary, Uruguay and Slovakia, you can be up to 35 years old.

• You must have a passport that is valid for more than 15 months from the time of application (or longer in some cases).

• You will not be allowed to bring any dependent with you, like a child, partner or other family member.

• You must satisfy the immigration health check.

• You must have enough funds to afford your life in New Zealand and of course for your return ticket as well (the minimum requirement for funds in your bank account should be NZD $4,200 plus a return ticket).

• And last but not least, health insurance for your time in New Zealand.

All these requirements should be met prior to your application being submitted to the New Zealand office you choose to work with.

Other things that you should know and consider before applying for Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand:

The only way to submit your application is through the Government website unless you are already in the country.

You do not have to have a job offer before applying for the visa, you can find your job later when you arrive in the country, or work online.

You can work more than 1 job while you are in the country as long as you can afford your living fees, however different tax rates will be applied if you have more than 1 job so make sure to figure out what kind of tax that you may be subject to – talk to a professional.

The working holiday visa will allow you to travel in and out the country multiple times so if you have to travel somewhere else that is outside of New Zealand, it is totally fine.

You can only apply for a Working Holiday visa once in your life so if you want to stay longer after your visa has expired, you will have to look for another visa option.

How much does it cost?

The costs involved with gaining a digital nomad visa in New Zealand are difficult to estimate. While the fees charged by the nation are stated, there may be other costs associated with the program.

The cost of the application fees depend on the nationality of the applicant. For instance, the cost to apply for people who are a citizen of the UK will be £215 and if you are from Canada, the cost will be $280 NZD.

Another thing that needs to be taken into account is that you will need a valid Visa or MasterCard to pay for the application fees (and this is the only way to submit your application).

Besides the costs involved in the application process, you are required to have a minimum of $4,200 NZD in your bank account. Additionally, you will also need to have a return ticket ready as this is just a temporary visa that allows you to stay in New Zealand for a limited amount of time.

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Timeline for Applying

Gathering the documentation that you must have prior to officially submitting your application online will take some time to obtain. Therefore, in order to facilitate your application process, you may want the help of an immigration assistant or lawyer to expedite the process.

The expected timeline to approve a Working Holiday Visa is usually 20 working days and might take up to 89 days (starts from the time you successfully submit your online application). As you know, the process will be affected by different factors, and may be influenced by your nationality.

Here is a rundown of the application process:

1. Review all relevant requirements and possible costs.

2. Contact a suitable agency in your country (or if you are confident enough you can apply for the visa by yourself to save some fees).

3. Collect all the required documentation and give it to your agent.

4. After an agent checks to see if all the documentation is correct, your application will be submitted online via the immigration website.

5. If you are applying for a 23-month visa, the immigration department will ask you to provide a medical certificate as well as a chest x-ray from the last 36 months.

6. New Zealand will decide on your application

The whole application process may take up to 3 months depending on a number of factors, so be sure to have all your documentation in-line, and it may help to have an immigration professional on your side.

New Zealand represents a great opportunity for digital nomads, and it isn’t a difficult option if you have a successful remote business. If you want to spend a year or more in the southern Pacific, and see a new land, check out New Zealand.

Author

Nadia Dardón

Freelance writer

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Nadia Dardón is a freelance writer from Guatemala. In early 2022 she embarked as a digital nomad, traveling through Europe, focusing mostly on the literary history of each country. She has worked fully remotely for the past four years as a reader, writer, and content creator with experience creating pieces for different industries. She also has a personal blog where she writes about her cultural and literary travels.