The ‘Working Holiday’ Programme – New Zealand - Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy

The ‘Working Holiday’ Programme – New Zealand

On 9 May 2008, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of New Zealand on the 'Working Holiday' Programme entered into force. It was the first agreement of this type concluded by the Republic of Poland, creating opportunities for young people to learn about the culture and way of life in Poland and New Zealand, combined with the possibility of legally taking up gainful employment.

Benefits of participating in the Programme

The ‘Working Holiday’ Programme is aimed at young people (aged 18 to 31) and allows them to travel to New Zealand for up to one year, combining a holiday stay, which allows them to improve their English language skills and learn about New Zealand culture, with the opportunity to take up paid work, which is additional to the main tourist and cultural purpose of the stay.

Conditions for participation in the Programme

Polish citizens who meet the following conditions may apply to participate in the Programme:

their main purpose for participating in the Programme is to spend their holiday in New Zealand;

they are at least eighteen (18) years of age, but have not yet reached the age of thirty-one (31) at the time of applying for a visa;
they are not accompanied by dependents;
they have a valid passport, issued no more than ten (10) years prior to the visa application, with at least two (2) blank pages, which will remain valid for at least ninety (90) days after the end of the planned stay;
they have a return ticket, onward ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket;
they have sufficient funds to support themselves while participating in the Programme, if they do not take up employment in New Zealand;
they meet the health requirements specified in New Zealand law and have purchased health insurance that covers hospital care;

Under the Agreement, the annual limit for visas under the New Zealand Working Holiday Programme is 100 (one hundred) visas.

Visa procedures for citizens of the Republic of Poland

To apply for a visa under the Programme, the following are required:

passport data
medical certificate or chest X-ray (if required)
police certificates confirming no criminal record (if required)
proof of at least NZD 4,200 for the period of stay
proof of medical insurance
return ticket to the country or proof of sufficient funds to purchase one

All information regarding the procedure for applying for a New Zealand visa to participate in the Programme can be found on the immigration centre website .

Visa procedures for New Zealand citizens

New Zealand citizens planning to participate in the Working Holiday Programme must submit their visa application to the Polish Embassy in Wellington.

Required documents:

a visa application form completed in the e-Consulate system, printed and signed, and the recent (not older than 6 months) colour photograph measuring 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm (taken straight on, against a white background, with the face occupying 70-80% of the photograph);
a New Zealand passport issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months from the date of planned return, with a minimum of two blank pages for visas, as well as a copy of the passport page with the photograph;
proof of purchased travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, valid for the entire duration of the planned stay (list of accepted insurers);
confirmation of sufficient financial means to cover costs during the stay in Poland, in the amount of at least PLN 20.00 or the equivalent in foreign currency for each day of the stay);
confirmation of purchase of airline tickets;
written justification of the purpose and plan of stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland;
document(s) confirming accommodation;
a statement of compliance with the conditions set out in Article 5(b), (d) and (i) of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of New Zealand on the Working Holiday Scheme of 9 May 2008.